Sunday, 29th May 2016

Undoubtedly the best bird of a slow day was a Puffin flying out of the bay in the morning.

Offshore
1 Shelduck east, 61 Canada Geese east, 25 Common Scoters west, 1 Gannet west, 2 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Razorbill east, 2 Auk sp. east and 1 Puffin west. Also 4 Atlantic Grey Seals.

Canada Geese

Visible Migration
8 Swallows east.

Others
48 Oystercatchers, 34 Ringed Plovers, 301 Knots, 1 Turnstone, 8 Dunlins and 6 Sanderlings.      

 Atlantic Grey Seals

Friday, 27th May 2016

There will be fewer blog postings during the next few weeks as IG is off doing some sea birding in the Pacific (lucky devil!) and SE is up to his neck in bird surveys to earn a crust!

Offshore
36 Common Scoters east, 1 Gannet east, 3 Sandwich Terns west and 2 Common Terns east.

Visible Migration 
26 Swallows north-east and 1 Siskin east.

Others
16 Ringed Plovers, 35 Knots, 300 Sanderlings, 40 Dunlins and 37 Turnstones.
 
 Sanderlings

Thursday, 26th May 2016

Offshore 
13 Common Scoters east, 2 Gannets and 1 Sandwich Tern.

Others
28 Ringed Plovers, 120 Knots, 1,500 Sanderlings, 250 Dunlins and 62 Turnstones.
 
 Ringed Plover

Sanderlings

Wednesday, 25th May 2016

Offshore 
6 Common Scoters east, 2 Manx Shearwaters east, 3 Gannets east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 
11 Swallows north-east.

Others
160 Ringed Plovers, 400 Knots, 1,200 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins and 22 Turnstones.
 
 Linnet

Tuesday, 24th May 2016

Offshore 
8 Common Scoters east, 7 Manx Shearwaters east, 12 Gannets east, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Guillemot east and 5 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration
19 Swallows north-east.

Grounded Migrants
2 Spotted Flycatchers.
 
 Spotted Flycatcher

Others 
325 Ringed Plovers, 2,000 Knots, 1,200 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins and 11 Turnstones.
 
 Turnstone
 
 Sanderlings

Monday, 23rd May 2016

Offshore 
12 Common Scoters east, 11 Manx Shearwaters east, 7 Gannets east and 1 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration:
1 Whimbrel east, 38 Swallows north-east and 3 House Martins north-east.

Others 
415 Ringed Plovers, 1,500 Knots, 700 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins and 24 Turnstones.
 
 Knot
 
 Dunlins
 
 Small Copper

Sunday, 22nd May 2016

Offshore
23 Common Scoters east, 3 Manx Shearwaters west, 13 Gannets east, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Guillemot east and 6 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration
62 Swallows north-east, 4 House Martins north-east and 1 Tree Pipit north-east.

Others:
350 Ringed Plovers, 3,000 Knots, 750 Sanderlings, 700 Dunlins, 3 Whimbrels and 31 Turnstones.
 
 Dunlins and Sanderlings

Common Blue

Saturday, 21st May 2016

Offshore
11 Common Scoters east, 14 Gannets east, 1 Guillemot east and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration
7 Swallows north-east.

Others
340 Ringed Plovers, 3,000 Knots, 700 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel and 38 Turnstones.
 
 Ringed Plovers

Sanderlings

Friday, 20th May 2016

Offshore
18 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 9 Manx Shearwaters west, 88 Gannets west, 23 Kittiwakes west, 1 Common Tern west, 3 Arctic Terns east, 33 Guillemots east, 1 Razorbill east and 47 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 
9 Swallows north-east.

Others 
215 Ringed Plovers, 1,500 Knots, 600 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins and 24 Turnstones.
 
 Linnet
 
 Hedgehog

Thursday, 19th May 2016

Offshore 
57 Common Scoters east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 2 Fulmars east, 2 Manx Shearwaters east, 78 Gannets east, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 49 Kittiwakes east, 4 Little Terns east, 2 Sandwich Terns east, 6 Arctic Terns east, 1 Guillemot east & 3 on sea and 6 Auk sp. east.
 
 Gannets

Visible Migration
1 Whimbrel east, 54 Swallows north-east and 1 House Martin north-east.
 
