Some good stuff, but the best one got away!

A cool start till the warmth of the sun kicked in. Then a pleasantly warm, mainly sunny, day with Light westerly breezes.

Middleton Nature Reserve

Pete's description of the one that got away, plus the next best bird:

Frustrating morning at Middleton NR today. Early doors saw the usual Robin objecting to us parked up in its territory and ticking and bits of song from surrounding bush tops. A great white Egret flew high west at 0755. Then as checking Ringing data was aware of a bird flying close overhead then landing top of a bush about 8 m away. Robin again- no something not quite right about the call - looked up and chestnut cheeks and a further two quiet ‘tick’ calls but couldn’t see the rest of the plumage due to the recently rising low sun. Then it was off giving one audible tick in flight before towering west and behind a tall willow. When I realised what it was, tried to call Jean Roberts but she had gone 50m up the track to the very socially distanced other ringer (we have west side of the track and east side ringers during Covid) to tell him about the GWE. So left with an inadequate single observer Little Bunting which I won’t be submitting. If only the GWE hadn’t gone over Jean would have been nearby and seen/heard it. Everything seemed to be in a rush today - the single Yellow browed Warbler (fortunately multi observed/heard) must have been reading Billy Whizz of the Beano as it raced west to east through the site as did an irruptive LTT flock. Very near misses are so frustrating - the west coast doesn’t swim with rarities so you have to make the most of your limited opportunities. Grrr

Visible migration report from Jean:

Over Middleton NR today 0730-1130

Redwing 7

Fieldfare 15 - not absolutely sure about these as they were seen distantly to the east

Song Thrush 2

Whooper Swan 4 ( same as Dan’s)

Pink-footed Goose 231 in 6 flocks (Probably some overlap with some of Dan's)

A nice shot by Jean, of some of the Pinks
passing the waning crescent moon

Great White Egret 1 (not vis as such, probably from Ashton Hall roost and heading to the shore)

Lesser Redpoll 11

Siskin 2

Chaffinch 4

Greenfinch 4

Goldfinch 4

Linnet 2

Pied Wagtail 5

Reed Bunting 5

Carrion Crow 41

Jackdaw 33

Collared Dove 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Later in the afternoon there were 13 Redwing grounded on the east side and at 15:15 at least 100 thrushes including Fieldfare and Redwing flew south over the golf course. The impression was that they had been flushed/spooked from nearby.

Plenty of insects in the sunshine  (including HNR and south shore):

Dragonflies- Common Darters 10+ Migrant Hawker 4

Butterflies - Red Admiral 1. Comma 1. Small White 4. Speckled Wood 10+

Heysham Head - report and pictures by Dan H

07:45-10:15

Pink-footed Goose 301 SSE (96+121+84)

Chaffinch 15 NNE

Meadow Pipit 4 SE + 5 NE

Tree Sparrow 5 SE

Mistle Thrush 4 NNE

Whooper Swan 4 ads SSE

Almost certainly the same four Whooper also seen by Jean

Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 NNE

Skylark 4 NNE

Redwing 2 NNE

Goldfinch 2 NE

Brambling 1 NE

redpoll sp 1 NE

Siskin 1 NE

Reed Bunting 1 E

Deck notables

Chaffinch 7 then E

Siskin 6 in wood then N

Rock Pipit 6

Goldcrest 5

Song Thrush 5

Coal Tit 3

Reed Bunting 1 

Blackcap 1 f

Less notable

Greenfinch 12

Linnet 10

Knot milling around

Nothing new, but something old.....well, elderly

Very heavy overnight rain finally stopped about 08:30. After that mainly dry with sunny spells. NW winds.

This is an indication of the amount of rainfall last night. The pressure of the draining ground water created a fountain from the Ocean Edge ground water drain terminal.

Again only my records so far (MD). Heysham Nature Reserve and saltmarsh covered. No warblers or Goldcrest seen or heard.

There was an increase in finches (mainly Greenfinch plus some Chaffinch) grounded on Heysham Nature Reserve and a few Blackbirds. The Blackbirds feeding on hawthorn.

The Greenfinch feeding on blackberries 

Jean provided these interesting details from recent ringing sessions:

A Blue Tit retrapped on 8 Oct on Middleton, was first ringed at Middleton NR as a juv on 8/9/2014, (6 years 1 month from ringing date) so a good age for a Blue Tit, as the average age of a Blue Tit is 3 years. The oldest ever recorded was 9 years 8 months so ours still has a way to go. 

It was retrapped in October 2015 then in May 2016 and we hadn't seen it since then until Thursday. It hasn't been retrapped at Heysham NR so who knows where it was in the meantime, maybe the golf course or the dog walk track. 

