Vis continues all day with little pulses of activity

Heysham Obs
One of those days when counting vis required the utmost concentration and that was not possible for lengthy spells due to various activities. Unfortunately we made the wrong call on the Grey Wagtail ringing and tried to conserved the large tape (only lasts three hours) and use the previously effective CD player plus accompanying MP3.  Fine for leisurely low-flyers but this morning's birds were higher and purposeful and, in association with background noise, I have never seen tapes so ineffective, notably a flock of five which were presumably listening to each other's contact calls and didn't even hesitate.

Under-recorded vis mig until about 1100hrs
Meadow Pipit - 242 SE
Grey Wagtail - 15 SE (including flocks of 4+5 which flew straight over)
Chaffinch - 19 SW
Pink-footed Goose - no over the sea observations & just one flock of 23 SE first thing
alba Wagtail - 37 SE
Siskin - heard once
Skylark - 3 SE
Swallow - just the one south
Little Egret - two purposefully south and high at 0725 (ex-Leighton roost?)

Grounded
A little more than yesterday, especially on the Robin front but goodness knows how many with so many territorial birds around as well.  The 'mound' is a good indicator of the potential numbers and a few found the mist nets

Robin - 9 on the mound (all but one migrants), 4 ringed - plenty of ticking and chasing
Chiffchaff - probably three passed through by office
Goldcrest - 2 very early on then nothing.  Where on earth are the British juveniles?
Wheatear - 3 Ocean Edge area
Song Thrush - at least 4 migrants

Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Red Nab was flushed prior to the tide - this has not happened very much recently, even with the angling ban further down the seawall.  Gulls were also dispersed on the flying ant trail, very late for this activity
Med Gull - just 5 seen

Ringing
The nets were pretty ineffective this morning with just 20 birds ringed and just two of the main study species, Grey Wagtail

Moths
Red-line Quaker was new for the year (3) and Flame Shoulder was late for here

Night migrant-free murk

Heysham Obs
Late evening update
Middleton was investigated for Swallows this evening and after talking to two dog walkers a net was erected.  At first there was nothing around until a very tightly-packed high-flying gang appeared about 1900hrs.  These were targeted by a falcon spp, probably Merlin, over the golf course.  After a late (for here) Reed Warbler on the initial check, I was just about to take down when 38 Swallows entered the net.  As seems to be regular at this stage of the season, 9/38 were adults.  The total roost was estimated at 120 birds

Also seen were four Gadwall and a flighty flock of 3 Shoveler which appeared to head off east.  A Barn Owl has been seen recently and at least one sighting of a Little Owl (per late evening dog walkers)

The opposite of what might have been expected this morning.  Lowish cloud and murk produced a reasonable 'cross-bay' vis of Meadow Pipit and a few other odds and ends, all flying as high as they could without being out of sight in the cloud and also showing a considerable degree of urgency on a NW to SE heading.  In contrast, there was very little of the usual Chaffinch-dominated low-level vis from the direction of Heysham Head along the coast.  The other feature was a complete absence of night migrants - the AA rings are in danger of going rusty apart from the odd Wren - other than a very early calling Chiffchaff and a small gang of Song Thrush

Thanks to Bryan for help with the vis mig

Vis mig dawn to 1030ish
Skylark - 1
Meadow Pipit - 245
Swallow - 12
Chaffinch - 15
Grey Wagtail - 9 (unusually at least 3 birds seemed not to hear the tape)
alba Wagtail - 9
Reed Bunting - 1
Goldfinch - just 3 high-flyers

Grounded
Chiffchaff - 1
Song Thrush - flock of 3 headed inland

Red Nab/outfalls
Quick check produced 4 Sandwich Tern plus about 9 Meds

Ringing
5 Grey Wagtail was a bit below par given the perfect mist-netting conditions (see above), the rest of the 50-ish catch consisted of finches, couple of Dunnock, one Blue Tit and a few Meadow Pipit

Moths
A good catch e.g. double-figures of Pink-barred Sallow but the only surprise was a second brood Acleris forsskaleana

A day nothing much happened

Heysham Obs
By far the best was a Lesser Whitethroat seen briefly and heard calling by the office late afternoon

The morning consisted of 2.5 hours of mist nets without a single bird (the feeders had run out the day before and there was no vis/grounded)

It was WeBS day and only had time to observe the latter stages of the incoming tide with at least 20 Meds scattered around

For the second day running there appeared to be hordes on the seawall towards the outfalls although some of these seemed to be dog walkers, but not a peep as regards posting the Bonaparte's Gull, although didn't get chance to speak to anyone directly.  So its done its calm-sea bunk again?

