Friday 2 October 2009

Coastal biodiversity

Should be a few seabirds tomorrow of strictly local interest - might be Leach's, but it is touch and go whether it has been blowing long enough & it is a 'one day blow'. Looking ahead, if you believe any weather forecasts at the moment, the weekend 10/11th October looks reasonable for a decent passerine search with YBW possibilities

Heysham Obs
Another atrocious piece of weather forecasting knocked any vis/ringing on the head but did produce some time to give the tide a good grilling.

Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - juv on Red Nab, then flew along tideline towards Lune Estuary, landing about 2 miles along. Unringed.
Black-tailed Godwit - 4
Bar-tailed Godwit - 7
Ringed Plover - 24; no sign of the colour-ringed bird as yet
Grey Plover - 166
Knot - 430
Dunlin - 62 (much reduced & no Little Stint today)
Med Gull - 2 x unringed adult and one 2nd W (2CY) (new in?) & presumably the long-staying 1st W (1CY)
Common Tern - juvenile outfalls but not seen at high tide

Harbour area/north harbour wall
Shag - juvenile on the sea then floated out of sight behind wooden jetty. A slow autumn for this species & this, I think, takes us past Darwen Moor as the top county site i.e. 2!
Linnet - 13 on the mound
Wheatear - one heliport
Pintail - 27 (flock) south

Absolutely zilch overhead & no obvious grounded migrants on the reserve by the office

Elsewhere
2 Great White Egret left the island mere roost at Leighton Moss at 0700hrs, rested for c 20 minutes before flying out to the Allen/EM Pools where still present at midday