Merlin was the pick of the day

A dry mainly overcast day. The light east wind freshening slightly 

Janet took these shots of a Sparrowhawk on Middleton Nature Reserve yesterday 

Merlin 1 - 12.15  across beach just north of Heysham head. Briefly perched on the old sewage pipe until chased off by a crow - David Kaye

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

A ringing session at Heysham this morning produced a reasonable catch, although fewer than on recent visits there. The very light easterly breeze became more troublesome to the mist nets by lunchtime and the session was ended by around 13.00.

Goldfinches only began gathering near the feeders just before the nets were closed but were put off coming down to the seed by the nets billowing in the wind at that time.

Singles of Sparrowhawk, Robin, Cetti's Warbler (male) and Jay were ringed together with the following:

Dunnock 2 + 2 retraps

Blackbird 2

Chiffchaff 3

Goldcrest 6

Coal Tit 6 + 3 retraps

Blue Tit 5 + 2 retraps

Great Tit 1 + 3 retraps

Chaffinch 2

Goldfinch 2

There was no evidence of thrush or starling movement overhead as seen further to the east.

South shore (MD)

Only a short check at low water

Linnet 70+ feeding on the Samphire seeds at the edge of the saltmarsh. There is a veritable forest of Samphire this year, you can just about make out some of the Linnet as they feed in this clip.

This shot of a Redshank shows the structure of the Samphire "forest" more clearly 

Rock Pipit 2 among the foreshore rocks. This is one of them.

Meadow Pipit 2 came in off at Ocean Edge

Shelduck 21 on the mud

Wigeon 74 by the outflows

This is one of the Cuttlebones I mentioned yesterday. All that remains of a female Common Cuttlefish.
It's what gets put in budgie cages so they can hone their beaks. Something has had a peck at this one
but almost certainly when there was still some flesh on the bone.

Cetti's warblers singing in three separate locations

A dry and largely sunny day with a light west wind

Imperial road (bypass to recycling centre)

Pete called in passing this morning

Stonechat 1 female - only record so far this autumn 

I had a look in the afternoon (MD), but couldn't find any more.

Redwing 1 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing from the bush next to the pond at the recycling centre end. Nothing to see in this  clip other than the location, but a short call then three bursts of song can be heard.

Heysham Nature Reserve - mid morning (MD)

Pink-Footed goose 117 south in two skeins.

Fieldfare 2 over to south

Redwing 5 over to east

Lots of tits pretty much everywhere, not just in feeding parties. Long-Tailed, Great, Blue and Coal all seen. This is a Coal tit feeding amongst the Hawthorn berries.

Also plenty of finches, particularly near the feeding station. Green, Gold and Chaffinch seen. Bullfinch only heard.

Cetti's warbler 1 singing from the edge of the NE reedbed

Chiffchaff 1 in the NE corner

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming

Sparrowhawk 1

Raven 1 being chased south by 4 Carrion Crow

Also: Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Blackbird 

Roe deer a female seen on two occasions, possibly the same one.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a quick passing check of the two main ponds.

There are still 8 cygnets with he main pond pair, no sign of the other adult.

Gadwall pair on the "no swimming" pond

Also on the "no swimming" pond 3 Teal. A male in breeding plumage with two female/immature birds. This clip begins with the male's speculum appearing bright green, but both it and the eye stripe alternating between green and blue at different angles to the strong light.

Female or immature male Teal

Cetti's warbler 1 singing from the central marsh

Common Dater 1 male

Ian Hartley saw a colour ringed Grey Wagtail yesterday at Glasson basin around the boat sheds area where it joins the canal. Blue over Violet on right; metal over Lime on left (see scheme details on the sidebar).

It was ringed as a juvenile male at Middleton Nature Reserve on 13/09/2022. This is the first sighting since then - thanks Ian

Alison Haywood sent this shot of some of the interesting flotsam to be found along the tideline.

This is a Thornback Ray's egg case (mermaids purse)
and a cluster of Whelk eggs

There are various varieties of mermaids purses to be found here, but these are typically the largest. There are also dogfish and catshark purses to be found, all quite distinctive and identifiable. There are also a number of cuttlebones at the moment, quite large ones as the larger female Cuttlefish die after spawning. 

I like the location shot sent by Alison.

This is an aerial shot of the beach between Red Nab (top left) and the foreshore
 rocks bottom right of centre. The greenery behind is the edge of the Nature Park.

Some sad news

Jonathan Stretch died this morning after being seriously ill since June. Our deepest sympathies to his wife and son. Jonathan was one of life's "good guys". 

He was Shaun's lifelong friend and birding buddy. They were at primary school together, then while at secondary school, Pete was their form tutor for a while. He will be sorely missed!

Rest in peace Jonathan.

Today's weather was dry, with plenty of sun. Almost no air movement this morning but it became fresher from the south in the afternoon.