 Swallow

Grounded Migrants 
1 Wheatear.

Others 
168 Ringed Plovers, 1,000 Knots, 750 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 22 Turnstones, 12 Swifts and 40 House Martins.
 
 Knot

Wednesday, 18th May 2016

Offshore 
11 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 1 Manx Shearwater east, 7 Gannets, 1 Arctic Skua east, 3 Sandwich Terns and 2 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 
1 Short-eared Owl east and 21 Swallows north-east.
 
 Short-eared Owl

Grounded Migrants
1 Cuckoo, 1 Wheatear and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.
 
Wheatear
 
 Spotted Flycatcher

Others 
37 Ringed Plovers, 3,000 Knots, 500 Sanderlings, 300 Dunlins and 16 Turnstones.
 
 Whitethroat

Tuesday, 17th May 2016

Offshore
46 Common Scoters east, 9 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Fulmar east, 10 Manx Shearwaters west, 21 Gannets east, 2 Great Crested Grebes east, 6 Kittiwakes west, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Arctic Terns east, 7 Guillemots east, 1 Razorbill east and 24 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration
17 Pink-footed Geese north, 88 Swallows north-east, 5 House Martins north-east, 2 Tree Pipits north-east and 4 Redpolls east.

Others
48 Ringed Plovers, 120 Knots, 700 Sanderlings, 600 Dunlins, 1 Whimbrel and 17 Turnstones.
 
 Dunlins
 
 Sedge Warbler

Monday, 16th May 2016

Offshore
21 Common Scoters east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 9 Manx Shearwaters west, 8 Gannets, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 4 Kittiwakes east, 8 Arctic Terns east, 13 Guillemots east, 6 Razorbills east and 85 Auk sp.
east.

Further observation during the evening produced 13 Common Scoters east, 3 manx Shearwaters west, 15 Gannets, 2 Arctic Skuas east and 16 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration
4 Whimbrels east, 58 Swallows north-east and 3 House Martins north-east.

Others 
85 Ringed Plovers, 300 Knots, 600 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 5 Whimbrels and 19 Turnstones.
 
 Reed Warbler

Wall

Sunday, 15th May 2016

Offshore 
18 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-throated Divers east, 12 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns, 7 Arctic Terns east, 8 Guillemots east and 16 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration
1 Whimbrel east, 65 Swallowsnorth-east and 2 House Martins north-east.

Grounded Migrants
1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Others 
125 Ringed Plovers, 300 Knots, 700 Sanderlings, 700 Dunlins, 11 Whimbrels and 21 Turnstones.
 
 Dunlins and Sanderlings

Knot

Saturday, 14th May 2016

Offshore
16 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 15 Gannets east, 1 Great Crested Grebe east, 2 Sandwich Terns east, 250 Arctic Terns east and 2 Auk sp. west. Also 2 Harbour Porpoises.

Arctic Terns

Visible Migration 
4 Whimbrels east, 43 Swallows north-east, 3 House Martins north-east and 5 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants
1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Wheatear and 1 White Wagtail.
 
 Short-eared Owl

Others
170 Ringed Plovers, 6 Grey Plovers, 6,000 Knots, 500 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins, 3 Whimbrels and 22 Turnstones.
 
 Coots

Ringing 
2 Lesser Redpolls.

Friday, 13th May 2016

Offshore
42 Common Scoters east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 4 Gannets east, 2 Great Crested Grebes east, 2 Arctic Skuas east, 6 Kittiwakes east, 1 Little Tern east, 2 Black Terns east, 2 Sandwich Terns east, 3 Common Terns east, 172 Arctic Terns east, 2 Guillemots east, 2 Razorbills east and 22 Auk sp. east.
 
 Arctic Terns

Further observation during the evening produced 7 Common Scoters east, 3 Gannets west, 6 Sandwich Terns east and 20 Arctic Terns east.

Visible Migration
3 Whimbrels east, 1 Sand Martin north-east, 46 Swallows north-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 2 Tree Pipits north-east, 1 Siskin east and 7 Redpolls east.
 
 Swallow

Grounded Migrants
1 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcaps, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 1 Wheatear.
 
 Spotted Flycatcher

Others 
76 Ringed Plovers, 500 Knots, 140 Sanderlings, 500 Dunlins, 2 Whimbrels and 27 Turnstones.
 