176 Turnstone were on the wooden jetty but the views obtained could not rule out Purple Sandpiper lurking in the flock.  78 Cormorants were also there

A rather odd murky morning

Heysham Obs
Seven Grey Wagtails colour-ringed in warm sector murk with hardly any vis mig?  Odd!  They comprised a singleton, a couple and a flock of four with only at least one and probably two other birds recorded.  All of them appeared between 0635 and 0715hrs, earlier than might be expected in the conditions

As far as I am aware, the Bonaparte's Gull did not perform this morning and it certainly did not appear to do its routine of bathing on Red Nab on the incoming tide. With the offshore wind, it may be resting on the calm seas around/off the harbour mouth

Vis mig by the office dawn to about 0945hrs
Meadow Pipit - just 16 SE
Grey Wagtail - 8, possibly 9 SE, then two flew north at Ocean Edge at 1130hrs
alba Wagtail - 5 SE
Chaffinch - 17 S at low level

Grounded
Just two Chiffchaff and one of the two unringed Robin caught was suggestive of a migrant on weight/fat

Outfalls/Red Nab
Good lot of Med Gulls!
Med Gull - 9 1CY, 5 2CY and 9 adult-type.  Some of the adults were resting on the sand off Ocean Edge but the only ringed birds were 'our' yellow-ringed bird 2P96 and a below the knee metal on an adult.  In addition, the Czech-ringed veteran was patrolling the north wall, therefore minimum  of 24 birds 
Little Gull - 3CY outfalls

Moths
Red-green Carpet and especially Brick were early.  A small plume still to be identified.

Mainly Pinks

The Bonaparte's Gull was on Red Nab again.  Also Little Gull.

But most notable today were the overhead squadrons of Pink-footed Geese - 803 counted by Bryan this morning.  This detailed report was received later from Bryan - Thanks very much for this:


"Enjoyed myself this morning at Heysham from 0845hrs to 1040hrs,
unfortunately there was minimal passerine or hurundine movement,
although I would have thought the conditions were OK.

A good couple of hours on the Pink Footed Goose which again where going
through on a reasonable regular basis throughout although they had
started to "lull" after 1000hrs. The geese were coming through at all
levels (mainly high) on a far broad front eg: perhaps about four
parties actually came directly over the "Office" or nearabouts, but the
main were crossing over the bay and well back, in fact the last party
looked as though they could have been as far back as "Piel Island" and
also a couple of parties were well inland almost as far as you can
see. Observations were made from the top of the "Mount" nearto the
office and overlooking the bay (good vista).

Pink Footed Goose: 803 (15 skeins,
40,32,40,30,30,45,16,50,130,50,150,50,50,80,5) all coming
from North/North West to South/South West. I did not notice any "East"
influence today.

Meadow Pipit: 5
Chaffinch: 5
Swallow: 15
Goldfinch: 5 (one party)

On leaving Heysham, the hirundines were picking up a little, though
difficult to count because of the erratic variant directions and
undecided as to which were local or on direct migration.

Of note which I did mention to the chaps, when I first bobbed my head
above the "Mount" level and looking directly in front there were
literally "thousands" of dark birds crossing through the back of the
power station which kept a straight line and must have been about 40
birds deep going from NW to SE. It was really thick and you could
see birds from as far left to as far right on that lineage. I never
really got into it, caught out with the immediate "happening" but can
only think that perhaps they were Oyks, although I did not see any
"white" flashes at all, everything seemed deep black (probably
silhouetted) but first immpressions was like I see with the Jackdaws as
they leave roost, but these were tight in a deep line just like you get
with the Starlings as they leave the roost, but far bigger birds. I
wish now I had took much more note on this, but why I mention it now is
purely because the chaps did not know of what they could have been and
obviously this does not appear to be a regular "noticeable" event.

I will probably be back to Heysham again on Monday.

Regards,
Bryan."


Ringing 
Grey Wagtail - 6 trapped and colour ringed
Chaffinch - 4
Goldfinch - 6
Greenfinch - 6
Blue Tit - 6
Great Tit - 1
Dunnock - 3

Moths
Lunar Underwing in the hut trap


ajd

Bonapartes in the rain

Heysham Obs
The Bonaparte's Gull was back to its old routine of bathing in the channel on Red Nab on the incoming tide allowing three of us (including Bryan Yorke) good views at about 0945hrs.  Also there were 11 Med Gulls, including two 1CY now in full 1st winter plumage

Varied morning headed by massive Pink-foot movement

Heysham Obs
Quite a bit of stuff around this morning and it should definitely have been a dawn start as there was a good landbird vis window for at least 2.5hrs

Vis mig by the office 0745-0930 on and off
Grey Wagtail - 8 SE (3 out of the 4 over after the net put up were caught and ringed) - how many went over earlier?  A further 2 SE along the seawall whilst at the outfalls
Meadow Pipit - c30 SE
Chaffinch - 5 S
Goldfinch - 4 S
Swallow - 22 Sish

