Eccentric Mistle Thrush

Late evening update (see added ringing recoveries)

Heysham Obs
Same again apart from a Mistle Thrush which seemed to be enjoying sitting on the edge of a windswept harbour wall, in the middle of a group of Kittiwake, observing the feeding activities at the 'Shag' waterfall

Shag: apparently a definite reduction as a reasonably careful search saw no more than 12 birds, unless they have found a new obscure roost in the harbour.

Kittiwake: about 30; 18 in the harbour and c12 on the outfalls

Little Gull: 10 close inshore on the inner end of Heysham 2 outfall and an ad flying out along the north harbour wall late pm

Twite 4 on the mound including at least one & presumably four ringed birds (blue over yellow from winter 2002/3)

Two interesting ringing recoveries received today:

Lesser Redpoll
T805244 6M 28.04.06 Heysham Obs
Caught by another ringer 21.10.06 Castlemorton Common (Hereford & Worcester) 224 km.

Lapwing
DK05936 Pullus 15.05.00 Heysham PS non-operational land
Read in field 1.10.06 Sunderland Point 6kmS

Didnt notice any Meds but didnt stop along the favoured section of NHW

Elsewhere
Lune Valley
Almost dark but could just make out the 8 Whoopers plus another more distant swan spp and 3 even more distant swan/farmyard geese. All in the floodplain fields between Hornby and Melling

Pine Lake etc.
The whole Dockacres complex was given a quick visit and there were fewer birds than at any time since late August with Pochard down to single figures and only two Goosander remotely resembling anything of note. Best was a calling Meadow Pipit by Borwick Waters!

Cockersands area
1st W Little Gull over fields (briefly), 7 Bewick's Swans Jeremy Lane, Spotted Redshank & Greenshank Conder area