North Harbour Wall

Ringed Twite

A short visit to the North Harbour Wall saw about 30 finches on the seed, mainly Linnets but with 8/9 Goldfinches.

Although no Twite were with them, some could be heard nearby, and they came down to the seed shortly after, as a small group of 9/10 with a few Linnets. They were not down for long, being disturbed by activity within the harbour. At least four were ringed with two Machrihanish birds and two Heysham, including one recent one. 

Bits and bobs on or over the sea

Heysham Obs
Yesterday's Twite moved on as has been a feature this autumn so far - presumably an excellent supply of samphire on the saltmarsh edges.  Ian's coverage of the sea for an hour produced:

Whooper Swan - 2 north
Guillemot - 3
Goldeneye - male north with Whoopers!
Red-throated Diver - 2

Med Gull - two adults on the north wall railings
Grey Wagtail - single by outfalls

Moths
Single female December Moth, Mottled Umber and Feathered Thorn

The migratory curtain is drawn?

Heysham obs
Plenty of continental Blackbirds on Heysham nr and Middleton today but not many on the dog walk area. Very little vis as a quite thick layer of cloud at dawn. A flock of 13 twite may have been a migratory arrival as the ringed birds included at least three new for the autumn, including an old Machrihanish bird

The wader murmurations
off ocean edge and Shorefields were brilliant this morning - far more interesting than similar starling monoculture at a well known reserve!

Vis mig dawn to 0830
Chaffinch - 16
Goldfinch - 5
Redwing - 1
Alba wagtail - 1 def not ex roost
Greenfinch - 5

Grounded
Blackbird - 25 or so by office, plenty on Middleton
Song thrush - 3

The following is from Malcolm and refers to Middleton NR:

Saw cormorant flying from West directly to boating pond. Thought it was strange, as I thought there was no fish there, but this seemed to be a deliberate expedition. In less than a minute of it starting to feed it came up with a largish (about 3oz) fish. From the marked contrast between back and belly and general shape I am pretty sure it was a perch. The main food item for perch this size is insect larvae!

To catch a fish this size so quickly, and apparently regularly, must mean there is a significant population.

Other sightings:

Mute 3 + 7 cygnets

Coot 2

Moorhen 13 (mainly Tim Butler)

Tufted 4

Gadwall 4 (3 male)

Teal maximum count 60 but there were others (mainly Tim Butler)

Little egret 3 (2 on boating pond one over SW to NW)

Snipe 7

Bullfinch one feeding group of 7

No thrushes but lots of blackbirds. And we seem to have a full contingent of robins.

No migrants recorded today

Heysham Obs
The only things worthy of any mention today were two Guillemot and an adult Med Gull around the harbour mouth early afternoon

Unfortunately the available food had all disappeared at the feeding station on arrival at 1000hrs morning and there were just 5 finches around the general area but this built up to 40 ish by early afternoon but seemingly mainly Linnet (at least 23 of which at least 10 were unringed plus at least 8 Goldfinch).  The Twite seem to be moving through and not staying at the moment with the only 5 definitely seen all being unringed

Half an hours seawatching was unproductive with the wind too nw.

A Mottled Umber graced the moth trap in contrast to 78 in the trap at Millhouses! 

Another Brick on the wall

Heysham Obs

Still very finchy.

Vis 0730-0830
Chaffinch 29
Greenfinch 5
Bullfinch 3 (in one flock)
Goldfinch 35
Rock Pipit 1

Grounded
Redwing 1
Goldcrest 2
Blackbird 7+

A Green Woodpecker was on the plateau.

Moth(singular)

A Brick was unusual at this time of year.

Moth revival

Heysham Obs
Vis 0715-0815

Skylark 1
alba wagtail 4
Chaffinch 26
Greenfinch 1
Meadow Pipit 2 north
Grey Wagtail - blogging
Starling 250 out of roost

 Moths comprised 3 December moth and singles of winter moth, feathered thorn and angle shades. Ringing produced an unexpected unringed dunnock a species which has been in unprecedented numbers this year

Wet and miserable

Heysham Obs
A circuit of the reserve produced 8 Blackbird, a Reed Bunting and 6 Goldcrest

One Mottled Umber in the trap

Finches disturbed by the guy in a blue estate car who is becoming a real nuisance with his dogs but there appeared to be very few Twite but what was seen (four) were all unringed

Clear weather efforts highlighted by decent view of flyover Snow Bunting

Heysham Obs
The main feature of interest this week has been finches ringed elsewhere with two Greenfinch from unknown locations, a Goldfinch ringed on Walney and two Twite ringed at Machrihanish.  One of these was caught today and found to be a 'new' bird, not as previously thought from field views (and Janet's pics) a returning bird from previous winter.  The other one was definitely ringed this autumn and therefore new.  A Twite ringed at Sanda Isle and caught last winter was also retrapped today

Vis mig 0725-0830
Woodpigeon - our contribution to coordinated vis mig count was zero!
Chaffinch - 51
Goldfinch - 5
Meadow Pipit - 2
Greenfinch - 11
Snow Bunting - male south at 0800hrs
Redpoll spp - 2
Bullfinch - notable was a flock of 5 south followed by two singletons
alba - 2 south (definitely not ex-roost)

Grounded
Blackbird - much reduced as expected in clear conditions - just 8 seen by office
Chiffchaff - one by obs t pond first thing
Goldcrest - 4 by office


 

A rapid visit

One mist net for an hour produced a greenfinch ringed elsewhere. No moths. Pretty good vis in the hour covered with 175 chaffinch , 18 wood pigeon, one field fare, 35 goldfinch , 36 greenfinch. No chance to check grounded other than round office but this produced the highest nos of blackbird this autumn with c40 also at least 3 goldcrest. North wall sightings included Machrihanish ringed twite and a load of unringed linnet

virtually no coverage

A few Chaffinches moving in the weather breaks early morning and at least 3 Goldcrest by the office the only things of note today