Monday 7 January 2008

Kittiwakes and the IOM passenger ferry

Please could you check if any sightings of interesting birds in the Heysham area during 2007 are missing from this site. We are ready to write the annual report and would be very grateful for any additional records, perhaps especially even 'common' passing seabirds. Thanks. The recording area comprises birds seen from or in SD36V, 46A, 35Z and 45E. In English, this means any coastal sightings between Sunny Slopes and the old Pontins site at Middleton and (mainly) anything west of the Morecambe to Overton road between Knowsley Road junction and the Potts corner junction at Middleton i.e. includes Middleton IE wetlands.

Heysham Obs
IOM ferry at lunchtime
Med Gull - Both adults accompanying
Kittiwake - c27 of which c10 were 1st winters, most flew rapidly out of the bay as the boat entered the harbour

North harbour wall area
Med Gull - 2ndW
c17 Twite, 2 Linnet and a Goldfinch sandplant entrance mid- afternoon
Tide too far in for Purple Sandpiper sightings at lunchtime

Elsewhere
Female Scaup off Bare was new in (high tide)
Canadian-ringed juv Pale-bellied Brent Goose still by the Sunny Slopes groyne [plus year ticking Ringed Plover and Dunlin at last!]. Royds Avenue is the best access if you are pushed for time.
Purple Sandpiper - single bird showing well today at Morecambe Stone Jetty (& Raven over)
Barnacle Goose Fluke Hall and 3 Scaup still on Glasson Basin