10th October 2026

 Weather: NNW force 6/7,  backing N 6 then WNW 5 by evening

 

 A round the clock coverage from dawn to dusk was made to capture sea bird movements in the strong winds from a north westerly direction. It was not long before Manx Shearwaters appeared (6) and Leach's Petrels were flying west (22 during the whole day).

 

 A Bonxie was logged and another seen as it flew from Hoylake between Middle and Little. 

 

A light phase Arctic Skua flew came before the tide and later a juvenile dark phase flew in from the east and over the obs garden.

 

 

 

 Completing the story of the seabirds, an Arctic Tern flew west in the morning, a Common Tern was also seen and a juvenile Common Tern was over the end of the obs garden, 

... a Red-breasted Merganser flew west, 3 Gannets were out to sea, also 3 Kittiwakes and good counts of gulls: 5,100 Herring (on razor clam wreck), 52 Lesser Black-back, 45 Greater Black-back, 320 Common and 220 Black-headed. A Razorbill and a Guillemot were recorded and over 300 Common Scoter seen distantly. Twenty five Shelduck were counted and 4 Pintail were here early on. Brent were present to the tune of 150 birds.

The regular waders were here in good numbers, 7,500 Oystercatchers, 72 Grey Plover, 55 Ringed Plover, 125 Curlew, 140 Bar-tailed Godwit, 41 Turnstone, 290 Sanderling, 400 Dunlin and 65 Redshank. Five Little Egrets were on the shore. As expected few small migrants were seen but a Goldcrest and a Reed Bunting were present and a Skylark was seen over the sea.

 

Ringed : 1 Meadow Pipit

Photos: SRW