Another Blue Tit caught on the same day was ringed as a juv on 31/8/2018 at Middleton NR but hadn't been seen since.

An oddity on Thursday was a Wren with a crossed bill. It was a young bird so I hope we catch it again and see how long it survives with that deformity. 

Another oddity was a young Blue Tit with fault bars across its primary coverts. These show as paler lines as the feathers lack barbules in that area and consequently are weaker than the surrounding portions of the feathers. Fault bars like this form when nestling food is in short supply while the feathers are growing eg during bad weather when the adult birds can't find enough food for the young for a day or two. 

Arrow highlighting the fault bars

Likely southern migration - birders not the birds

 Subtitle- an everyday story of ordinary stuff

Wind just north of west to start with, moving to NW. mainly dry till early evening then a few short thunder showers.

Not many birds around and even fewer birders. I suspect the Lincolnshire Lammergeier may have influenced the latter. Just my stuff so far (MD)

Ocean Edge

Lots of common passerines sheltering from the cold WNW wind below the east bank of the saltmarsh, 

Starling c50

House Sparrow 18

Linnet 13

Meadow Pipit 4

No Rock Pipit again.

Greenfinch 7

Dog walk and Heysham Nature Reserve 

Two transects of the non operational land failed to locate the Black Redstart - but it is a large area with lots of habitat out of sight. It could easily still be around.

A couple of checks around the dipping pond Also failed to locate the Yellow-Browed Warbler. But there was a large mixed tit flock mobile around the reserve. This included at least three Goldcrest, no warblers seen, but the foliage was dense.

Coal Tit - at least 4 with the feeding flock. Another three set off south on three occasions. Each time heading high, reaching about 300m south, then banking back and ending up in the same bush. It appeared a battle between instinct and comfort.

Juvenile Wood Pigeon 
There are several breeding pairs in the area.

Middleton Nature Reserve

Wildfowl as yesterday except no sign of Little grebe

Cetti's Warbler - unusually, I manage two brief glimpses of two different birds on the central marsh. I accidentally flushed one which then flew towards the fence pond. Immediately a male gave two bursts of song from a bush behind me, then flew to another bush. I managed this distant shot before it disappeared again.

The bird is circled. You'll have to open the image to see any detail.

Even then it's underwhelming, 

but as good as it gets with this species.

Large Reed Bunting passage plus Black Redstart

 A cold clear start after overnight rain. The wind ENE to NE all morning. Then drifted around to NW by lunchtime. Dry with long sunny spells.

Middleton Nature Reserve (PM. JR)

Visible migration 

 450 pink feet

30 Redwing

5 song Thrush

8 Blackbird

1 grey wagtail

16 linnet

c40 Reed Bunting - this is more than the total autumn passage count in some years

10 Snipe

8 meadow pipit

2 Swallow

24 Skylark

I siskin

2 lesser redpoll

1 chaffinch

5 alba Wagtail

2 Dunnock.  

Grounded included 10 Goldcrest and two Blackcap

Ringing:

Goldcrest 9

Blue Tit 8 new, 4 retraps

Reed Bunting 7

Blackcap 2

Wren 1 new 1 retrap

Dunnock 1

Robin 1

Lesser Redpoll 1

Great Tit 1

Bullfinch 1

Pied Wagtail 1

Meadow Pipit 1

Long-tIled Tit1.

Power Station non operational land

Black Redstart 1 female/ juvenile located by Reuben 

Unlikely to be seen from public access but possibly visible from the perimeter fence along the dog walk track running from Heysham NR to near Ocean Edge

No reports received so far for the Yellow- Browed Warbler

North shore - mid morning (MD)

Rock Pipits only two were located (there were 6 on Sunday)

Meadow Pipit 4 grounded

Great Crested Grebe 2 ( still partial summer plumage)

Grey Plover - just 1 juvenile, they are not as common  on the north shore.

South shore - early afternoon (KE. MD)

Wheatear 1

Rock Pipit none seen or heard

Ringed Plover 24

Dunlin 10

The Dunlin were again feeding on tiny molluscs 

Shelduck flying into the sun.
The upper bird didn't have time to finish lunch!

YBW - day 4

Moderate west winds, mainly dry after a wet start

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Yellow-Browed Warbler calling from the dipping pond area - thanks to Pete Last

Red Nab area

Mediterranean gull 3 (1 adult, 1 x 1cy, 1 x 2cy)

Heysham skeer - low water 09:30

Knot c 2000

Pink-Footed Goose 73 south 09:45

Great Crested Grebe 1

Eider 4

Red-Breasted Merganser 7 (one group)

Oystercatchers watching the Merganser passing

Middleton Nature Reserve - mid afternoon 

Mute 3 adult 4 cygnet 

Coot 5

Moorhen 8

Little Grebe - none seen on the main ponds, but 1 partial summer plumage on Tim Butler pond.

