Thursday 23 March 2017

Meadow Pipit push begins

Negative: no sign Iceland Gull

As the weather starts to improve, the Meadow Pipit passage is getting underway. Should have got to Heysham for first light though as other areas e.g. Rossall had hundreds of Mipits by 08:00

Ocean Edge 08:00
44 Meadow Pipits grounded
Wheatear - 2 males early afternoon

Visible migration
North Harbour Wall 08:15 - 09:35 
All birds heading NE into the wind. 
Meadow Pipit 152 plus 71 different over Middleton, plus 40 later 
Alba Wagtail 17
Goldfinch 2
Greenfinch 1
Linnet 2
Common Gull - 7 . All immatures. NB 25 Common Gulls on the beach in the afternoon. Mixed ages.
Black-headed Gull - 5
Red-throated Diver 4 into the Bay
Auk sp. probably Guillemot 1 into the Bay
Whooper Swan - flock of 70-75 north mid afternoon
Swallow - two north over Heysham village pm (IOY)
Peregrine 2 high. May be local.

Heysham NR 
Stonechat - female still present


Chiffchaff - at least 5 including one showing pollen from the Med!


Middleton
Total of 71 Meadow pipits over to NE. Mainly groups of 3 to 5 birds. Largest group 11. Didn't see any after 10:30, this coincides with arrival of clear weather front.
Thought I was going to be swamped with Chiffchaff, 4 around model boat pond (2 singing), but only heard one other bird singing in the rest of the circuit.
Cetti's Warbler singing loudly from middle of central marsh.
1 drake Gadwall
2 Tufted
4 Teal
1 Water rail
6 Moorhen

Butterflies


 
JR/MD/JP/PJM/PC/TW