Sunday 4 May 2008

Multiple Black Tern passage

Heysham Obs
Another morning & subtely different fare - today included multiple Black Tern, a fly-by Avocet (first north harbour wall record, following on the first site record in April) and confirmation of two Harbour Porpoise which was suspected the other day

North harbour wall 0600-1100
Black Tern - 7+2 in with Arctic plus another off Red Nab, then towards the Lune with 44 Arctic Tern [10 in total] [plus one - see below]
Arctic Tern - 89 in plus 44 as described above [see below]
Avocet - one out close inshore at 0914hrs - see above
Gannet - 1
Red-throated Diver - 1
Razorbill - 1
Swallow - good passage: 70 per hour, increasing to 120 per hour (from?) mid-morning
House Martin - 6
Sand Martin - 1
Swift - 3
Greylag - 3 out
Goldfinch - 2
Lesser Redpoll - 1

Black Guillemot by wooden jetty, but no obvious sign of any Purple Sandpiper amongst an increase to 235 Turnstone, but plenty of hidden sections of wooden jetty

Red Nab/outfalls
See above re-Arctic/Black Tern
Common Tern - 1 on outfalls
Common Gull - 161
Black-headed Gull - 24
Black-tailed Godwit - 1 within BTO challenge area
Whinchat - 1
Wheatear - 2

Late afternoon low tide trawl
Single Black Tern, 35 Arctic Tern and a 1st S Little Gull off the seaward end of Heysham 2 outfall or along the channel to the south just before a large shower

Mammals
2 Harbour Porpoise

Elsewhere
Spoonbill still EM Pools. Single Black Tern new in (NOT 'still'!) at Leighton Moss public mere (the three flew off high to NE, as they usually do if clear, last night. 3 more this evening plus another on Borwick Waters.