Sunday 11 September 2011

Hobby highlights early morning vis session


Thanks very much to Mark Breaks for these pics taken today of the 2CY Little Gull and adult Sabine's Gull. 


Heysham Obs
The Sabine's Gull appeared from about 1130hrs and remained until about 1220hrs.  A varied trickle of vis mig this morning with 'all' birds low enough to see, highlighted by a Hobby, seemingly a 2CY

Vis mig by Heysham office 0735-0835 - all birds south(ish)
Linnet - 5
Meadow Pipit - exactly 50
Swallow - 10
alba Wagtail - 19
Chaffinch - 53
Goldfinch - 31
Cormorant - two high to SE
Hobby - probable 2CY showed very well until chased off SE by Sparrowhawk - seemed to come from NW (0757hrs)
Reed Bunting - 1
Skylark - 1
Carrion Crow - purposeful southbound birds comprised 5+2
Starling - 1 SW!
Greenfinch - 6+2 seemed to 'qualify' as vis mig - high to SW and did not stop at the feeder!

Grounded on Heysham NR
Chiffchaff - 5
Goldcrest - 1

Inshore info gleaned from several observers
Sabine's Gull - adult from 1130 to about 1220hrs, then at least 1546 (1415 sighting disputed by observers on the spot)
Arctic Tern - 10 juv & 3 adult
Common Tern - 2 juv
Sandwich Tern - 3
Little Gull - ad & 2CY, latter roosting on OE saltmarsh over the tide
Med Gull - 2 adults roosting OE saltmarsh & at least 11 others of all ages
Little Egret - one OE saltmarsh creek pre-tide
Gannet - 2-3 reported
Ringed Plover - 53 Ocean Edge south beach

Insects
2 Migrant Hawker, 16 Speckled Wood and a tatty Meadow Brown on circuit of the reserve.  Some leaf mines examined but I've forgotten the names which were reeled out!