A dry day with a light NW breeze, turning to light wind later
Heysham Nature Reserve
Report by Alan:
Just two nets set this morning in the feeder rides.
The total catch of 54 birds included 39 Goldfinches. The Goldfinches just kept coming into the net all morning and included only one retrapped bird.
Two Grey Wagtails were colour ringed and the remainder comprised 2 retrapped Blue Tits, 3 + 1 retrap Robins, 1 Dunnock and 4 + 2 retrap Great Tits.
Pink-Footed goose - a small flock flew south over Heysham at 10:00. First birds this autumn - Malcolm
South shore - Janet around lunchtime
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| Shelduck out from Red Nab |
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| Rock Pipit on Red Nab |
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| Eider |
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| Cormorants on No.1 outfall |
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| Cormorants and a Grey Heron on the wooden jetty |
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| Turnstone |
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| Juvenile Redshank |
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| White Wagtail |
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| This Vestal moth seemed to come in off the sea and landed on the slope down from Red Nab. Kevin confirmed that they are migratory and fairly uncommon |
In the Nature Park
Chiffchaff 1 singing
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| Small White |
Heysham skear - Malcolm 13:45 - 15:30
Eider 2
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| Male Eider moulting to breeding plumage and what looks to be a female |
Shag 1 immature probably 2nd calendar year
It was constantly looking in all directions
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| Cormorant for comparison |
Gulls c300 mainly Herring gulls. Three ringed birds were seen and two were new for here.
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| It really isn't as easy as this shot makes it look! Both these two were new. N:14P will be one of the Power Station birds from last year. We await details of N:43D. They weren't actually together the second birds carried on its way and I never saw it again. |
Yellow-Legged Gull 1 adult
A noticeably darker mantle than the Herring gulls that were around it
I have some shots to add here, but the blog simply refuses to upload them! They include in flight shots that support YLG identification. I've spent best part of an hour trying to find a way, goodness knows if I'll manage to post any pictures tomorrow!
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| Finally managed to upload the pictures by uploading to an old post, then cutting and pasting here. Still doesn't bode well for tomorrow though |
Sandwich Tern 1 juvenile. There was no sign of any adults, presumably the recent storm separated them. The youngster looked well, but it will need to be very lucky if it is to survive
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| Juvenile Sandwich Tern |
Oystercatcher c1500
Curlew c60
Redshank c50
Knot 6
Turnstone c70
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| Knot |
