Sightings since the last Newsletter Autumn 2001

July

The first half of the month was excellent and highlighted by hatching Avocets, Little Terns, a Red-necked Phalarope and an amazing influx of Storm Petrels.  Two unseasonal log entries (1st) comprised a Sandwich Tern and drake Common Scoter at JB Point.   A Hobby was seen at Leighton Moss (irregularly from 2nd) .   The first Avocet hatched (5th) and the second (6th), only one survived the first week.   A  Wood Sandpiper was on the Allen/EM Pools (7th-9th) along with a few Ruff, Black-tailed Godwits and Green Sandpiper.    The (10th) saw emphasis return to the sea with two Little Terns on Heysham outfalls late evening and 10 Manx Shearwaters earlier in the day.   The (11th) saw small numbers of Gannet/Fulmar/Manx Shearwater and, at last, from 1550hrs a single Storm Petrel off the Heysham north wall.   The (12th) was quite a day with documentation of a large Storm Petrel influx seriously disrupted by  a long overdue twitchable Red-necked Phalarope on the Allen Pool.    This female remained for just three hours (1400-1700) .

The Storm Petrels comprised a running total of up to 25-30 feeding off the harbour mouth/north wall, presumably on the weak 'chum' emanating from the warm water outfalls.  However, observation from the outfalls area revealed a steady passage out of the Bay and an absolute minimum of 64 individuals was involved with possibly up to 100.   At least three were seen off JB Point.   The (13th) saw 30-32 remaining in the harbour area,  but no reported passage.   The (14th) was most odd with about 6-10 around the harbour,  but the late afternoon saw a steady passage totalling c25 lying out.  This suggests that the 30-32 from the previous day had dispersed into over the inner Bay as there were certainly not the winds to blow any new birds inshore.  Therefore the birds were returning to the open sea in the much calmer weather.   This theory was backed up by no reports at/near dusk and just the one very early morning bird on (15th). 

Other birds of interest during the month included:   Adult Medterranean & Yellow-legged and first summer Little Gulls at Sandside (13th),  Sandwich tern at JB Point (14th),  2ns summer Little Gull Heysham outfalls (18th-19th),  adult Curlew Sandpiper at the Allen Pool (from 20th).   The sea produced three Arctic Skua (21st) and single Arctic Skua (22nd) - all off Heysham.  A visit to Leck Fell revealed the Long-eared Owls still calling (22nd).  The first and only juvenile Mediterranean Gull of the autumn commuted between Middleton ponds and Heysham outfalls (24th-29th).  A Wood Sandpiper visited the Allen Pool (26th).   Two adult Curlew Sandpipers were in the Cocker channel (29th) along with an adult Mediterranean Gull and Spotted Redshank.

August

This was both poor and poorly recorded with the only highlight being an adult White-rumped Sandpiper on the Allen Pool (from 29th).   The month will otherwise be dealt with chronologically.  The single adult Avocet and offspring remained until (10th).  A single Wood Sandpiper was at Aldcliffe (5th) along with the peak count of four Green Sandpiper.  Moth trapping expeditions recorded Short-eared Owls at dusk at Cross of Greet, Cold Park Wood (Wray) and the south side of Caton Moor.   A summer adult Little Gull arrived on Heysham outfalls for a long-stay to complete moult (from 11th), similarly joined by a 2nd summer moulting to adult winter (from 13th).   Another bird, which appeared to be a first summer in advanced moult to 2nd winter, was also present for a short time.    A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was briefly on the Allen Pool (12th).  A Wood Sandpiper made an evening visit to the Eric Morecambe Pool (16th).   An Osprey remained on the usual dead tree at Leighton Moss (18th-21st).   Dispersing Little Egrets arrived on cue at Sandside (from 21st), Teal Bay (two from 22nd) and Stodday (very irregularly from 26th).    Two Nuthatches flew in-off at Heysham Head (22nd).    The only decent fall of the month at Heysham produced up to 50 Wheatear and "lots" of Willow Warblers (25th).  A Little Stint was on the Allen Pool (from 30th) and another (?) Little Egret was on Glasson Marsh (31st)

