Black Guillemot

31st May 2015 – overcast/showers WNW4/5/6
Offshore
Morning observations (0815-0915) produced a Black Guillemot amongst 80 Guillemot and 9 Razorbill. Also seen were 200 Manx Shearwater, 70 Gannet, 17 Sandwich Tern, 11 Kittiwake, 10 Arctic Tern, 7 Common Scoter, 6 Fulmar and 2 Red-throated Diver. In addition, a flock of 800 Common Scoter drifted into Morecambe Bay on the rising tide.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Wheatear and single Spotted Flycatcher and Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Dunlin, 65 Bar-tailed Godwit and 10 Grey Plover.
Moths
The Cabbage Moth was new for the year.
Ringing
The poor spring passage was reflected in the monthly ringing totals with just 60 birds of 16 species handled. Individual species totals were as follows (retraps and controls in brackets). Chiffchaff 4 (1), Willow Warbler 4, Linnet 3 (1), Starling 2, Tree Sparrow 2, Greenfinch 2 (1), Goldfinch 2 (24), Lapwing 2, Whitethroat 2, Woodpigeon 1, Swallow 1, Dunnock 1 (2), Sedge Warbler 1 (1), Garden Warbler 1, Blackcap 1 and Reed Bunting 1

Migrants continue to trickle through

30th May 2015 – sunny spells NW3/4
Offshore
A check of the sea (0745-0845) only produced 80 Guillemot, 20 Gannet, 10 Razorbill, 8 Common Scoter, 6 Manx Shearwater, 4 Sandwich Tern and a Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 9 Wheatear and a Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of House Martin and Swallow continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 700 Dunlin.

Common Tern and Stock Dove

29th May 2015 – sun and showers WNW5
Offshore
An afternoon check of the sea provided 65 Gannet, 12 Guillemot, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Kittiwake, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Arctic Tern and 2 Common Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 7 Wheatear.
Diurnal Migration
A Stock Dove was the first of the year.
Moths
Elephant Hawkmoth, Small Elephant Hawkmoth and Poplar Hawkmoth were all attracted overnight.

Puffin influx

25th May 2015 – overcast W3
Offshore
Morning observations (0730-0900) produced a total of 4 Puffin amongst 300 Guillemot and 20 Razorbill. Also logged were 83 Manx Shearwater, 24 Common Scoter, 24 Gannet, 22 Sandwich Tern, 14 Kittiwake and 2 Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
A singing Lesser Whitethroat was recorded.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Swallow and House Martin continue to trickle through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The group of 4 Black-tailed Godwit remain.
Moths
The number of moths attraxcted to the light trap overnight continue to increase and included an immigrant Silver Y amongst 100 Brown Silver-line whilst Garden Carpet, Small Square Spot and Clouded Bordered Brindle were all new for the year.

The sea provides the main interest

24th May 2015 – early drizzle W4
Offshore
Morning observations as the drizzle cleared (0800-0900) revealed 170 Guillemot, 93 Common Scoter, 20 Manx Shearwater, 17 Gannet, 14 Razorbill, 4 Kittiwake and single Fulmar, Red-throated Diver and Arctic Skua.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 5 Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
A group of 4 Black-tailed Godwit were logged.

Great Northern Diver

21st May 2015 – bright and sunny SW4
Offshore
An evening check of the sea revealed 300 Common Scoter and a summer plumaged Great Northern Diver along with 19 Kittiwake, 8 Sandwich Tern, 3 Gannet and a Guillemot.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings were limited to singles of Wheatear, Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 50 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Black-tailed Godwit.
Moths
At last a decent haul from the moth trap with 74 moths of 10 species – easily the biggest attraction of the year so far. Tawny Shears, Lychnis, Turnip and Least Black Arches were all new for the year.