Pinkfeet 0745-1215
68+30+80+60+80+120+40+400+120+70+85+46+17+130+16+25+23+11+25

Miscellany (several observers)
Bonaparte's Gull - on the pager for H2 outfalls at 0740 (no further info)
Little Gull - adult type
Kittiwake - juv behind IOM ferry
Purple Sandpiper - one seen on the wooden jetty by Jeff
Great Skua & skua spp - a loose flock of three skuas, one definite Bonxie and two all-dark small skuas at about 1000hrs heading out
Gannet - 4 together far offshore
Med Gull - seemed to be much fewer around today, esp 1CY, with just 7 of all ages seen but no low tide observations from by wooden jetty

Moths 
Reasonable catch for this time of year/cold night with 2 Black Rustic new for the year

Great evening session on the outfalls

Heysham Obs
A couple of Leach's Petrels found whilst looking down the wave troughs in the direction of Fleetwood from the Ocean Edge foreshore at high tide.  These must have cut across the bay in the marginal wind as it does not appear that any entered the bay to the north of Heysham.  Diod not arrive early enough to watch the incoming tide on the outfalls and I don't think there have been any Bonaparte's Gull sightings in some quite wet and unpleasant viewing conditions at this exposed site.  A couple of lost 'first time' observers ended up at the office cursing the site guide in Birdwatching magazine including 'why cant we go thoough the caravan site'

Various coastal places on and off, including seawatching am
Med Gull - at least 11 (7+ 1CY)
Little Gull - adult-type at long range on outfalls
Leach's Petrel - two mid/late morning heading out towards the Wyre estuary as viewed from Ocean Edge down the wave troughs.

Outfalls and area evening in perfect flat light due to cloud cover
Bonaparte's Gull - watched for the best part of an hour on and off 1800-1900 and spent most of its time on the mud between the two outfalls before feeding at the end of Heysham One, then between the two outfalls, then the end of Heysham two before landing on the tide edge just to the south of Heysham 2
Little Gull - ad-type
Sandwich Tern - one distantly out
Med Gull - at least 16, including a flock of 11 by wooden jetty

Pinkfeet
28 SE in morning, 29 in evening!

Bonaparte's return

Heysham Obs
The day was rescued spectacularly by the return of the adult Bonaparte's Gull in resplendent full winter plumage with all the requisite moult completed.  The sequence involved a scan of Heysham Two from Ocean Edge, glimpses of promise on a flying bird just beyond the small Heysham 2 jetty facing away into the wind (notably underwing), followed by a power walk down the seawall and a geriatric, wind-assisted 'run' back to the car when realised had forgotten mobile.  The tide was dropping quite rapidly and unfortunately I wasn't sure which direction it moved off the outfalls. Are Morecambe promenade observers missing a trick or is it simply feeding offshore and came in today because of rough seas? The gull flocks the other way on the Lune estuary have certainly been grilled but what about Morecambe prom?  Who is there?   

5 or so degrees north-west of forecast therefore birdless as regards seabird movement.  Go away Walney!..........blocking any chance of any seabirds in a wind which was always marginal, the majority forecast of due west always looked unconvincing in relation to the pressure chart and so it proved.  As it happened we may have missed an early morning Leach's Petrel or two as there was no-one here until 0800hrs and one flew out of the bay past Rossall at 0810hrs.

Sea/inshore (just 'our' long-stayers apart from the Gannet)
Gannet - one out
Med Gull - 8 1CY, 3 2CY, 4 Ad Red Nab to & including the harbour (10 of these behind the IOM ferry)
Kittiwake - adult stage 2 outfall briefly
Little Gull - ad type Red Nab area
Bonaparte's Gull - Heysham 2 outfall mid-morning
Leach's Petrel - one was reported as flying close inshore past the north harbour wall at about 1130hrs and another was offshore in the evening
Red-throated Diver - first of autumn - thanks Ian

Vis
Three Carrion Crows and a Meadow Pipit flew south whilst walking from car to office.

Moths
Included Frosted Orange which is not very common here with the others comprising Pink-barred Sallow,  Acleris emargana, Treble Bar, Rosy Rustic

Black Tern being dragged off by a Sandwich

Heysham Obs
No more dawn arrivals for Grey Wagtail ringing attempts/vis mig coverage for a few days!  Best of the bunch this morning was a juvenile (European) Black Tern feeding off Red Nab which unfortunately followed a fairly leisurely Sandwich tern flying towards the north Fylde.  Hopefully it will spin back on to the outfalls when these recover their 'identity' on the dropping tide.  Even better (number of records-wise) was the presumed continued presence of the same juvenile Spotted Redshank recorded a week or so ago

Outfalls/Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Grey Plover - c420 but distant
Spotted Redshank - juvenile in Ocean edge saltmarsh channel
Black Tern - juvenile flew slowly 'out' after feeding off Red Nab about 0910hrs
Sandwich Tern - adult out
Med Gull - 5 1Y, but just one each of 2CY and adult

Hopefully some more later. Haven't done the moths yet!