First Skua

Very strong overnight "westerly" winds eased slightly and quickly moved to WNW then NW. Showers.

Pretty much just Pete's stuff today. He started early - 0625-0715

Early morning dropping tide seawatch at Heysham saw the wind go NW as opposed to WNW about five hours before forecast.  

Best a dark morph Arctic Skua new for year last seen sat on sea

4 Gannet,

7 Common Scoter

1 Razorbill/Guillemot 

1 Red-Throated Diver

An afternoon check located:

Purple Sandpiper with a large group of Turnstone at the base of the sloping heliport sea wall near the Cafe. Unfortunately the Turnstone and the sandpiper quickly moved off, there is a lot of disturbance here. 

Pale-bellied Brent goose 28 on Red Nab

Wigeon pair

The only bits I (MD) can add to the above is

Shelduck 9

Rock Pipit 4

Meadow Pipit 3 grounded together behind the foreshore bund

Linnet 2 near lighthouse 

Grey Seal No.2 outflow, but it was busy fishing and only revealed itself briefly a couple of times.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just the two main ponds checked

Mute 2 breeding pairs

Moorhen 2

Coot 7

Mallard 6

Gadwall 8

Little grebe 2 at least on main pond 

Cetti's Warbler - "no swimming pond" male singing

First Tern

A fresh SW to SSW wind. Some sunshine and some showers.

Pete and Jean checked from key locations - report from Pete:

North side low water channels

341 Eider

18 Red-breasted Merganser

8 Great Crested Grebe

2 Pintail 

Red Nab

32 Pale-bellied Brent goose

6 Dark-bellied Brent goose 

Heysham seawatch - too clear and wind too SSW, but:

Single Sandwich tern new for year 

12 Gannet

30 Common Scoter 

7 Red-Throated Diver 

4 Guillemot

1 Razorbill 

1 drake Goosander (uncommon in the recording area)

South shore (MD)

The earlier Brents had left Red Nab when I passed at 13:00, but at 13:15, 32 Pale-bellied, almost certainly the same birds as above, returned from the north side.

Some of the 32 Pale-bellied Brent flying to Red Nab

On returning to Red Nab at 14:00 the Pale-bellied had been joined by 9 Dark-bellied. There were two with the Pale- bellied and these 7 together.

This next clip is just to show how lighting affects the appearance of birds. I went to the other side of them and the sun came out briefly, making them look quite pale, but they are dark-bellied.

Strangely, as the tide flushed the birds, only six of the above seven birds flew off together, presumably the same six seen earlier.

Dark-bellied Brent

Wigeon 2

Rock Pipit 4

Shag 1 2nd calendar year in the harbour - first record for a while

2nd calendar year Shag 

Alan has a limited number of hard copy Observatory Annual Reports (full of useful information about species distribution for the recording area, as well as the record of last year's sightings and ringing details. It's not just Birds, but Butterflies, Moths, Mammals etc). If you would like a copy please contact Alan Draper (alanxhill@btinternet.com). A nominal contribution of £4 if you can collect, or £5 if you prefer Alan to post (If outside UK postage will be higher)

A good variety of seabirds on seawatch, plus a Purple Sandpiper

Fresh west to WSW wind. No sun but plenty of showers.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the two main ponds. As expected, yesterday's scoter had moved on overnight.

Mute Swan 2 pair

Coot 7

Moorhen 2

Little grebe 2 at least

Mallard 6

Gadwall 10

Pete and Jean managed a bit of sea watching.

Report from Jean:

Seawatch 11:50hrs - 13:30hrs (High tide 14:39 9.07m)

Migrating seabirds  included;

Gannet - 21 into Bay, 2 out of Bay

Red-throated Diver - 1 summer plumaged bird into Bay, 1 summer plumaged bird and 1 x 2CY out

Fulmar - 1 into Bay

Razorbill - 1 out of Bay

Inshore movements seen from Heysham churchyard, all birds heading to high tide roost areas to south :

Brent Goose - 48 PBB, 3 DBB

Turnstone - 255  

Purple Sandpiper - 1 with the Turnstone

Black-tailed Godwit - 6

Oystercatcher - 1711 

Curlew - 30 

Shelduck - 4

Eider  - 5 prs plus a male 

Also seen:

Rock Pipit - 3

South Shore towards high water (MD)

Brent goose 50+ They flew overhead as I was approaching the wooden jetty, not easy to count accurately and check the birds when they fly over quickly. They were obviously the same birds from Jean's report, but they had picked up two flocks of 3 Dark-bellied

Pale-bellied Brent goose 40+

Dark-bellied Brent goose 8

All the Pale-Bellied birds were in the main flock, but there were also at least two Dark-bellied amongst them.