Bonxie new for the year

17th May 2015 – overcast W4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0745-0915) again provided variety with a single Great Skua new for the year. Also seen were 114 Sandwich Tern, 105 Guillemot, 100 Gannet, 73 Kittiwake, 51 Manx Shearwater, 6 Razorbill, 5 Red-throated Diver, 4 Fulmar and 2 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 2 Wheatear and a Lesser Whitethroat.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 21 Whimbrel.
Moths
Small Elephant Hawkmoth and Rustic Shoulder Knot were new for the year.

Seabirds dominate sightings

16th May 2015 – bright and sunny W4/5
Offshore
Again observations on the rising tide (0730-0900) provided variety rather than quantity with 170 Guillemot, 100 Sandwich Tern, 50 Gannet, 18 Kittiwake, 17 Manx Shearwater, 13 Common Scoter, 12 Razorbill, 6 Little Tern, 2 Pomarine Skua, 2 Puffin, 2 Red-throated Diver and single Arctic Skua and Fulmar.
Grounded Migrants
Limited to 5 Wheatear.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included: 3630 Dunlin, 1000 Knot, 400 Ringed Plover, 300 Turnstone, 290 Sanderling, 31 Whimbrel and single Greenshank and Golden Plover.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow made another appearance in the log and at least one Little Egret continues to linger.

Garganey newly arrived

12th May 2015 – bright and sunny SW6/7
Offshore
A short evening check of the sea revealed 30 Sandwich Tern, 2 Kittiwake and single Arctic and Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear continue to dominate with 40 birds logged, also seen were single Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaff and Blackcap along with 2 White Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
A pair of Garganey arrived to provide the highlight of the day, waders included 3000 Dunlin and 12 Whimbrel..
Moths
Dog’s Tooth and Angle Shades have now emerged.
Ringing
A Chiffchaff bearing ring sequence HXL*** was controlled – details are awaited with interest.

Spotted Flycatcher new for the year

11th May 2015 – early rain then sunny spells S5/6/7
Offshore
An evening check on the tide (1730-1800) produced 38 Manx Shearwater, 28 Sandwich Tern, 10 Guillemot, 6 Gannet and single Red-throated Diver and Fulmar.
Grounded Migrants
A Spotted Flycatcher was newly arrived and additional sightings included 50 Wheatear along with single Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
A single Swift was logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Gadwall remains and waders included 1000 Knot and 24 Whimbrel.
Butterflies & Moths
A Painted Lady was recorded and immigrant moths were limited to a Dark Sword Grass.

Late Merlin flies through

10th May 2015 – overcast/early showers NE3/4 then S4/5
Offshore
Morning observations (0730-0830) produced 127 Guillemot, 48 Sandwich Tern, 13 Common Scoter, 11 Gannet, 9 Manx Shearwate, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Arctic Skua and a Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
Sightings included 24 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap and single Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Totals of 30 Swallow, 2 House Martin and 2 Swift flew through during the morning.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 38 Whimbrel and a Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
A late Merlin was logged.
Moths
Immigrants were limited to a Silver Y while The Herald and V Pug were new for the year.

Yellow Wagtail

9th May 2015 – rain clearing W3/4
Offshore
Observations (0930-1030 & 1300-1400) produced 103 Sandwich Tern, 25 Gannet, 6 Red-throated Diver, 5 Manx Shearwater, 5 Guillemot and single Fulmar and Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 16 Wheatear while other sightings included the first Yellow Wagtail of the year.
Diurnal Migration
A Swift flew through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The drake Gadwall remained and waders included 22 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
Three Raven were the best of the rest.
Moths
Shuttle-shaped Dart was new for the year.

Osprey flies through

8th May 2015 – bright start rain later SE3
Offshore
A single Arctic Skua was the pick of the birds recorded over the sea.
Grounded Migrants
A Whinchat was amongst 20 Wheatear but single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were the best of the rest.
Diurnal Migration
An Osprey headed north at 1300hrs.
Wildfowl and Waders
A drake Gadwall was newly arrived and waders included 25 Whimbrel.
Moths
The first Shuttle-shaped Dart have now emerged.

