Heysham Obs
Grounded
An otherwise routine migration morning livened up by an adult female Common Crossbill in the mist nets. This is the first of this species to be ringed here and it remained until at least 1215hrs. The first (male) Common Redstarts of the year were predictable (one by the office, one at Ocean Edge). A single-figure handful of Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff were also ringed. Just 4 Wheatear logged
Sea
7 Sandwich tern and 3 (adult) Gannet (together)
Middleton IE
Now 2 singing male Grasshopper Warbler. Green Sandpiper on the Model Boat pond
Misc
2 juv Shag on the wooden jetty. No overhead vis recording today.
Elsewhere
Pair of Garganey still on Aldcliffe but on another pond. Otherwise north Lancs apparently strangely lacking in any passage birds of interest, although the routine Common Redstart arrival was noted at sites other than Heysham (e.g. Leighton Moss). Perhaps the most significant record for what is now becoming a very early spring was a Large Red Damselfly in nearby Cumbria. Time to start checking ponds!