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP)

Fieldfare 4 were feeding then flew towards Heysham Nature Reserve 

This from Pete:

Low tide channel Morecambe town hall to heysham harbour: 2 Juvenile Common Scoter, 1cy Little gull dip feeding with Black-Headed gulls  off Knowlys (177 Eider, 21 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Red-breasted Merganser)

Heysham skear - low water 10:30 (MD)

Pink-Footed goose 138 south in one skein

Wigeon 9 circled then headed off south - seldom seen on the north side other than during passage.

Wigeon

Little Egret 20 - 16 of these were feeding close inshore in a pool in the freshwater runoff, probably after small fish there, rather than shrimps.

Some of the Little Egret close inshore 

Nothing on the sea not already covered by Pete, indeed, there were only 3 male Eider close to the skear. This is one swimming past feeding Redshank and Oystercatcher. Note how flat and blue the sea is after the east winds then this period of calm failing to disturb any sediment.

Similarly with these four Red-breasted Merganser. They look serine, but below the surface they are padding quickly to swim against the rapidly rising tide. Two of them taking a nap while they are at it!

This Cormorant was defending top spot on conger rock. The wind was starting to pick up by this time.

Oystercatcher 2,000

Curlew 20

Knot 500

Redshank 80

Turnstone 60

Pied/white Wagtail 3 east

South shore (MD)

Just a quick afternoon check, all records from Red Nab

Wigeon 93

Mediterranean gull 1 adult

Grey Wagtail 1 feeding along with the pre-roost Pied Wagtails

Just out f the recording area:

Yellow-browed warbler 1 at Sunderland Point - from Pete. Unfortunately Heysham Nature Reserve not checked today

Cetti's warbler 1 singing just south of Middleton Nature Reserve - opposite the Middleton Pub in the old Pontins site - from Janet

Wigeon numbers increasing quickly

Strong and very gusty east wind. Overcast, but it remained relatively dry after heavy overnight rain.

South shore 

I checked at lunchtime on the rising tide (MD)

Shelduck 160 on the mud

Wigeon 85 waiting to reach Red Nab with the tide. This small group is on the sea just beyond Red Nab, but the clip is really to demonstrate what I was saying the other day. The strong east wind was having the effect of flattening the sea this close inshore.

These Wigeon were closer in and had decided to walk over to Red Nab.

Great Crested Grebe 1 in the harbour - it was actually choppier in the inner harbour than out from the sea wall, apart from in the corner near the intakes where it was feeding. Both areas in this clip.

Oystercatcher 1400

Redshank 115

Rock Pipit 1 near No.1 outflow and, possibly the same 1 near lighthouse 

Rock Pipit near No.1 outflow

Greenfinch 4 on Red Nab, clearly been eating something red.

Greenfinch 

Peregrine Falcon 1

A little later when Pete checked:

Red-throated Diver 1 at No.2 outfall

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just the briefest of passing checks.

There were still 8 large cygnets with the pair of Mute on the main pond. The other "adult" had moved to the "no swimming" pond. Although fully white plumage its bill is not yet a bright orange.

Mute Swan on the "no swimming" pond
 possibly the one that was feeding on the saltmarsh last week

Other wildfowl as yesterday except Teal not seen today.

Just out of the recording area - there were four Grey Heron in the field next to Heysham Moss, also four Pheasants, two immature. - ref Janet

Decent Siskin movement

The overnight rain stopped about 07:00, more showers from mid morning till lunchtime, then dry with some sunshine. A light S - SE wind.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report from Shaun:

Had a trundle around before the rain. 07:30-10:00: 

Long-tailed Tit 2 group's totalling c25. 

Single Chiffchaff and Blackcap (female). 

Redwing 11 grounded then east. 

Siskin group of 23 at Moneyclose car park them headed off towards golf course (only 13 were recorded in the whole of 2022 - probably more to do with lack of observers than absence of birds)

Greylag Goose c160 north. 

Sparrowhawk female.

Heysham skear - low water 09:00 (MD)

Managed most of my walk before the rain started. Not a lot around.

Pink-Footed goose 21 south, just after the rain started

Eider 6

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Great Crested Grebe 4

Little Egret 2 - the sharp reduction in Egret numbers almost certainly down to a similar reduction in the shrimps they feed on at this time of year. Shrimps only come really close to the shore when the sediment is disturbed. The recent east winds do not disturb the sediment at this side if the bay.

Oystercatcher 1500

Curlew 25

Knot 200

Redshank 15 (another species that feeds on the shrimps here)

Turnstone 30

Pied Wagtail 1 east

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

The sun came out and it was unusually warm this afternoon (18°C).

Mute Swan 11 - the pair on the main pond were still accompanied by 7 large cygnets, but an additional cygnet has turned up. Initially separate from the others.

