A Swift interest

Sunny till early afternoon then overcast with a few light showers. A light but freshening east to SE breeze.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Report from Jean:

It was fairly quiet at Heysham NR this morning. We had 6 nets up but didn’t catch much. The highlight was a Tree Sparrow. Goldcrests could be heard but stayed feeding in the bushes, the one I managed to catch was a retrap from not long ago so it suggests Goldcrests weren’t actually on the move. The same went for Chiffchaffs, just 2 or 3 caught. Of the Redwings that poured into the east of the country yesterday, very few made it to Heysham. One was caught as it left its roost along with a grey looking continental Blackbird. Pete got excited as an obvious continental Coal Tit descended from the sky but it evaded the nets and only a few British Coal Tits were caught.

Visible migration was also low key:

07:30-11:30

Jackdaw 51 south in 3 flocks

Carrion Crow 6 north

Chaffinch 17 south

Brambling 1, possibly 2

Bullfinch 3 south

Finch sp 10 south 

Redwing 7 plus 5 landed

Blackbird 16 south

Starling 13 

Woodpigeon 7

Pink-footed Goose 208 north, 26 south

Pied Wagtail 2

Siskin 1

Redpoll 2 SE

Coal Tit 7 south plus the Continental one

Collared Dove 1 south

At 09:50 a SWIFT flew northwest (could it have been the Pallid Swift seen over Mull at 2pm??!! - we can dream!)

Starling roost

520 flew from the power station roost

Other

Peregrine called from one of the pylons

Two Sparrowhawks flew up from one of the copses

Middleman Nature Reserve

Common Darter 3 - Janet saw one in the morning and I managed 2 males in the afternoon 

I was busy till mid afternoon (MD). The sun was still shining when I left home, but the first shower started just as I reached the main pond!

Wildfowl similar to recent, still 8 cygnets with the Mute Swan pair.

Just before I reached the "no swimming" pond something must have spooked the ducks as 9 Gadwall and 2 Teal flew off.

All that remained on the "no swimming pond were 2 Coot (12 in total), 2 Moorhen (6 in total) and a single Mallard (13 in total).

A single Mallard was the only remaining duck on the "no swimming" pond.
It was clearly going to be one of those days!

Grey Heron on the main pond

Pink-Footed goose - 2 skeins south, but on both occasions there were trees obscuring view so only heard.

Redwing 3 elusive around the reserve

Thrush sp - probably Redwing - 22 south but quite distant to the east

Blackbirds were the only other thrushes seen c12 feeding on Hawthorn berries

Cetti's warbler 3 singing Males - "no swimming" and Tim Butler ponds plus central marsh.

Roe deer 1 - unfortunately it saw me before I saw it! So only a fleeting glimpse.

The sun came out again just as I got back to the main pond. I'd noted the eight cygnets lined up along the north side, when they decided to fly to the south side. No apparent reason, just flying practice, this clip is rubbish as I was largely obscured but it does convey the impact of eight large birds landing on the water close by.

Ring Ousel........top bill

The morning showers eased by lunchtime, but it remained overcast. A light east wind.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

First John's ringing report from yesterday morning:

A ringing session at Middleton yesterday had a catch of just 18 birds, half of them being Goldcrest. The total catch was:

Goldcrest              9

Redwing               3

Blackbird              1

Wren                     1

Great Tit               1

Blackcap              1

Lesser Redpoll     1

Blue Tit                1

Today:

Cetti's warbler 3 - Janet heard one singing by Tim Butler pond this morning. I paid a brief evening visit (MD). There was one singing at the "no swimming" pond, plus this silent one showed briefly on the opposite bank (not a great clip, but you rarely get to glimpse them).

The evening wildfowl was as recent except just 3 male Teal in breeding plumage plus a female or immature male.

Male Teal coming in to land

Male Teal in breeding plumage

Female or immature male Teal

Jackdaw 23 looking like they were preparing too roost.

Heysham Head - Dan Haywood

Ring Ouzel 1 - lower slopes Heysham Head 0750 but flew SE towards paddock containing sheep and not relocated.

