Sandwich Tern

Our thoughts go to the families of those involved in the car accident alongside the reserve in late afternoon

Two Sandwich Tern far offshore in am fishing in the area forming the outer Kent channel but less expected were 3 plus 2 House Martin through Middleton NR

Just nine Pale bellied Brent today

Wheatear - about 5

Great white egret - one seen distantly from the south end of Ocean Edge flying across towards Colloway Marsh

No Kittiwake left

Ringing totals: a couple of minor Goldcrest arrivals but the main feature was a decent Robin total for us and also far more unringed Dunnock than expected.  In contrast finch passage was below par, especially Greenfinch and we ended up with the Dunnock/Robin/Blue and Great Tit total equalling the finch total - most unusual for March with the feeder in operation.  Top species: Goldcrest (42), Goldfinch (21), Robin (17), Chiffchaff (13), Blue Tit (8), Dunnock and Chaffinch (7), lesser Redpoll (6)

Red throated day

A flock of 20 Red throated Diver flew from Heysham direction directly overhead at the Stone Jetty at 0645 and a further 11 were recorded off Heysham itself

Common Scoter - 3 off Heysham Head

Pale bellied Brent Goose - 17 early am increasing to 22 - seemingly all unringed

Two Chiffchaff and three Goldcrest were ringed

One Siskin over
Meadow Pipit 10 north 0720-0920

The huge numbers of Meadow Pipit over the Stone Jetty were not replicated at Heysham, although many had gone through before observations started there

Kittiwake - at least one 2CY outfalls

Not a great deal new

A pale Lesser Black-backed Gull caused problems when photographed in sunlight and needed a bit of scrutiny on the big screen in the evening as well as second opinions.  Thanks for these as all in agreement.

Mid grey Lesser Black-backed gull, with regular Herring gull companion. Near No.2 outflow

Wheatear - 1
Pale bellied Brent Goose - 11 rather scattered on the north side this am as 2 plus 6 plus 3
Kittiwake - two 2cy outfalls
Chiffchaff - two ringed
Goldcrest - one ringed

Subtle movement

Evidence of some movement everywhere.

Middleton Nature Reserve am

House martin 1 north

Lesser Redpoll at least 4 ringed

Buzzard 1 high to north

Green woodpecker 1

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Heysham Nature Reserve pm

Cetti's warbler male singing on north side
Lesser Redpoll 1 SW
Siskin 1 N

Speckled wood 1

North shore am

Pale-bellied Brent goose 2

South shore pm

Rock pipit 2

Kittiwake - at least one 2cy patrolling south wall

Wheatear 1

Thanks Janet

More vis records to follow

Red throats on the move

Red-throated Diver - flock of eight in gaining height
Kittiwake - 2 x 2CY Heysham one outfall

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 10 today
Nothing much happening landbird-migrant-wise - just one new Goldcrest caught. 4 Chiffchaffs singing on the Reserve.

Vis 07:30-10:00
Meadow Pipit 6
Goldfinch 10
Greenfinch 6
Alba Wagtail 2

South Harbour Wall - Rock Pipit

Osprey

Better than expected for a sunny west-north-westerly

Pale bellied Brent Goose - nine, seemingly all unringed, north of  the head in am, then on Red Nab early afternoon.
Osprey - one NW across the bay 1240ish
Whooper Swan - record flock of 54 in transit

Chiffchaff - four ringed
Goldcrest - two ringed
Robin - one ringed and another migrant briefly at the near naze

Vis over Heysham NR
alba wagtail - 1
Meadow Pipit - 2

One Wheatear and a Rock pipit near salt marsh.

No obvious vis mig other than a trickle of Albas  and meadow pipits

Red throated chaos

A red-throated diver trailing a bright orange item round its leg was diving close inshore by the near naze attracting alarm calling gulls.  This unfortunately spooked 6000 Knot but I managed to read seven colour marks but made the cardinal mistake of not writing down an Icelandic one as I was trying to read another bird at the same time.  Then I promptly forgot what the last letter was.  Familiar?

Kittiwake - single 2cy

Vis 0915-1030
Meadow pipit - c25 North
Pied Wagtail - 2 N
Goldfinch- 7 N
Greenfinch - 3N
Linnet - 4N
Siskin - 2N
Sparrowhawk - 1 N

Low tide channel
Eider - 430
Wigeon - 3
Great-crested Grebe - 8

Middleton Nature Reserve pm
Chiffchaff 5 seen and or heard
No sign of Shoveler or Tufted
Gadwall 2
Teal 4
Little grebe 1
Cetti's warbler, two singing
Some high raptor movement including at least one Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk

Whoopers on the move

A new moth for the Heysham recording area from Kevin who has recently moved into the area:  Oak Nycteoline .  Thanks for sharing this (caught 21st March)

7 Mute juveniles southeast out from Red Nab
24 Whoopers out on the sand all morning, another 10, then 5 north,  plus 5 southeast

Five flying SE past south wall roundhead 10:30

Gannet - 2 out

No Brent

Morning coastal coverage

 

About 2000 Knot this morning but difficult to read because the tide was moving them so quickly. The above are as I understand Icelandic ringed and Sefton coast ringed .

Pale-bellied Brent - 18 on the sea onnthe north side but they didn’t appear to the south side of Heysham Head.

Wheatear - 2 north end of Half Moon Bay

Middleton Nature reserve pm

Mute 3 pair

Moorhen 7

Coot 1

Gadwall 8 (5 male)

Shoveler 1 male

Tufted 1 male

Teal 1 male

Mallard pair

Little grebe 3

Cetti's warbler singing central marsh

Mixed bag

Whooper Swan - four flew inland, six distantly North
Kittiwake - flock of 12 in during brief seawatch, 4x2cy and one ad on Heysham two outfall
Pale bellied Brent - either 22 or 25
Pink footed goose - 30 North
Merlin - female making a nuisance of itself heliport
Goldcrest - 7 ringed
Chiffchaff - one ringed