Friday, 10th May 2019

A superb migration day with a light ESE wind and light rain at dawn.This produced a scattering of migrants and a big Arctic Tern movement.

The Terns were coming into the bay from the west out in Liverpool bay, with very few coming from the south, and two large flocks dropped in from inland. A total of 1229 Arctic Terns were recorded along with 36 Black Terns, 11 Arctic Skuas and a single Pomarine Skua. 

Grounded highlights include a Wood Warbler and seven Garden Warblers, and the vis highlight was a Marsh Harrier.

 Wod Warbler

Offshore

2 Shovelers east,181 Common Scoters east, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Red-throated Divers east, 4 Manx Shearwaters west, 17 Gannets west, 11 Arctic Skuas east, 1 Pomarine Skua east, 3 Little Terns east, 36 Black Terns east, 40 Sandwich Terns, 2 Common Terns, 1229 Arctic terns east and 1 Little Gull east.

 Arctic Terns

Arctic Skua

Visible Migration

63 Pink-footed Geese north, 1 Marsh Harrier east early afternoon, 1 Merlin - perched on a groyne in the rain before flying NE out over the bay, 4 Swifts east, 28 Swallows north-east, 2 House Martins north-east, 1 Yellow Wagtail east, 1 Redpoll east and 3 Goldfinch east.

 Marsh Harrier

Merlin

Grounded Migrants

1 Cuckoo, 1 Wood Warbler, 3 Willow Warblers, 7 Garden Warblers, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroats, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchats, 8 Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail and 1 Tree Pipit.

 Whinchat

Others

4 Little Egrets, 85 Ringed Plovers, 49 Whimbrels, 14 Turnstones, 350 Sanderlings and 500 Dunlins.