Full report from Dan:

Heysham Head (off-passage night migrants in italics);

Goldcrest 13
Blackbird 9
Song Thrush 9
Chiffchaff 1
Brambling 1
Redwing 1
Ring Ouzel 1
Wren 25
Greenfinch 14
Dunnock 11
Long-tailed Tit 11
Goldfinch 6
Rock Pipit 5
Coal Tit 3

Rising Tide waders in ‘Pre-Roost’;

Knot 260
Redshank 150
Turnstone 24
Curlew 18

Half Moon Bay - Kevin Singleton 

Grey Plover 2

Robin 3 close together by the old tree stump

South shore - high water 10:10 (MD)

Shelduck 9 north

Wigeon 156 around Red Nab before some flying to Potts and others to the saltmarsh.

This is Red Nab 1hr before high water. In stark contrast to yesterday's bright colours everything was
shades of grey. Most of the Wigeon have already moved on. The waders are mainly Oystercatcher
with Curlew, Redshank and Turnstone.

These are some of the remaining Wigeon feeding on the gutweed growing on Red Nab rocks. It is still quite lush and keeps growing through the warmer spells of winter. Even so it is like a billiard table cloth by the end of winter.

One of three Robin along the foreshore, at least one additional bird

Saltmarsh 

Lapwing 9 

Common Snipe 21

Linnet 58

Rock Pipit 1

Meadow Pipit 2

Whooping waifs

A very light east wind till late morning, then it switched to the west. A sunny morning after a brief shower. Overcast, but still warm in the afternoon.

South shore (MD)

A morning check from high water.

The saltmarsh was busy with passerines:

Linnet 100+

Goldfinch 20

Greenfinch 15

Reed Bunting 2

Meadow Pipit 4

Rock Pipit 1 (5 in total over the walk)

Most of the Linnet were feeding on the east side of the saltmarsh where the Samphire is densest. But a few were feeding on the more isolated plants on the west side.

The sun was low and bright, making for some vivid colours

Meadow Pipits

Reed Bunting 

Whooper Swan 4 immature flying west across the bay. It is unusual to see young birds without adults, they must have become separated from the flock they were with. Not very clear shots of the birds, but despite a ships horn and barking dogs, you can still make out their constant honking until they were quite distant.

Immature Whooper Swan

Wigeon 82 returned to Red Nab after being flushed by visitors 

No sign of the Red-Throated diver this morning.

Heysham skear - low water 14:00 (MD)

Eider 42 including flocks of 16 and 5 flying low to the south

Eider

Great Crested Grebe 5

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Little Egret 11 - they were back to feeding in the sea, but the water is still too clear for shrimps, they were probably finding small flatfish.

Oystercatcher 600

Knot 400 - one still partially in summer plumage 

Knot

Dunlin 1

Curlew 35

Redshank 100

Turnstone 60

This Great Black-Backed gull has found a flounder and is being watched closely by a Carrion Crow.

Within a minute there were seven Carrion Crows.

A thorough check, but no Yellow Brow..........yet

Apart from a mid morning break it pretty much rained all day. A light east breeze.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Shaun did a couple of circuits of the reserve and surrounding hedgerows, but didn't locate any grounded Yellow-browed Warblers. Although he did manage 4 Chiffchaff and a Blackcap:

3 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest in a fast moving tit flock in NE corner.

Another Chiffchaff and female Blackcap at start of footpath to Red Nab 

12 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare dropped in

South shore (MD)

Not a lot of time again today, I just managed a quick look from the saltmarsh to No.2 outflow on the ebbing tide mid morning.

Shelduck just 2 on the mud today

Wigeon 50+ amongst the rocks on Red Nab

Little Egret 4

Grey Heron 1

Lapwing 58 out from the saltmarsh 

Linnet c100 - 84 in one aerial flock while many more were feeding on the saltmarsh 

Reed Bunting 2

Rock Pipit 3

Meadow Pipit 3 grounded on the beach between Red Nab and foreshore (see location shot 22/10).

Meadow Pipit

This one was feeding just below where a Robin normally stands, defending its territory, even so it seemed to be able to find plenty to eat, quite easily. The Robin was trying to see off the other two pipits.

This Dunnock on the foreshore was more wary of another territorial Robin, than it was of me.

Red-Throated Diver 1 - clearly mid moult was drifting out with the tide. Pete advises that it looks to be the same bird he saw here on Friday. It almost certainly is and it should remain in the general locality a while longer.

It was constantly preening its wing feathers.

This clip clearly shows the stage of the wing moult and pans out to show the location, just out fromNo.2 outflow.

Red-Throated Diver

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