Wednesday 3 January 2007

3rd January- first moth of the year.

Heysham Obs
1st W Little Gull Heysham 2 outfall

14 Shag seen in the harbour but the wooden jetty not checked at the same time

Ad & 1st W Med Gulls along the north wall

Just 3 Kittiwake seen in SW corner of the harbour (incoming IOM ferry not watched)

Moth trap
One Mottled Umber - the first moth of the year at Heysham

Elsewhere
One sub-adult Scandinavian Herring Gull amongst the dwindling numbers of gulls on the saltmarshes near the rubbish tip - early departure due to lack of food led again to an invasion, mainly by 1st W Herring, of the Shag waterfall during the early afternoon. Maybe this lot will attract a white-winged? A Water Rail ran across the road near Mellishaw Park!

Mass exit of wildfowl from Pine Lake as can be expected from a watersports site - windsurfers are the usual cause of a complete exit (other than Coot) as their (!) best runs are right through the usual feeding/loafing areas. Water skiers are not usually a problem. As usual Leighton Moss benefited, especially by housing the Ruddy Duck, but certainly did not receive all the Pochard - hopefully they have not dispersed out of the area .