 Ringed Plovers

Ringing 
1 Lesser Redpoll.
 
 Lesser Redpoll

Thursday, 12th May 2016

Today was another good forecast for some more Arctic Terns moving and arriving at the point just after dawn the first bird seen was a 2CY Great Northern Diver circling over the sea, it then flew off high east. 

Arctic Terns started moving into the bay in small parties, then another Diver was picked up flying high east along the shoreline which turned out to be a full summer plumaged Black-throat! It gave fantastic views as it flew by; see photo below. Also seen offshore this morning was a male Scaup, 3 Arctic Skuas, 2 Little terns, a single Black Tern and 618 Arctic Terns. 
 
In the late afternoon IG nipped back to Rossall to check the waders and to see if any Arctic Terns were still moving. A few parties of Terns were seen so it was a quick dash home for tea then back out for an evening
seawatch; an old birding master used to say "time out equals birds in"!
 
Arctic Terns were passing in small parties and then three superb Pom Skuas came into the bay. After they passed IG was writing them into his notebook and looked up to see a bird flying east along the shoreline; bins up, F****** Hell a Caspian Tern! The bird then flew  north-east low over the sands towards Wyre Light before being lost. IG managed to fumble a few record shots while trying to watch the bird! This is the second record for the site after a bird flew past in July 2007. 

Caspian Tern

Offshore
10 Shelducks east, 1 male Scaup east, 133 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 4 Red-throated Divers east, 1 Black-throated Diver east, 1 Great Northern Diver east, 6 Manx Shearwaters east, 40 Gannets east, 3 Arctic Skuas east, 22 Kittiwakes east, 1 Little Gull east, 2 Little Terns east, 1 Black Tern east, 9 Sandwich Terns east, 1 Common Tern east, 618 Arctic Terns east, 3 Guillemots east and 11 Auk sp. east.
 
 Black-throated Diver

Kittiwakes

Further observation during the evening produced 6 Common Scoters east, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers east, 2 Gannets west, 3 LM Pomarine Skuas east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Little Gulls east, 1 Black Tern east, 4 Sandwich Terns east, 187 Arctic Terns east and 1 Caspian Tern east.
 
 Arctic Terns

Visible Migration
24 Whimbrels east, 5 Swifts, 3 Sand Martins north-east, 207 Swallows north-east, 11 House Martins north-east, 5 Tree Pipits north-east, 11 Goldfinch east, 7 Linnets east and 5 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants 
1 Whinchat and 2 Wheatears.

Others
180 Ringed Plovers, 5,000 Knots on Kings Scar Island, 170 Sanderlings, 800 Dunlins, 33 Whimbrels, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and 35 Turnstones.

Wednesday, 11th May 2016

Offshore 
51 Common Scoters east, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 3 Gannets east, 1 Arctic Skua east, 2 Black Terns east, 4 Sandwich Terns, 144 Arctic Terns east and 2 Guillemots east.
 
 Arctic Terns

Visible Migration
18 Whimbrels east, 1 Greenshank east, 22 Swallows north-east, 1 Tree Pipit north-east and 5 Goldfinch east.

Grounded Migrants 
2 Wheatears.

Others
160 Ringed Plovers, 6 Grey Plovers, 3,000 Knots, 150 Sanderlings, 1,000 Dunlins, 8 Whimbrels and 31 Black-tailed Godwits.
 
 Dunlin, Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings

White Wagtail

Ringing
2 House Sparrows, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Lesser Redpoll.
 
 Goldfinch

Tuesday, 10th May 2016

Offshore
9 Common Scoters, 3 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns, 4 Common Terns and 8 Arctic Terns east.
 
 Arctic Terns

Visible Migration 
5 Whimbrels east, 48 Swallows north-east, 2 House Martins north-east, 1 Tree Pipit north-east, 3 Siskins east and 8 Redpolls east.

Grounded Migrants 
12 Whitethroats, 2 Wheatears and 3 White Wagtails.

Others
215 Ringed Plovers, 7 Grey Plovers, 1,200 Knots, 175 Sanderlings, 2,000 Dunlins, 14 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Whimbrels.
 
 Whinchat

Ringing 
2 Whitethroats.
 
 Whitethroat