Arctic Tern Fest

Photos:

Whimbrels, Curlews, Oystercatchers, Eider etc on Scalestone Point groyne, Morecambe. The Whimbrel playing twister was at Heysham.
Second summer Mediterranean Gull, Leighton Moss
Grey Wagtail, Halton

Saturday 30th April

Got up early (for me) and headed over to Heysham where it was blowing a bit. Bumped into Jeff and Pete Marsh who told me a large migration of Arctic Terns was underway – Pete had already seen around 1600 or so go past. He shot off for some breakfast and I continued counting for half an hour or so. I have never seen this many terns migrating before – in the time I was there I had seen around 1200 of the more than 3000 birds that flew past Heysham that day. At times it was just an endless stream of these birds – superb to watch.

Other birds seen were:

Arctic Skua – prob light morph and possible dark morph though both distant
1 Common Tern
9 Common Scoters
2 Red-throated Divers
9 Sandwich Terns
8 Eiders
2 Gannets

Later on in the morning I found 35 Whimbrel on Scalestone Point groyne (Morecambe) and while walking Bill with Karen along the stone jetty at dusk I saw 2 Swifts pile through heading north.

Sunday 1st May

I had a very brief visit to Heysham this morning. Arctic Terns were still around though this time just messing around in the bay. I counted around 470 of them. Around 60 Common Scoters were also seen in the distance and numerous Swallows passing through. I came back late morning but the place seemed dead by then and the only bird of note was a female Wheatear flitting along the north harbour wall. Consequently I headed off to Scalestone to see if the Whimbrels were there. Nice one – there were 54 birds in residence today!

Later this evening we took my brother-in-law to Wray to have a look at the scarecrow festival (http://www.wrayvillage.co.uk/scarecrows.htm ). Well worth a look and some very funny scarecrows! While we were there I clocked 6 House Martins and 4 Swifts flying around over the village.

Monday 2nd May

Karen and I took my brother-in-law birding today. He was immediately blown away by modern optics and there is the possibility he may be a convert. Anyway we started by looking at Scalestone – 46 Whimbrels were present today on the groyne. Next stop was Leighton Moss where we enjoyed good views of Marsh Harriers from the road above the reserve. We had a wander around the hides and got more Marsh Harrier views plus the second summer Med Gull from Lillian’s. I later found out that a Golden Eagle had apparently flown over while we were there. We then headed off to Warton Crag to have a look at the Peregrine pair currently on their third nesting attempt.

Mid afternoon I was back at the van working (and sulking). Karen had taken Keith out for a run in my car (withy bins and scope and camera etc inside it). I decided to take a break and wandered out onto the holiday park with Bill and immediately spotted a Red Kite. The bird was flying low (circa 40-50 feet) around the park with a trail of corvids behind. It stayed around for several minutes – I thought it was going to land in the tress – before finally drifting off NW. I didn’t know whether to be chuffed to bits or disappointed that I had missed a superb opportunity for photography. I eventually took the approach that the glass is half full (well a bit more than that really). What an end to a cracking week or so holiday and birding.

Got home late that night and nipped round to HGF. The place was deserted as usual with 11 Great Crested Grebes, a Common Sandpiper and a Little Ringed Plover the only birds of note.