Mallard 2

Gadwall 9

Teal 5

Teal in front of a Gadwall

The only warblers heard were the "no swimming" and fence ponds Cetti's warblers singing.

Insects:

The only butterflies seen were Speckled Wood.

Dragonflies - Common Darter c15. Migrant Hawker 5

YBW requires patience!

The rain eased by mid morning with just isolated showers after that. Strengthening WNW winds throughout the day.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Pete and Jean relocated the Yellow-Browed Warbler. Loosely centred near the dipping pond (the small pond with terraced banks just to the right as you enter the reserve). At one point it followed a mixed tit feeding flock across the road. Just to return to the pond area shortly later.

It's been present for three days now, hopefully still there tomorrow.

Also:

Goldcrest at least 2 with tit flock

Chiffchaff at least 4

Water Rail 1

Pink-Footed goose 38 and c120 south

As promised, this is Dan's picture of yesterday's YBW, with the bird circled.

You will still need to "open" the picture to make out the bird detail. 

The resolution of pictures on the post is not adequate. 

YBW with pictures, plus nice moths

 Westerly strong breeze, sunny in the morning overcast later in the afternoon.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Report from Jean 07:40 -10:40 (n.b. Current restrictions still prevent ringing on the reserve)

Grounded migrants

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 near the marsh

Stonechat - 1 female which flew into the Tank Farm

Chiffchaff - 6

Blackcap - 1

Goldcrest - 3

Coal Tit - 3

Blackbird - 30

Song Thrush - 40

Robin - 7 'ticking' and 10 singing

Bullfinch - 6

Diurnal migrants

Chaffinch - 40 south

Bullfinch - 8 south

alba wagtail - 11 SE

Meadow Pipit - 4 SE

Skylark - 2+ south

Dunnock - 2 south

Carrion Crow - 9 south

There were several tit flocks consisting mainly of Long-tailed Tits with a few hangers-on Blue, Great and Coal Tits and the odd Chiffchaff. The largest flock of Long-tailed Tits was 12 and the remaining 14 or so were in 4 smaller flocks.

Old Heliport wall - high water roost 

Knot

SR23865/orange PJU

Ringed: Ainsdale 24/7/20

Read in field: Heysham heliport 5/10/20

Jean Roberts/Pete Marsh 

Middleton Nature Reserve

Report from Alan:

Very little overhead movement this morning and the same goes for grounded birds. It was very clear so moving passerines would have been hard to spot and nothing was heard (by my ears that don't work at high frequency any more).

Blackbird - 6 SE

Jackdaw - 13 S

Carrion Crow - 5+2+4 S

Thrush sp. - 7SE far to the east of the reserve

Ringing: very poor catch again today, not counting the Tit species trapped on both sides of the road.

Wren - 1

Chiffchaff - 1

Goldcrest - 4

Reed Bunting - 3

Long tailed Tit - 4 + 9 retraps

Blue tit - 7 +1 retrap

Great Tit - 4

Another good session and excellent pictures from Dan H

Heysham Head 0750-1030 today

Vis

Pink-footed Goose 133 S

Skylark 56 E plus others heard but not seen

Meadow Pipit 14 E

Chaffinch 9 NE

redpoll sp 3E

Reed Bunting 2 E

Rock Pipit 2 E

Pair of Raven patrolled the shoreline then went E. Flying around HNR in the evening.

Meadow Pipit 10

Coal Tit 6

Song Thrush 5

Goldcrest 4

Reed Bunting 3

Rock Pipit 3

Chiffchaff 1

Nuthatch 1 - not quite annual in the recording area

Stonechat 1 m

Smithy Wood 1030-1130

Blackbird 14

Song Thrush 8

A nice shot of a Song Thrush

Goldcrest ‎5

Coal Tit 5

Chiffchaff 1

Reed Bunting 1

Heysham Nature Reserve ‎1145-1300

Vis

Meadow Pipit 6 SE

redpoll ‎ sp 3 E

Siskin 2 S

Coal Tit 7

Chiffchaff 2

Yellow-browed Warbler 1

The YBW is on this one, you will have to open the picture to be able to find it. 

I'll post this picture again tomorrow with the bird circled.

Low water channels (PM)

SCAUP - drake Scaup and two brown ducks prob juv Scaup Kent channel v distant but clear vis

Eider - 66

GCGrebe - 17

This Herald moth was on Heysham Nature Reserve

Picture by Janet.