Two Dark-bellied Brent geese, top left, with the main Pale-bellied flock

Two following flocks of three birds, both were Dark-bellied

Unfortunately the Brent were just leaving Red Nab and flying towards Potts corner as I returned to Red Nab.

Shelduck 17

Eider 10 out

Purple Sandpiper 1 - at this point I wasn't aware that Pete/Jean had seen one flying south with the Turnstone, but I always check roosting Turnstones for Purple Sandpiper. There were some Turnstone resting on No.1 outflow rails with Redshank, unfortunately it was obvious that a couple of walkers approaching from the other direction were going to flush them. I had my camera ready and set for the expected Brent (flew over about 2 minutes later) so I took some shots as the spooked birds flew off. Fortunately the sandpiper was with them. Almost certainly the same bird seen earlier past Heysham Head.

Purple Sandpiper - circled

Same shot as above, but cropped further 

A third of a second later and zoomed in further

Rock Pipits 6

Wheatear 1

More Gannets and a Scoter surprise

Quite fresh WNW wind moving more west by the afternoon. Light rain intermittent in the morning becoming heavier and more prolonged in the afternoon 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick morning check of the two main ponds

Mute two pairs nesting

Coot 7

Moorhen 2

Little grebe 3 at least, probably more

Teal 2

Mallard 6

Gadwall 7

Common Scoter 1 female on the "no swimming" pond. This is unusual and presumably related to some overnight passage. I located it at 09:15 and it was still there when Kevin checked at 12:00. This excellent photograph is Kevin's and really should be opened to appreciate the detail - it's not often we get a chance of a close view of this sea duck.

Female Common Scoter  - Kevin Eaves

Although my shots can't compete with the above for quality, I did manage some interesting behavioural clips. In each of the clips you will see it constantly head bobbing, I don't know this species well enough to know if this is typical. In this first clip it takes a sip of water, presumably at sea they get all their water from their food. Perhaps the head bobbing is reaction to drinking fresh water, for the first time in a long while (MD). A Blackcap is one of the birds singing in the background.

It kept diving, but I'm not sure if it was trying to feed, or just avoiding the attentions of the male Mute who would otherwise have chased it off.

This one is just a general view. The "no swimming" pond male Cetti's warbler sings during the clip, I then pan out to show the location on the "no swimming" pond

Report from Pete - 

Sea watching from the back of the harbour from 1110 to about 1200 when the weather closed in:  

Gannet - flock of 6 out and different flock of 8 in (all ads), 

Red-throated Diver - 11 out including four together, 2x2, three singletons and one in could have been one of these,  

Common Scoter - drake in then u-turned and flew out, one out distantly 

A later check from Ocean Edge located 

Pale-bellied Brent goose 26

Dark-bellied Brent goose 2

On Red Nab

The Brent were still on Red Nab when I walked down the wall a little later (MD)

Two Dark-bellied Brent right

Their dark bellies more obvious when they are out of the water.
Although, the likely Russian bound, birds were not exactly welcome!

As the tide covered Red Nab all the Brent flew off together towards Potts Corner.

Rock Pipit 5 including the ringed male near the lighthouse.

Wheatear 2 on foreshore 

Back to "normal"

It started off calm and clear, then a WSW breeze brought in the cloud as it freshened. A few light showers.

Nothing different today, just my records so far (MD)

Heysham skear - low water 08:10

Eider only 80 counted, but they were well spread and there would have been more.

Wigeon 4 flew in from the east and settled on the sea.

Female leading the Wigeon on to the skear

Little Egret 6

Carrion Crow 15

Peregrine Falcon 1

Great Crested Grebe 7

Red-brested Merganser 14

Again the above two were difficult to count, particularly the Mergansers who were constantly feeding. This was largest group of 7

Red Nab 1.5 hours after high water:

Pale-bellied Brent goose 34

Wigeon 2

The Wigeon left when the Brent set off for the north side

Rock Pipit 1

Gannets start to move, plus an Osprey

The wind started light from the east before freshening mid morning and swinging around before settling to NNE. Plenty of sunshine between the high cloud.

Morning seawatch report from Pete:

Osprey NW at 0810 over Kent Channel 

Gannet 5 adult, flew out together - first of year I think 

Eider 224

Red-breasted Merganser 16

Great Crested Grebe 8

Pale-bellied Brent goose 52 on the water near the eider on the north side, before flying to south - they were seen landing at Red Nab, long before the tide reached it.