New arrival Mute cygnet

It wasn't rejected, but it obviously wasn't used to being fed by people and stayed on the north side while  the others were being fed on the south side feeding station. When the pair plus seven cygnets returned to feed on the north side, it tentatively joined them. The new bird is the one on the right.

But, this time when someone arrived at the feeding station, the new cygnet flew over with them.

All ten main pond Mute on the south side swimming towards the feeding station.
There was another adult on the Tim Butler pond

Mallard 14 on main pond

Gadwall 2 males on the "no swimming" pond

Teal 1 male on the "no swimming" pond

Coot 12

Moorhen 4

Little Grebe 1 in winter plumage on the main pond

Grey Heron 1

Cetti's warbler 2 singing - main pond and western marsh

Several thrushes flying quite high in all directions 5 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush and 3 Blackbirds, where the only ones positively identified.

This is the only Redwing I saw grounded.

Pheasant 1 calling

Common Darter 9 at least, including an ovipositoring pair

Red Admiral 1

This odd looking "shape" was swimming in the shallows at the north side of the main
pond. I couldn't make out what it was, so I scooped it out

I wasn't expecting it to be a fish! I'm pretty sure it's a Bitterling.

Bitterling are not native UK species, but were introduced to our water courses early last century. They have an interesting breeding cycle, which led the females to be used as an early form of pregnancy test. I don't think they will do any harm here, they don't grow much bigger than this and if I can catch one by hand, they must be vulnerable to predation. Plus they require freshwater mussels to breed successfully and I don't think there are any in this pond. So I safely returned it (MD).

Jack Snipe return

A very strong east wind, mainly overcast, but dry.

First a couple of shots by Howard from the Heliport yesterday.

Juvenile Great Crested Grebe

Knot coming into land on the old heliport wall

South shore today (KE, JP, MD) - mid afternoon 

Wigeon 28 on saltmarsh 

Eider 1 female on Red Nab

Rock Pipits 4 - lighthouse, Red Nab 2 and saltmarsh

Linnet 82 saltmarsh 

Common Snipe 3 

Jack Snipe 1 - flushed from saltmarsh edge but flew off south. They normally land again on another part of the saltmarsh or head east to Middleton - anyway, it marks the beginning of the traditional winter sport of trying to get a recognisable shot of one! It didn't happen today.

Despite the very strong offshore wind, the sea was very flat, it was choppier in the harbour!
The east wind hasn't had chance to develop the waves and also flattens any rollers coming in.

There was a bit of sunshine at this time and between us we accounted for:

Red Admiral 10 coming in off.

Silver Y 1.

The sea wall up to No.2 outflow was like a wind tunnel, but the stretch beyond was more sheltered and many insects ware stopping for a rest.

Red Admirals, not obvious from this angle

Wasp mimicking Hoverfly

Bee mimicking Hoverfly

This is a female Pimpla rufipes, a parasitic wasp. Its antennae blowing in the wind reminded me of Bobby Charlton in his football playing days.

Heysham Nature Reserve (JP)

Moorhen

A more relaxed Red Admiral out of the wind

Aged female Common Darter

Vagrant Emperor hangs on till mid morning.

The east wind was fresher today. Plenty of sunshine, particularly in the morning, but hazy at times.

South Shore

I went to check if the Vagrant Emperor had remained overnight (MD). It had, and at 08:00 it was in precisely the same position as yesterday evening.

At least six observers managed to see it, the last record comes from Phil Simpson - It was still present at 1030 this morning but wing whirring as the sun gradually warmed the seawall.  A difficult angle for photography and the wing venation doesn't show well against the concrete.  

This is Phil's excellent shot. By this time it was in the same general location
as yesterday, but had clearly moved position as the pattern of stones behind
it are different. It had probably moved higher up the wall to catch more sun.

Pete provided this interesting post from Adrian Parr, migrant dragonflies analyst:

“There's been a small influx of Vagrant Emperors into western Britain within the last two weeks or so. The records suggest they're coming up the west coast of France (perhaps with some directly crossing the Bay of Biscay), then hitting the south-west coast of England and then either drifting northwards along the west coast, or else carrying on up the Irish Sea. I'm not aware of sightings in Ireland as yet this autumn, but that's probably because they have relatively few recorders”. Then one found dead in Antrim after this was written

Other than that, very little, I exercised my daughter's dog along the wall at lunchtime, there were three Red Admirals resting and catching the hazy sunshine.

Red Admiral

Rock Pipit 4 - lighthouse, Red Nab and 2 on saltmarsh 

Linnet 70+ saltmarsh 

Mediterranean gull 1 adult Red Nab

Wigeon 53 Red Nab

Shelduck 260 feeding on the mud then drinking in the freshwater runoff at Red Nab. This is one group flying over.

