Saturday 10 October 2009

Leaf mining takes over from migrant searches!

Heysham Obs
Calm and foggy first thing! (c/f forecast). The title just about sums up this mornings rather poor results from reasonable coverage. A predictable arrival by a few Redwing, but the single Fieldfare was perhaps unexpected until the Caton Moor vis mig info. was received. Thanks to Malcolm, Martin & Mike for good coverage today & John for diversifying into brown patches on leaves!

Coastline birds
Little Egret - 2 OE saltmarsh creek
Kingfisher - one Red Nab
Med Gull - just the one adult seen
Linnet/Twite - up to 18/three on weed seeds by the big wheel on the south wall
Wheatear - 2

Vis mig/grounded stuff
Pheasant - female Middleton IE - mega these days
Stonechat - female Middleton IE
Redwing - 5 Red Nab first thing, then 4 over reserve 0745
Fieldfare - noisy singleton may have been grounded, then SW at c1000hrs
Chiffchaff - 3, one singing & another 4 on Middleton IE
Goldcrest - NONE
Robin - small influx
Coal Tit - 5 excitable birds
Skylark - 5 audible registrations of very high birds
Meadow Pipit - 6 SE
Blue Tit - 2 unringed birds caught
Grey Wagtail - 3 together SE on arrival
Goldfinch - 7 SE
Siskin - heard once
Chaffinch - 15 SW
Greenfinch - 2 high to south
Song Thrush - 3

Leaf mines
Mompha raschkiella, Stigmella aurella & crataegella, Parornix angicella, Phyllonorycter ragella & leucographella. Try the UK moths website for further info (see links)

Adult insects
Migrant Hawker - 2, Comma, Speckled Wood, Peacock (late for this species), 2 Red Admiral, several Speckled Wood, lots of wasps still,

Elsewhere
Nothing posted yet but a few Redwing & Fieldfare over Caton Moor early morning. 2 Great White Egret Leighton Moss, 1, 005 Black-tailed Godwit Allen Pool