September (to 23rd)

The White-rumped Sandpiper remained until 1330hrs (1st).    Other waders included up to 15 Curlew Sandpipers at Bank End/Cocker channel (peak on 8th) and up to five Little Stints on the Allen/EM Pools (peak at the end of the period).    Up to three Green  Sandpiper remained at Leighton Moss with others at Aldcliffe (2) and Conder Green.    Black-tailed Godwit records included an excellent c35 at Bank End at the end of the period with up to 16 on Bowies Pool at the same time (first visit since F & M).     A nice summer plumaged Purple Sandpiper (presumably the returning bird) was on Morecambe Stone Jetty groyne (from 20th) along with the more mobile returning Spotted Redshank.    Remaining from August were two Little Gulls on Heysham outfalls (throughout), two Little Egrets at Hest Bank/Bare (throughout but sometimes elusive and mobile), a juvenile Marsh Harrier at Leighton Moss (to 15th) and the regular Yellow-legged Gull at Glasson/Basil (to 16th at least).

Scarce birds during the month in chronological order comprised:   Osprey far offshore at Heysham (2nd), Mediterranean Gull returning to the Stone Jetty (from 4th but MAY have been bird present briefly in early August),  Spotted Crake down the main dyke at Leighton Moss (at least 10th), juvenile Little Egret at Aldcliffe (at least 11th),  Black-necked Grebe of far Arnside (9th),  Buzzard spp. feeding on a bees/wasps nest near Fairy Steps (Beetham) mid-month (not seen by any birders) and last,  but certainly not least,  an adult drake Ferruginous Duck at Leighton Moss (from 18th).

This leaves the seabirds.  No at bad month but little variety on the Leach's Petrel days with Black Tern conspicuously absent and the best bird (juv Sabines Gull) not clinched.   The main legacy of the seabirds has been the off-passage presence of what may be two Bonxies, one in the Fluke Hall/ Cockersands area and the other frequenting the RSPB properties.  The records suggest at least one simultaneous sighting (to 21st at least).   The rarest seabirds were only available to the finders;  a juvenile/ist inter Shag at Middleton, later flying towards Heysham  (16th) and a Velvet Scoter off Heysham north harbour wall (14th).     Leach's Petrels were all off Heysham unless stated:  4-6 plus one of JB Point (7th),  one off Cockersands Light (8th),   one (12th),  47 plus 7 off JB Point (13th),  one (14th).

Skuas were disappointing apart from the two Bonxies with just five juvenile Arctic (7th).   Terns were in abysmal numbers compared to previous years in similar weather.    All sightings were on (13th)  and totalled three adult Arctic and five adult and one juvenile Common.     It has been a good autumn for Red-throated Diver so far with at least 15 in the inner Bay (23rd) following the first (13th).  All appeared to be summer adults.    In addition there were good numbers of Fulmars and Gannets for September, peaking at 58 (13th) and 20+ (13th) respectively.    21 Manx Shearwaters were seen (7th) with singles on three other dates.     Unremarkable numbers of Kittiwake were seen and other records included a single Razorbill  off Heysham  (12th & 16th) also seen in the Kent Estuary.

Miscellany during the month was highlighted by a recently fledged (and still short-tailed) Corn Bunting sat on the edge of  a ploughed field along Jeremy Lane giving a very odd begging call.    This gave me quite a shock when I first saw it and it was later watched being fed by an adult.    I know of no recent evidence of Corn Bunting in this area but there is no way that the fledgling had flown any distance.    In the same area, a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was following the plough  (14th & 16th).

Passerine migration data from Heysham has been held over until the next issue, especially as most of it has been in the last few days,  highlighted by Ring Ouzel (21st)