Photos:
Mediterranean Gull, Knot, Grey Plover and Black Redstart at Heysham
Scaup again off Morecambe
Bar-tailed Godwit at Sunderland Point
November 13th
Got out of bed a decent time this morning so I headed off to Heysham. Two adult Meds were perched on the railings at the north harbour wall – they soon disappeared. The ringers had set up near the Twite feeding station and approx 35 birds were hanging around so I stayed in the car until they fired the net to avoid disturbing the birds. I then walked off down the mound to see if yesterdays Black Redstart was around – the glum face of a departing birder who passed me suggested not. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be so I just started scanning around. I watched a Grey Plover and 3 Knot on the rocks below the wall for a bit and then headed off to the end following a dozen or so Meadow Pipits. At the end I had a quick look at the back side of the mound and immediately spotted the Black Redstart. It followed the Mipits back along the mound, giving tantalising glimpses but never staying still.
I eventually left and headed off to Sunderland Point to see if the Snow Buntings were still around. Another glum-faced birder at the car park told me a third birder had flushed three Snow Buntings early on and they flew off. He hadn’t seen them. I headed down there anyway, stopping along the way to watch some Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits. A Sparrowhawk also flew over and a flock of 130+ Pink-footed Geese. At the point there was not much doing so I plonked myself on a rock for a bit. Around twenty minutes later I spotted three small birds flying over the Lune from the direction of Plover Scar. They reached the east side of the point and flew along this side and were then unfortunately lost in the sun’s glare. Probably the three Snow Buntings but only silhouette’s seen. I then headed off before rising tide could trap me – I saw the Sparrowhawk again on the way back to the car park.
Next I headed for Morecambe and went to the end of the stone jetty (something I rarely do) to see if the tide was bring anything in. Half an hour of staring at empty sea was rewarded when nine Barnacle Geese flew past heading south. I then had a quick scan from Broadway groyne – yesterdays three Scaup were still present along with 7 Great Crested Grebes, a drake Pochard which was way out in the bay and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers. Usual load of waders on the groyne – unfortunate I ran out of time as we then had to leave north Lancs and go back home.
Late afternoon I took Bill to HGF. It was a bit busier than of recent with four Goldeneye very welcome visitors. In 2006-09 I would typically record this species present on 40 or so days in the year – in 2010 and 2011 I can count the number of sightings on the fingers of one hand!
The Wigeon flock had increased to 37 birds since my last visit 9 days ago and there was a good sprinkling of aythya ducks with 19 Pochards and 27 Tufties. A Kestrel and 3 Buzzards were also seen.
At dusk I headed into Culcheth on errands but diverted through Rixton. At the top end of Holly Bush Lane I spotted some Starlings on a nearby pylon – around 1500 or so. Suddenly a much larger flock erupted from some trees behind the pylons – I estimate around 7500 birds were present. They swarmed and swirled around making fantastic shapes in the sky for around ten minutes before departing – I suspect heading to Rostherne.
14th November
No birding today.
Got out of bed a decent time this morning so I headed off to Heysham. Two adult Meds were perched on the railings at the north harbour wall – they soon disappeared. The ringers had set up near the Twite feeding station and approx 35 birds were hanging around so I stayed in the car until they fired the net to avoid disturbing the birds. I then walked off down the mound to see if yesterdays Black Redstart was around – the glum face of a departing birder who passed me suggested not. It wasn’t where it was supposed to be so I just started scanning around. I watched a Grey Plover and 3 Knot on the rocks below the wall for a bit and then headed off to the end following a dozen or so Meadow Pipits. At the end I had a quick look at the back side of the mound and immediately spotted the Black Redstart. It followed the Mipits back along the mound, giving tantalising glimpses but never staying still.
I eventually left and headed off to Sunderland Point to see if the Snow Buntings were still around. Another glum-faced birder at the car park told me a third birder had flushed three Snow Buntings early on and they flew off. He hadn’t seen them. I headed down there anyway, stopping along the way to watch some Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits. A Sparrowhawk also flew over and a flock of 130+ Pink-footed Geese. At the point there was not much doing so I plonked myself on a rock for a bit. Around twenty minutes later I spotted three small birds flying over the Lune from the direction of Plover Scar. They reached the east side of the point and flew along this side and were then unfortunately lost in the sun’s glare. Probably the three Snow Buntings but only silhouette’s seen. I then headed off before rising tide could trap me – I saw the Sparrowhawk again on the way back to the car park.
Next I headed for Morecambe and went to the end of the stone jetty (something I rarely do) to see if the tide was bring anything in. Half an hour of staring at empty sea was rewarded when nine Barnacle Geese flew past heading south. I then had a quick scan from Broadway groyne – yesterdays three Scaup were still present along with 7 Great Crested Grebes, a drake Pochard which was way out in the bay and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers. Usual load of waders on the groyne – unfortunate I ran out of time as we then had to leave north Lancs and go back home.
Late afternoon I took Bill to HGF. It was a bit busier than of recent with four Goldeneye very welcome visitors. In 2006-09 I would typically record this species present on 40 or so days in the year – in 2010 and 2011 I can count the number of sightings on the fingers of one hand!
The Wigeon flock had increased to 37 birds since my last visit 9 days ago and there was a good sprinkling of aythya ducks with 19 Pochards and 27 Tufties. A Kestrel and 3 Buzzards were also seen.
At dusk I headed into Culcheth on errands but diverted through Rixton. At the top end of Holly Bush Lane I spotted some Starlings on a nearby pylon – around 1500 or so. Suddenly a much larger flock erupted from some trees behind the pylons – I estimate around 7500 birds were present. They swarmed and swirled around making fantastic shapes in the sky for around ten minutes before departing – I suspect heading to Rostherne.
14th November
No birding today.
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