Heysham Obs
The only coastal coverage today was a quick gathering up of an actinic left in the iconic SD36V where the "highlights" were the first records of Parsnip Moth and indeed Square Spot Rustic for the 10km square!
North harbour wall
Med Gull - Czech-ringed bird and a 2CY on the railings in true 'winter' mode
Office area and Middleton NR
Vis
Grey Wagtail - a decent passage with at least 23 birds south, including flocks of 5 + 4 and 13 colour-ringed (would have been more but for a broken shelf-string at a critical (very early) time!)
Tree Pipit - one south
Swallow - perhaps 200 S, mainly mid-morning onwards
House Martin - 25 S
Goldfinch - at least 15 seeming to be on migration to the south
Meadow Pipit - none
alba Wagtail - 3 south
Grounded
The office area suggested that it was 'all' leftovers with just three Chiffchaff in residence. Difficult to judge at Middleton with low single figures of 'new' Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap but 'wetland warbler species' conspicuous by their absence
Moths
See above, also 16 Lime-speck Pug and 7 Agonopterix nervosa in the trap. The office trap held single Magpie, Dark Sword Grass, 8 Silver Y and the usual stuff included half a dozen Treble Bar
Butterflies
The census included four Small Copper together in the heathland area
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.