Bonus ringing session

Decent catch by the office this morning courtesy of the Goldfinch plague, a few Greenfinch and yet another Reed Warbler which is having a record out of habitat year.   Robin, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler completed the migrant line-up

About 15 different Meds around including what appears to be the Czech-ringed bird and a frustratingly not quite close enough green ring which looks like a new one

Shag in harbour

The Rock Pipit pair around the harbour seem to have elusively produced one young

More tomorrow am including pics

The second pair of rock pipits back on the agenda

These are so awkward to monitor compared to the straightforward scenario on Heysham Head.  Up to three have been seen and pics taken which seem to show a young bird

Med gull- About 40 around but only one Juv seen
Sandwich Tern - 7 red nab am tide
Dunlin - I think jean counted 650 on Red Nab
Little egret - 5
Shag - seen today
Rick pipit - probably three birds seen

Moths
Cochylis atricapitana and agriphila geniculea in office trap

TUESDAY sightings - a varied day!

Two raptors flew over very high mid-am about 30 mins after each other but seemingly very different agendas.  One was an Osprey, the other seemingly either a lost hacked or locally flown (investigation in progress) black form of Gyr Falcon, as bred by falconers (reminds me of the white Mandarin with some fancy self-indulgent avicultural name which was around my house until recently)
Other vis:
Swallow - c70
Sand Martin - 4
Swift - 1

Ringing at Middleton
This was quite interesting with a little flurry first thing, then quiet, then another flurry from mid-am.  Hardly any phylloscs left from yesterdays presumed arrival - they sometimes linger at Middleton and the highest warbler new bird total was 9 Lesser Whitethroat taking us well into the 60s for new-ringed birds.  What a shame the rest of this month does not look good for Middleton ringing or we could have been seeing record totals.  Still no Blue Tit flocks (just two out of 70 new birds)

Red nab just after tide
Sandwich tern - 22
Med Gull - at least 4
Ring-necked Parakeet - one in-off, then east

Miscellany
Wheatear 9 late afternoon. 3 on south wall roundhead, 6 Ocean Edge foreshore
Rock Pipit - at least one on south jetty - possibly a juv but cant be certain

Little Grebe - juv eating crayfish Middleton model boat pond

Unforecasted local rain drops the birds

An early start was thwarted by rain and poor visibility and all effort was around the office, either 'paperwork' or monitoring the three nets nearby once the rain stopped at 1000

There were quite a few migrants around even as late as 1000, although an impression was that any decent numbers of Willow Warblers had already slipped inland during the rain, judging by species composition and numbers  at other Irish Sea sites

50 new birds were ringed between 1000 and mid afternoon, including three out of habitat Reed Warbler and a selection of the usual Sylvias (including Garden) and Phylloscs.  Two Starlings were also ringed - an unusual event here!

Along the coast just a single-figure handful of Med Gulls of note and a single Common Sandpiper but the visibility did not help

Unfortunately no other morning migrant coverage in the recording area

Stone Jetty seabirds fly into the area

Nick was on the Stone Jetty early on and had perhaps the same Bonxie as yesterday blogging before heading out, a Fulmar and a couple each of juv Common and Arctic Tern.  The bonus was an Osprey heading south into the wind over the sea as the front passed - obviously on the move and not a masochistic fishing trip from one of the nearby Cumbrian breeding pairs

Outfalls
Common and Arctic Tern juvs - at least one of each at various times
Shag - harbour
Med Gull - about 19

Middleton pm
Swallow roost - zero (thanks for checking Malcolm)
Coot - 2
Gadwall - 16

Nothing new

Shag - 2cy in harbour
Med gull - 19 ad or near ad by wooden jetty at low tide and at least four juvs around
Common tern - Juv on outfalls near high tide

Bonxie and gull mystery

A distant small gull on the outer outfalls initially though to be Little was seen this morning, then re-identified as a 'small black-headed gull' but no sign of a candidate at lunchtime when I got there and no decent view of eg bill or underwings (now winter ad Little there same time).  

Little Gull - usual ad seaward end of outfalls, now in winter plumage and 2/3 of way through primary moult
Arctic Tern - juv out slowly lunchtime, two juvs on Red Nab in late afternoon then flew south (earlier on outfalls)

Taken through the spray and rain - thanks Malcolm
Common Tern - at least one juv remaining on the outfalls late afternoon

 

Sandwich tern - ad out quickly
Kittiwake - ad out quickly - all three of the birds in transit thought to be associated with IOM ferry arrival a few minutes beforehand, then ad on outfalls very briefly late afternoon
Med Gull - At least 12 adult, 2 2CY, 6 juv
Shag - summering 2CY on wooden jetty
Bonxie (Great Skua) - one in about 1530
Manx Shearwater - gang of three in in short period of decent visibility

Tufted Duck - moulting male Middleton
Flock of 30 unringed Long-tailed Tit Middleton

Arctic Tern

Thanks for the pics Janet

A Juv Arctic Tern appeared on the outfalls near HT

Meds - 4 juvs, 4 2cy, at least 4 ads

Little gull - ad early am

Great crested grebe - 3 in low tide channel

Eider - only 6 could be found at low tide

Grey Seal - 1

Juv med influx

Photos will be added tomorrow Janet

At least 6 Juv Meds low tide mid am also at least two ad and two 2cy
Later at least three juvs around at HT

Ad little gull obliging for visiting birder at HT on Heysham Two

Shag - 2cy around then on woodenjetty

Whimbrel - one oe saltmarsh

Little egret - at least 6 mid am

A few bits and bobs

Low tide channel am check produced four Great-crested Grebe but only 35 Eider

A ringing session by the office took the Lesser Whitethroat ringing total for the year to 52 - a large number by this time of the autumn for here.  Other warblers were singles of Blackcap, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff

Janet had a productive photographic session with Med Gulls with German ANLT showing well and a nice juv.  Thanks for these Janet