Foreshore to saltmarsh shore (MD)

Wheatear 2 together on foreshore 

Shelduck 17

Curlew 70 

Redshank 60

Grey Plover 2

Dunlin 1

Grey Plover in winter plumage 

Grey Plover with Redshank 

The other Grey Plover had an "unwelcome" hanger on. Today's only Dunlin.

I know that it is unlikely, but a part of me thinks this has to be the same Dunlin that refused to leave the Red Nab rock yesterday. It obviously has an identity crisis and seems to think its legs are longer than they are. Eventually the Plover went out into water above the Dunlins depth, but the Dunlin stuck with it.

The Plover eventually flew off south, with the Dunlin hot on its tail.

Tim had a promenade in the afternoon sun, whilst the tide was still quite high:

Walking from Morecambe to Heysham 15.20-15.45

26 Eider out from north of Sunny Slopes

Another 23 Eider out to South

2 Merganser 

No geese seen

Snow Bunting visited yesterday

Cold WNW fresh wind, mostly sunny

Update from yesterday.

Snow Bunting 1 male - initially just south of the recording area at Potts Corner, then flew north into our territory. Report and excellent pictures from Mark Jones.

Male Snow Bunting

A couple of images that I managed to grab of a lovely male Snow Bunting yesterday on my return from Sunderland point mid afternoon. It was, unbelievably, in front of a caravan just 2 away from mine, feeding on the ground, I watched it for around 10 mins before it flew off up the coast towards Morecambe.

Beautiful, striking white back wing feather pattern, just a single call as it took off, easily the best views I've had of one.

Report from Jean:

Pete and I were in the area from 0750 to 0930 and saw the following:
Eider 207
Red-breasted Merganser 15 (groups of 6 and 5 and rest in 1s and 2s)
Great-crested Grebe 9
The mergs and grebes were displaying 
Common Gull 270
Mediterranean Gull 2 x 2CY
Peregrine - adult and immature targeting the waders and crows on the skear.

Vis:
Very little overhead.
Meadow Pipit 5 singles north
Little Egret 4 north low to water following the Kent channel
Red-throated Diver - a group of 10 summer-plumaged birds headed high out of the Bay then turned and flew north. 

In the woodland on Heysham Head no Chiffchaff were calling so previous birds must have moved through.
A Tawny Owl hooted once and then it sounded like all the Blackbirds, Dunnocks etc had found it as there was quite a racket from them.

A grey seal was in the near channel being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls.

South shore (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 42 flew from Red Nab to Potts

Wigeon 16

Dunlin c200

The Dunlin still in winter plumage

This one was reluctant to leave its Red Nab rock, I got bored waiting for it to take flight and in the end almost missed it, so I've stitched two clips together.

Turnstone c150 on the Wooden Jetty

Redshank c50 each Wooden Jetty and saltmarsh 

Wheatear 4 at least along foreshore, I saw 3 on the way out and 2 on return, David Talbot saw 4 later.

Jack Snipe 1, flushed from the saltmarsh at high water 

Rubbish shot as ever, but not without some charm

Rock Pipits 1 each saltmarsh, Red Nab and Sea wall - an evening check of north side located 4 more: 1 heliport, 2 just north of Half Moon Bay and 1 near Heysham Head.

Osprey reported heading our way from Plover Scar. Unfortunately not picked up in the recording area.

Green Sandpiper adds a bit of variety

Very cold north wind all day with some light snow and hail showers, but at least the sun shone in between.

Saltmarsh to Red Nab rising tide (MD)

Pale-bellied Brent goose 65 landed on Red Nab together.

Today's Brent coming in to land in the freshwater stream

Shelduck 58

Knot c250 - I was watching the Knot reluctantly move out of the way as the Brent fed, and wondered how many years it would take for them to be as comfortable with people, if no one ever bothered them. Probably never, but it would be nice.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Just a quick check of the two main ponds:

Mute Swan 2 nesting pairs plus another adult. No sign of last year's cygnets. Looks like they've all been moved on. The remaining unattached adult wasn't welcome.

Canada goose 1 visitor

Coot 6

Moorhen 4

Mallard 6

Gadwall 8

Little grebe - just one seen today

Warblers, three species singing:

Cetti's warbler by "no swimming" pond

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 3

Imperial way (Pete and Jean)

Green Sandpiper on pond next to Imperial Way.

Pair Gadwall and pair Teal on pond at end of Imperial Way/entrance to recycle facility.

