Yellow browed Warbler heads a varied morning

Middleton NR: After a single call of what appeared to be this species from the direction of the sycamores along the SE golf course edge, one was caught in a small tit flock in the nearest net about an hour later

Of equal interest was a late Lesser Whitethroat showing brownish tones on the head.

Actually six species of warbler ringed this morning at Midd with a new Cetti’s and late Willow Warbler accompanying the usual Blackcap and Chiffchaff

Another Willow Warbler was ringed at Heysham NR.  No big numbers of Blackcap and Chiffchaff today with 8 each ringed and Goldcrest were conspicuous by their near-absence (4 ringed)

Ringing totals for September top seven were:  Blackcap (112), Chiffchaff (81), Grey Wagtail (75), Blue Tit (66), Meadow Pipit (50), Robin (47), Goldcrest (43)

Vis mig today - no 100% concentration on this!
Grey Wagtail - c9
Meadow Pipit - 140
Shoveler - 2 east
Wigeon - 3 east
Snipe - 2 east
Carrion Crow - 7 south
Jackdaw - singleton high to north
Siskin - 1
Skylark - 7
alba Wagtail - c20
Pink-footed Goose - 365 south
Swallow - 3
Chaffinch - 2  

Sunday - so far

Wheatear 3 - Ocean Edge foreshore
Meadow pipit 2 - south

Little gull and Guillemot

Rock pipit 1
Meadow pipit 2
Ad Little Gull Heysham No.1 Outfall this am briefly, just after Red Nab was covered by tide.

Juv Guillemot on the flow tide this pm. Driven ashore to the SE corner of skeer by the surging spring tide. Contender for photograph of the year! (MD)

Friday - still not much, but a bit better

Strong west wind and driving rain wasn't helpful, but there was some movement (MD)
Rock Pipit - 1 moving east along the sea wall between outflows and Red Nab.
Green Sandpiper - again east, but over the sea, just out from sea wall.
Wheatear 1 - Ocean Edge foreshore
Meadow Pipits 4 - battling south
Common Snipe 2 - saltmarsh
Mute Swan 2 adult sheltering on water over saltmarsh

Thursday - not much

First of the Wigeon returned. 5 today on Red Nab
Little Egret 6

Chiffchaff day

Limited coverage today to mist netting and vis at Heyshsm and Middleton

More tomorrow but the day included:

Whitethroat - late bird Heysham NR

Chiffchaff - 22 ringed, mainly Heysham

Blackcap - about 12 ringed

Grey Wagtail - just two over and one ringed

Reed Bunting - 7 migrants ringed at Middleton

Middleton Nature Reserve -early afternoon
House Martin 1
Gadwall 16
Tufted 1
Little grebe 3 (1sp)
Plus this shoveler like duck, with dubious pedigree (MD)

Still plenty of dragonflies when the sun cam out. Brown and Migrant Hawkers plus Common Darters.

24th Sept

Very little happening. Shelduck numbers are starting to grow, 56 on Red Nab.

23rd sept

will sort tomorrow

Pale-bellied Brent

This was nearly missed as it flew off Red Nab and headed south close inshore - is already ‘scanned’ red nab but for white larids!

15 Meds red Nab/nearby mud

Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier - Juv south Middleton NR 0650hrs

A steady east breeze and 20C+, should equal insect migration off the sea, so the lighthouse area was checked twice today.

10:30 - 11:30 (low water)

A bit erratic at first, then became a steady influx of butterflies.

Red Admiral 36

Small White 25

Painted Lady 8

Small Tortoiseshell 3

Silver Y 2

 At 13:15 there were still plenty coming in, but they soon eased off as tide progressed further along sea wall. A walk down to No2 outflow, confirmed there were butterflies coming in all along the sea wall.

This count is only those that came in over lighthouse/wooden jetty wall till 14:00.

Red Admiral 12

Small White 26

Painted Lady 9

Small Tortoiseshell 8

Peacock 1

Silver Y 1

Most moved straight through, but a few whites and Painted Lady stopped for a top up. As did the Silver Y, which may just be resident.

Just one dragonfly, in the afternoon session. Male Migrant Hawker.