Wednesday 16 March 2011

March Moth at last!

Heysham Obs
Insects
That spectacular thin brown species, March Moth, made its rather belated debut this morning along with an Early Grey (not very common at Heysham) and a Common Quaker.  Contrasts with 205 moths in the Millhouses trap!

Birds
No obvious early morning vis migration, although Blackbirds were subtely more noticeable than usual on the reserve with two unringed (and one very lightweighht) bird caught.  Typical murky early morning to 'drop' a few on their rather hurried mid-March return passage
Twite - c55 but flight views only
Goldfinch - definite influx with 5 ringed at the office feeder net (unprecedented in spring!) and a 'sizeable flock' in the alders by the dipping pond, seemingly replacing the similar Siskin gathering of two weeks ago
Long-tailed Tit - a seemingly 'endless' supply of retraps at the feeder net indicates they have wintered rather well