Heysham skear - low water 18:50 (MD)

Light nights and a high spring tide meant very low water (0.9m). I had a walk out to the Kent channel, it was a nice bright evening, but an icy wind.

Eider c180 - no more than recently just that the birds in the gunnel included in count

Shelduck 3 over to NW Red-breasted Merganser 5

Great Crested grebe 6

Snow on the South Lakes hills

Visibility was good, so I took this 30 second trip around the Bay. It starts at Black Combe and ends at the Alambra on Morecambe front, with a snow dusted Ingleborough behind.

This is just the final frame from the clip,above, I was panning quite quickly
so you don't really get a chance to see Ingleborough in the clip

What you may notice in the clip is how flat the mud is out there, and that what creates the potential danger. When the rising tide reaches a critical point, the mud is pretty much all covered at the same time. Not deep of course, but it hides the channels and drains. Not a walk for the inexperienced.

More off passage ducks

The cold NE wind freshened during the day with some showers, later of sleet.

First, this is the ringing information for the Lesser Redpoll caught on Middleton Nature Reserve yesterday:

Y126748               1st W          14/10/20                Castlemorton Common (Worcestershire)

Retrapped             Ad M          21/03/22                Middleton  NR 122km N 

Tim had a lunchtime walk:

Red Nab at c. 11.40 (n) at c.12.40

38 Pale-bellied Brent goose (41) (earlier 44 had flown towards Potts from Red Nab MD)

2 Merganser (0)

19 Wigeon (19) 

1 Little Egret (1)

1 Rock Pipit (0)

Nothing of interest outflows or harbour. Considerably fewer cormorants than recently 

1 little Egret out from HMB statue. 

13.30 30+ Brent flew past towards Playground/ Morecambe 

1 Wheatear on the HMB side of Throbshaw (my first this year)

This is the Red Nab Rock Pipit

Heysham Skear low water 18:10 (MD)

Eider c150 - this is a slightly different clip of a few resting on a sand bar

Great Crested Grebe 4 

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little Egret 6

There was a tight packed flock of c30 small ducks on the north side, unfortunately they were heading out and the tide was coming in. They took flight briefly and landed even further out. They looked to be all dark on the water and in flight, so I had assumed that they were Common Scoter. But examining my pictures and clips it became obvious that at least some were Teal.

I think these are all of them:

They all appear dark in the above clip, but this next clip reveals that at least some were Teal.

Pete has checked the above clip and is satisfied that they are Teal. It just shows how easy it is to be fooled by initial appearances (it happens to me all the time - one of the reasons I take a camera with me MD)

Better, but hard won!

 The very light breeze continued, mainly north. Mainly overcast with some periods of light rain.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

Three nets set this morning from just before seven o'clock until eleven resulted in just six captures. However, one was a Lesser Redpoll wearing a ring fitted at another site. We will receive information on this in due course.

The other captures were singles of Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Great Tit, Chiffchaff and a retrapped Reed Bunting. 

No movement of migrants over the site was apparent.

South Shore

Pete and Jean checked from Ocean Edge to the Wooden Jetty

31 Turnstone on the wooden jetty. 

Rock Pipit near the lighthouse plus 5 others flew along the south harbour wall. Also 1 on territory on north side.

Chiffchaff 1 also on north side

Pale-bellied Brent goose 48 (42 originally on Red Nab, later joined by 6 that had been out from Potts)

Wigeon 20

On the shore out from Ocean Edge

Bar-Tailed Godwit 62

Black-Tailed Godwit 1

Grey Plover 28

Knot 2,240

Dunlin 220

I checked from Saltmarsh to Red Nab (MD)

Shelduck 20

Meadow Pipit 3 over

Wheatear 6 moving along foreshore to Red Nab together.

A slightly better shot of the inverted black "T" on the tip of the tail

4 Wheatear on Red Nab (2 on each rock)

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Jean took this excellent shot of a Common Toad

I had a quick walk around

Chiffchaff 6

Bullfinch 8

Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 - one drumming 

Jay 1

Heysham skear - low water 17:25

Red-breasted Merganser 6

Eider c150

Teal 8 - originally just out of positive recognition range to the south of the skear. Fortunately 6 eventually flew to the skear corner. Still quite distant, and this clip is accordingly poor quality, but I thought interesting as it shows the males displaying (or arguing).

This shot from Jean is the Deo Gloria dredger working just out from the harbour mouth. It is a suction dredger. Although it does "muddy the water", it does take the bulk of the mud away to be dumped in the Lune deeps.