Saturday 7 July 2012

Ruddy Shelduck visit earlier this week

Heysham Obs
Thanks to Sandra and John for showing us pics of two Ruddy Shelduck which were on the mudflats by Ocean Edge saltmarsh on 2/7/12.  Just going out to see if they are still around.

Thanks very much to Sandra and John for these pics which suggest two female or immature Ruddy Shelduck with no obvious evidence of any hybridisation.  They are part of an established pattern of summer post-breeding influxes, perhaps from a feral population in the Netherlands or elsewhere

Outfalls/Red Nab
Curlew - influx with 221 on Red Nab, then flushed on to mudflats off OE
Redshank - 31 - influx
Grey Plover - 9
Med Gull - the first juvenile of the autumn on the outfalls, at least 3 2CY, including the strikingly black-headed bird but only one adult could be found
Kittiwake - 2CY
no terns on the incoming tide

Office area
Swift - at least 30 high to the south & others heard
Greenfinch - 15 new birds ringed on the feeder
Chaffinch - 5 as above
Ones and twos of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff ringed during the morning in the office nets

Moths
The first Common Rustic & Chilo phragmitella of the year.