Friday 1 September 2023

Black Tern and some interesting recovery news.

A light east wind, dry with sunny spells.

South Shore
Report from Pete:
Mediterranean gull. 35 on Red Nab including one adult with green ring on right leg
Black Tern 1 juvenile seaward end hey 2 then in shipping channel behind sea truck
loads of gulls outfalls 

We have received the history of the young Mediterranean gull seen yesterday.
The bird comes from a small colony in inland Germany - Löbnitz Gravel Pit, Colony, Leipzig, Sachsen 51° 34' 49'' N 012° 28' 22'' E
Ringed as a nestling 18/06/22 it has already been seen in three different locations, including Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve Devon.

While we are on rings. A scan of the winter roosting Oystercatcher reveals a significant number with metal rings. Many of these will be from the ringing programs conducted on the Heliport earlier this century. Oystercatcher can live a long time.  Jean was contacted by Catherine Ramsay who found the ring of a recently dead bird on 09/07/23 on the Island of Mousa, Shetland. The BTO had confirmed that the bird was an Oystercatcher ringed at Heysham 12/12/08.
Found 5322 days after ringing as an adult, 671kn north of Heysham - many thanks Catherine

I only had chance for a very quick check of the south side mid afternoon, not a time of the tide I would choose (MD). 
Wheatear 2
Rock Pipit 3
Eider 1 female drifting out with the tide.
There were a number of Turnstone feeding along the sea wall. A duller bird amongst them looked promising, but it turned out to be a juvenile Knot.

Turnstone and Knot