Dim.........but nice.

The dimness in the title refers to the visibility this morning. A very heavy mist till late morning. The sun broke through at lunchtime, it then remained warm and sunny with a light variable breeze.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report by Jean:

Thick fog put paid to the vis for most of the morning. Seven flocks of Pink-footed Geese heard throughout the morning but not seen ie invisible vis. 

Ringing

32 new birds of 9 species were caught, plus 6 retraps

Ringing consisted mainly of birds coming to the feeders, especially Goldfinches. 14 were caught and ringed but when the sun finally came out at half eleven and dried the knapweed seeds, 50 Goldfinches descended on the natural food instead of going to the nyjer feeders and so evaded the nets.

Other migrants ringed included 4 Grey Wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler and 4 Robins. Robins are included as a migrant as previous captures at Heysham have shown some move south from Scotland. 

Also ringed:

3 Blue Tits 

3 Great Tits

1 Dunnock

1 Greenfinch

There were a few retraps:

1 Blue Tit from earlier this year

2 Great Tits, one recent one and one that was ringed as a nestling in one of the nest boxes in the Landscape Strip in 2021

1 Dunnock from this year

A male Blackcap with a shiny new looking ring appeared but the number on it was one I didn't recognise. Waiting for details. 

South Shore

I had a walk out on the shore from the saltmarsh on the rising tide this morning (Malcolm).

It felt surreal, the mist cut out all external noise. The only sounds were the regular cackle of Pink Footed geese above the mist (no way of knowing how many birds involved) The haunting calls of 100+ Curlew. And a singing Cetti's warbler just to the south of the caravan park.

Pink-Footed goose at least 7 skeins involved, but possibly some going round in circles.

Shelduck 7

Shelduck through the mist

Mediterranean gulls 11 - 10 adult plus a 2nd calendar year (none ringed)

Adult Mediterranean gulls

Adult and 2cy Mediterranean gull (right)

Common gull 6

Adult Common gull

Waders on the shore

Some of today's waders, many more were out of sight

Minimum numbers:

Curlew 100

Oystercatcher 80

Grey Plover 21

Ringed Plover 2

Knot 10

Dunlin 60

Sanderling 1 juvenile - fortunately it was moving in with the tide and approached quite close (the silence is plain to hear)

Sanderling and Dunlin

Waders closer to saltmarsh:

Turnstone 1

Redshank 60

Lapwing 7

Swallow 4 south - they appeared out of the mist and zipped past me, two either side of my head!

Meadow Pipit 2 heard only

Wheatear 1 on foreshore, slightly unusual, as it was sat rather then stood 

Wheatear

Sedge Warbler 1 (two warblers seen/heard, not bad for a shore walk). It was at the RedNab end of the foreshore, just before the wood plank barrier.

Sedge Warbler 

This is two clips together, in the second half it is polishing off a crane fly. By this time the mist was lifting and the sounds of the world returning.

Kevin Eaves checked from the saltmarsh to Red Nab early evening, by that time there were:

Wheatear 2 - one each foreshore and Red Nab

Stonechat 1 female type, by the saltmarsh 

Stonechat