Thursday 31 January 2008

Plenty of Little Gulls but delayed ferries

Heysham Obs
A not unusual combination once or twice a winter during gale or near-gale force onshore winds. The Ben My Chree struggled in just in time to avoid a 'white-out' & extra-strong gusts at c1415hrs

IOM ferry followers
Difficult to watch to put it mildly
Fulmar - 1
Kittiwake - c35 with at least 10 1st W
Little Gull - one adult

North harbour wall
Little Gull - 23 out 1150-1220, 22 of these a long straggling "flock" covering c1/2 mile of sea, followed by a single right along the seawall. All Ad or 2nd W. At least another 9 out 1400-1600hrs
Kittiwake - 2 out plus an adult patrolling the wall with the 2nd W Med. At least 18 out 1400-1600hrs
Med Gull - 2nd W patrolling the north wall
Pink-footed Goose - 1 'out'

Stage 2 outfall
2 adult Little Gull and an adult Kittiwake at 1225hrs. At 1430hrs, just after a major squall, there were 8 adult Little Gull and 2 Kittiwake

Elsewhere
Not much 'posted' evidence of any punters on the prowl today! Ad Spotted Redshank with Redshank amongst the boats just south of the Strathmore Hotel at 1125hrs. Purple Sandpiper Morecambe Stone jetty.