This beautiful autumn moth was in Kevins trap this morning

Merveille du Jour.
Not common in the Heysham area.

Yellow-Browed Warbler

 Brisk wind ENE to NE with some sunny spells.

No post yesterday as there were nothing to report. Not because no one checked, there was a thorough check before the rain started c10:30. Specifically checking for YBW, so in this instance absence of evidence does suggest evidence of absence - not so today!

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report from Jean:

Vis at Middleton NR 0730-1130

Grey Wagtail 3

Alba Wagtail 3

Meadow Pipit 1 (!) (Meadow pipits SE past harbour entrance @ c60 per hour)

Goldfinch 24

Chaffinch 1

Blackbird 15

Redwing 5

Song Thrush 2

Reed Bunting 5

Jay 1

There wasn’t as much small stuff in bushes as at Heysham NR. It’s a less sheltered site and the ENE wind was gusting force 5 at times. I haven’t got all the ringing data but these are the birds caught on the east side:

Pied Wagtail 2, Reed Bunting 3, Goldfinch 1, Coal Tit 1, Blue Tit 1, Great Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 2 retraps, and a new Cetti’s Warbler (probably a migrant)

Afternoon check included

Cetti's Warbler 1 calling, not singing.

Jack Snipe 1

Water Rail 1

Teal 5

Gadwall 2

Little Grebe 1 in winter plumage

Another very thorough check from Dan H 

Heysham NR

0840-0915

Yellow-browed Warbler 1

Chiffchaff 2

Coal Tit 5

Goldcrest 4

Goldcrest with Chiffchaff watching on

Heysham Head 0920-1130

Yellowhammer 1 male - not common here. One also seen late morning over MNR, probably the same bird.

Blackcap 6 (including a flock of five!)

One of the Blackcap

Tree Sparrow 2 - again not common here

Wheatear 1

Chiffchaff 3

Goldcrest 4

Coal Tit 6

Treecreeper 1

Rock Pipit 6

Wheatear and a Rock Pipit

Vis

Meadow Pipit 110 E

Siskin 36 E

Skylark 19 E

Lesser Redpoll 1 E

Grey Wagtail 1 E

'Smithy Wood' 1130-1230

Blackbird 15

Coal Tit 

Song Thrush 5

Goldcrest 4

Chiffchaff 3

Blackcap 1

Moneyclose Grove 1240

Chiffchaff 1

Blackcap 1

Heysham NR 1250-1320

Chiffchaff 5

Goldcrest 3

Blackcap 1

Insects:

Common Darter 22

Migrant Hawker 14

Red Admiral 10

Speckled Wood 7

Brimstone 1

Moneyclose Lane / Dog Track 1320-1400

Goldcrest 11

Chiffchaff 3

Southern boundary path MNR 1415-1445

Coal Tit 4

Goldcrest 2

Chiffchaff 1

Out with the old, in with the new

 Steady lightish winds mainly NNE. Occasional sunshine with showers developing by evening.

Sightings report from Jean

Most of the Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs at Heysham Nature Reserve had moved off overnight in the clear, moonlit conditions. Middleton NR was similarly quiet. However, at first light, groups of thrush night migrant, probably Redwing, dropped into the bushes and an hour after sunrise diurnal migration was in evidence.

Vis 0730-1030 NE F3. Clear to the N & W, cloud encroaching from the east.

Grey Wagtail 4 

Pink-footed Goose 35

Reed Bunting 9

Lesser Redpoll 8

Meadow Pipit 110

Alba Wagtail 8

Linnet 6

Chaffinch 20

Carrion Crow 5

Jackdaw 7

Swallow 4

Goldfinch 12

Blackbird 1

Kestrel 1

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1

Skylark 4

Report from Dan

Heysham Head 0800-1045

Goldcrest 6

Coal Tit 5

Blackcap 1

Stonechat 1 m

Mistle Thrush 1 

(was acting like a migrant...
got chased off by a blackbird!)

Vis, mostly tracked 'in-off':

Meadow Pipit 210 mostly E

Skylark 59 mostly E

Swallow 38 E or NE (10+8+6+9+5)

Pink-footed Goose 24 S inland

Siskin 17 mostly SE

Goldfinch 11 SE

alba wag 11 mostly SE

Chaffinch 8 mostly NE

Grey Wagtail 2 SE

Smithy Lane scrub / woodland inland of cafe 1050-1130

Blackbird 22

Goldcrest 5

Chiffchaff 2

Treecreeper 1

(Meadow Pipit passage overhead N/C but increasing to c120 p/h SE)

Ocean Edge/Red Nab 

Meadow Pipit 20

Skylark 1

Above over to SE

Mediterranean gull - just one located on Red Nab - ref Keith and David T