Twite at Heysham harbour, Lancashire

March 19, 2010:
There was a flock of more than fifty Twite, very active and mobile, close to the harbour at Heysham this afternoon. They were mostly in the sea-wall area but rarely stayed in one place for more than a minute or so.





They frequently perched as a tight group on the metal railings and fence posts and, on one occasion, high up on the liquid gas storage tanks. Occasionally they would come to the ground to feed but didn't stay down for long. They seemed nervous and easily disturbed but occasionally were approachable to within ten metres or so. Some of them were ringed much of which will have been done locally but other ringed birds may be from further afield.









One of the Heysham-ringed birds (below) with the pale blue ring