Bits and pieces

Heysham obs
2cy shag in harbour

130 eider and ad med gull north wall

Ad kittiwake following iom ferry and ad med (same?) Heysham one outfall

Stoat Middleton nr

Thanks to Lou and Justine

Wednesday 28th jan

Just the 2cy shag in the harbour to report today (thanks tom)

Twite with Finches

North Harbour Wall

Increased number of Finches coming down to seed mid-afternoon
c 40 comprising
25 Goldfinch
10 Linnets and at least
4 Twite (already ringed)

Middleton nr
Usual cr grey wagtail bottle dump area
30 teal
5 tufted duck
4 gadwall
Little egtet

26 January early morning pinks

Heysham obs

Pink footed goose - 700 on mudflats off ocean edge pre dawn then flew north in three lots. 200 north just after dawn

Ad med north wall

20 goldfinch and 10 linnet on seed

Another Grey Wagtail sighting

Heysham Obs
When catching and ringing vis mig Grey Wagtails and watching them climb back into the stratosphere heading south-east on release, we did not expect a load of sightings to be 'just down the road' or in two cases this winter, actually staying at Middleton.  Originally we thought the 'local' sightings might have been due to them being early morning ex-roost rather than "genuine" vis mig (sizeable wagtail roost within the power station with  scattering of Greys seen heading there in the evening).  However, the timing of ringing of these 'local' birds did not correlate with early morning ex-roost timing and ringing times were scattered throughout the morning, with no obvious interim loitering spots for ex-roost birds to confuse the timing issue.  So whilst there have been some lengthy movements (especially the quick one to Skokholm), as also suggested by the regular exodus of this species as recorded at e.g. Portland, it is clear that 'vis mig' for some of them might simply be a flight across Morecambe Bay to the first tasty bit of wintering habitat not already occupied.  In this respect, a high proportion of the autumnal birds are on a NW to SE heading with a seemingly concentrated flight-line towards and over the obvious landmark, Heysham Power Stations

Today's sighting involved a lengthy observation of a settled and seemingly habitual wintering bird (rather than a very early movement) at Warton Bank, north Ribble Shore and involved a bird ringed at Middleton NR as one of the latest of the 2014 passage migrants on 7th October.  Thanks to Ian Walker for documenting this


Webs highlights
Not a lot - the Purple Sandpiper could not be located
Med Gull - TWO adults Fisher's roof
Shag - 2CY in harbour

Gotcha

Awaiting news for today.  Meanwhile here is a gull that was successfully fishing in the harbour:

Green Woodpecker joins the year list

Heysham Obs
A very fortunate addition today whilst checking the model boat pond in the form of a Green Woodpecker flying towards the golf course - usually need to work a bit harder for this species here.  A miserable one point, though, on the Patchwork Challenge


Shag - 2CY by grill/waterfall
Med Gull - ad fishers roof at high tide
House Sparrow - 7 by Half moon bay cafe

Guillemot woes

Heysham Obs

This is the cr Grey Wagtail residing near the bottle dump on Middleton - the site code and BTO ring visible on the left leg.  Thanks Janet.

The Guillemot was found floundering on Red Nab and was brought to the office by the Doggy Tired company (thanks Ann) and the best solution seemed to be to despatch it in the harbour by the waterfall where there is plenty of food and it would give the Shag some company......

The 2CY Shag was duly present

Med Gull north harbour wall 

When junk is not junk

Heysham Obs
Completely mystified as to why some stuff goes into the junk folder and other stuff of far less interest comes through the inbox.  Need to start checking the junk daily.

Therefore belated thanks to Mike for reporting the pale blue over yellow Grey Wagtail on the 19th Jan from the shallow pools on the road by the bottle dump at Middleton.  It really likes this sheltered picturesque area

Ad Med north harbour wall again today but no other reports

Med gull

Just the czech ringed med today from me and probably nothing tomorrow. An inauspicious start to patchwork challenge - can only get better

Nothing from me tomorrow