Heysham Obs
Quite a bit of vis whilst sheltering behind the office between 0815 and 0845
Vis 0815-0845
Redwing - 143 SW plus 8 out of bushes, then inland
Fieldfare - 19 SW
Chaffinch - 22 SW
Greenfinch - c15 SW
Goldfinch - 6 SW
Starling - 220+250 SW (not ex-roost?)
Siskin (heard once)
alba Wagtail - 4 SE
Grounded
at least 25 Blackbird by office/tank farm at 0815
Miscellany
Med Gull - 1CY on the north wall railings & ad Red Nab
Guillemot - one inshore (thanks Mark)
Twinnet - about 27 Twite and 8 Linnet but very flighty
Wigeon - at least 75 Red Nab
Kingfisher - one inner end of Heysham one outfall
Little Gull - adult outer end of Heysham one outfall
Rock Pipit - one by the 'wheel'
Thorough but negative search for Black Redstart around the harbour and visible parts of the Power Station site. If any power station workers are reading this, please keep an eye open for this species during the coming week's weather and drop me an e-mail (see sidebar). Thanks
Insects
No moths (SE wind into window c/p 140 in the Millhouses trap!), but two Red Admiral flying south and one 'blogging' in the Nature Park during quite dull conditions for butterflies........but unseasonally warm. c8 social wasps seen today.
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.