Wheatear numbers continue to build

7th May 2015 – bright and sunny NW3/2
Offshore
A check of the sea provided just 20 Sandwich Tern, 3 Arctic Skua (2 pale, 1 dark)and 2 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
At least 2 Whinchat were amongst 70 Wheatear but otherwise sightings were limited to 2 Chiffchaff and single Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 1000 Dunlin and 8 Whimbrel.
Moths
Immigrants involved single Silver Y and Dark Swordgrass.

Evening skus

6th May 2015 – overcast/rain SW5/6 drier later
Offshore
Evening observations after the rain relented (1700-1800) were led by a full-tailed pale phase Pomarine Skua amongst 13 Arctic Skua (10 dark, 3 pale) heading into the bay. Also seen were 28 Gannet, 25 Common Scoter, 16 Sandwich Tern, 11 Manx Shearwater, 9 Guillemot, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Little Tern and 2 Kittiwake.
Grounded Migrants
Wheatear continue to increase with 40 birds logged, however, the only other evidence of migration involved a single Willow Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 20 Whimbrel.
Moths
The first Brown Silver-line of the year finally appeared in the light trap.

Evening dash round

5th May 2015 – rain at times SW4/5/6
Grounded Migrants
An early evening dash around before the rain once again set in revealed 30 Wheatear but little else of note.
Wildfowl and Waders
A handful of Teal and 2 Shoveler continue to linger while waders included 22 Whimbrel and 2 Greenshank.
Mammals
An Otter provided the highlight.

Swift and Garden Warbler

4th May 2015 – bright and sunny SW5/4/3/2
Offshore
Morning observations on the rising tide (0745-0945) produced variety rather than quantity with 130 Guillemot, 90 Arctic Tern (flocks of 30+60 high into the bay), 76 Gannet, 68 Kittiwake, 66 Sandwich Tern, 58 Manx Shearwater, 21 Whimbrel, 11 Common Scoter, 7 Little Tern, 6 Red-throated Diver, 6 Razorbill, 3 Fulmar, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and an Arctic Skua logged. Later observations added a further 34 Sandwich Tern and 10 Little Tern.
Grounded Migrants
A small influx of Sedge Warbler was evident into breeding areas and grounded migrants involved a Whinchat amongst 24 Wheatear, 2 Blackcap and single Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff.
Diurnal Migration
Although the first Swift of the year flew through there was no obvious evidence of hirundine passage.
Wildfowl and Waders
A few Teal and 2 Shoveler remain and waders included 3000 Dunlin, 40 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Golden Plover.

Whimbrel hit a century

3rd May 2015 – rain SE5/6, Fog SW3 later
Offshore
A check over the sea (1300-1400) as the rain relented revealed 100 Sandwich Tern, 20 Arctic Tern (one flock heading into the bay) 11 Little Tern, 5 Gannet, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and single Red-throated Diver and Shag before the fog closed in.
Grounded Migrants
Just 3 Wheatear, 2 Willow Warbler and 2 Blackcap were logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 100 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
At least two Little Egret remain in residence.

Puffin brace

2nd May 2015 – overcast SE4
Offshore
It was generally quiet over the sea (0700-0800) with the exception of 2 Puffin that flew into the bay, the supporting cast involved 29 Common Scoter, 21 Manx Shearwater, 2 Red-throated Diver and a Gannet. Later observations (0930-1000) added 120 Sandwich Tern, 15 Little Tern, 2 Arctic Tern and single Shag and Red-throated Diver.
Grounded Migrants
nothing evident!.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 23 Golden Plover, 3 Whimbrel and single Black-tailed Godwit and Greenshank.

Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler

1st May 2015 – bright and sunny NE2
Grounded Migrants
Only a smattering with 18 Wheatear, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat and single Redstart and Grasshopper Warbler.
Wildfowl and Waders
Waders included 70 Golden Plover and 21 Whimbrel.
Miscellaneous
The long-staying Hooded Crow and at least one Little Egret remain in residence.
Butterflies
The first Red Admiral of the year was logged.