Saturday 27 January 2007

Heysham Obs
A visit at low tide in the morning saw just 8 Shag around the waterfall area and about 8 Kittiwakes in the harbour. The 1st W Med Gull was along the north harbour wall.

Two 1st W Little Gull on the outfalls

5 Twite on the mound (thanks for info, Rosie)

A trail behind a distant freight ferry as seen from Ocean Edge appeared to include some Kittiwakes, but the Eric Cantona level of speciation was more appropriate at this range.

The morning also produced two Song Thrush and a Dunnock in full song as heard from the NR office door

Elsewhere
The most startling record today was a Little Stint on a flooded field at Aldcliffe, a species which is a regular winterer at Frodsham in Cheshire, regularish along the Merseyside coast but extremely unusual at this season anywhere to the north.

560 Black-tailed Godwits still on the flooded fields between Warton and the A6 (after flighting there during the morning from the Eric Morecambe complex)

The 8 Whooper Swan frequenting the Lune Valley were visible (with two Mutes) from the high point layby on the A683 just south of Melling. 11 Bewick's Swan were seen on Jeremy Lane, nr Glasson

1st W male and 1st W female Scaup on Glasson marina, 4 Barnacle Geese Pilling Marsh and a Short-eared Owl at Cockersands

Some 10km square survey work in late afternoon saw the upland fields at the top of Roeburndale pretty dead with a lot fewer Fieldfare and Redwing in the upland areas (at least) this winter