Lapwing 22 saltmarsh 

Peregrine Falcon 1 flew into the Power Stations

Peregrine Falcon

The wind from the east set to become very strong over the next few days. Wrong direction to blow seabirds in! Records may be thin on the ground for a while.

Vagrant Emperor livens up an otherwise quiet day (apart from the noisy geese!)

Another cool night with a largely sunny day. A light east breeze.

Janet's friend sent her a clip of three Peregrine Falcons chasing the Knot on the north shore yesterday - thanks Jimmy.

The original clip was a minute and a half, I had to trim it slightly as the post restricts file size

Ringing report from Alan

John and I covered the Heysham and Middleton sites between us this morning. We caught 74 birds between us with a good mix of species.

At Middleton;

there were singles of Wren, Robin, Cetti's Warbler and Blackcap. 

Also 

Chiffchaff 4

Goldcrest 4 + 1 retrap

Blue Tit 8 

Reed Bunting 2

At Heysham;

Wren 1 + 1 retrap

Dunnock 2 retraps

Robin 2

Goldcrest 4

Coal Tit 5

Blue Tit 10 + 3 retraps

Great Tit 3 + 1 retrap

Chaffinch 4

Greenfinch 6 + 1 retrap

Goldfinch 8

It looks like no ringing weather will be expected until after the weekend now.

South shore (MD)

In the afternoon the sun was out and warm, the breeze was from the east and the tide was leaving the sea wall. These are the conditions when the sea wall can become an insect migration route, but it is late in the year, I knew if there was going to be anything coming in off the sea it was likely to be good. And so it proved to be......

Vagrant Emperor 1 male. It wasn't there when I walked out, but returning at 16:00 it was flying along the sea wall

This was about the best in flight shot I managed

It then disappeared and I thought it had moved on, but I eventually found it resting further along the sea wall.

It was resting at an awkward angle, this is effectively side on

This one shows the blue saddle, it was quite vivid!

This is the location shot, the emperor is bottom right.
This is 100m before you get to No.1 outflow, note the number of the notice, 154

It was still there when Kevin, Alison, and David Talbot checked later. It was there at least till 17:30. By that time it was getting cool, so possibly it will spend the night there and not move in the morning till things warm up a bit.

The only other insects along the wall were

Red Admiral 1

Silver Y 1

Silver Y on the sea wall

Shelduck 84 out from Red Nab

Saltmarsh at high water

Wigeon 37

Rock Pipit 2

Reed Bunting 2

Linnet 70+

Reed Bunting and a Dunnock

Just out of the recording area - seen from Potts Corner by Mark Jones (although seen from outside the recording area many of these undoubtably flew into it)

Pink-footed goose - I was on Potts corner and at 8.10 and a huge amount of pinks landed out on the beach coming from the south. At 8.15 they took off in two groups, one group headed north then inland over Heysham, the other just headed inland. Then five minutes later the remaining huge group took off and headed inland, and then a further massive skein appeared from the south headed inland, collectively I would say they numbered in their thousands.

An interesting variety

Sunny all day after a light overnight frost. A light west breeze developed from late morning.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report by Jean:

A real variety of birds caught at Middleton NR this morning, 32 new birds and just 3 retraps

New birds

Goldcrest 6

Chiffchaff 6 - several long-winged birds likely to be Scandinavian in origin

Coal Tit 4

Long-tailed Tit 3

Lesser Redpoll 2

Robin 2

Song Thrush 2 - British birds not olive coloured Scandinavian birds

Blue Tit 2

Great Tit 2

Reed Bunting 1

Cetti's Warbler 1 - yet another Cetti's! That's the 7th this autumn at Middleton

Wren 1

Retraps

A 4 year old Wren

A 5 year old Long-tailed Tit

and a recent Long-tailed Tit

All the retraps had been caught at Middleton before so are likely to be resident there.

A bit of visible migration was visible:

Fieldfare 8

Redwing 9

Whooper Swan flocks of 3 and 7

Carrion Crow 11

Jackdaw 13

Grey Wagtail 1 (may be wintering in the wastewater treatment works)

Observers: Jean, Pete, Simon and Claire

I just managed a later morning check (MD). In addition to yesterday's wildfowl there were :

Gadwall 25 on the "no swimming" pond.

Male Gadwall

This pair provided a nice display.

This clip begins with two immature Moorhen a Coot and a male Gadwall.

The Moorhen were also feeding up the banking.

There were corvids in the air and calling at all times. Carrion Crow at least 9, Jackdaw at least 10 and 4 Magpies. But they seemed just to be the resident birds arguing over territory and perhaps deterring any passing corvids from settling. 

There was still some definite Jackdaw movement south. One high group of 5 and this flock of 19, so 37 south today.

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Sparrowhawk 1 being harried by a Carrion Crow. You can just hear a Cetti's singing in the background.

One of two male Common Darters