Wood Warbler ringed at Heysham this morning. Thanks Alan.
Heysham Obs
Todays sightings reminded me of those cricket pitches which are said to offer a little to both bowlers and batsmen but nothing extravagant. The seawatchers had their little bits and pieces and it was one of the better days for landbird arrivals this spring, but the rainbelt was unfortunately too far to the south at dawn for a major 'fall'. No doubt the Heysham N.R. working party and Leighton Moss Spring Fair organisers were grateful for this!
Heysham north wall 0630-1000, 1100-1135
Arctic Skua - 3 dark morph which were also picked up at JB Point whence two flew inland over Leighton Moss and one flew up the Kent Estuary
Little Gull - 1st summer which was presumably the bird also seen at Cockersands
Pink-footed Goose - late flock of 24 north-west
Gannet - 6
Sandwich Tern - 2
Common Scoter - 2
...............but please note the following posting from Walney!
"Morning observations over the tide (0800-0900 & 1050-1150) were highlighted by a single pale phase Pomarine Skua and 8 Arctic Skua (5 dark, 3 pale), all heading into Morecambe Bay".
Swallow and House Martin moving north in small numbers <20/hr>
Inshore
Shag - 2 juvs
Arctic Tern - 7 on outfalls
Middleton IE
It needs to be re-stressed that away from the formal footpaths, access to this site is not considered safe and is most certainly completely at your own risk. No-one unfamiliar with the site should leave the formal paths or concrete roads.
Wheatear - 5
Grasshopper Warbler - the males have stopped regular singing but one pair was silently active today
Garden Warbler - One, presumably a singing male, logged - they have not bred here for many years
Other grounded migrants
Unringed birds caught in the mist nets included: Wood Warbler along with 7 latish Willow Warbler, 4 Sedge Warbler, one Lesser Whitethroat.........and a Moorhen! Even better on recent status was a calling Cuckoo from the region of the tall anemometer at midday. The exact recent status of this species will be checked tomorrow when the old reports are accessed
2 Raven within sight of the recording area flying over the bypass at lunchtime
Mammals
2 Grey Seal offshore
Insects
A very irregular species in the form of Marbled Coronet was new for the year in the moth trap along with other more predictable year ticks in the form of Rustic Shoulder-knot, Flame Shoulder and Garden Carpet.
First 4-spotted Chaser of the year on Middleton
Elsewhere
Two Spoonbill still around Leighton Moss. Pair of Garganey transferring from Barrow Scout to Griesdale Mere at Leighton Moss - this pair have probably been in the area for 6-7 days. Summer plumaged Little Stint at Cockersands along with two Sanderling. Yellow Wagtail at Grab Lane just east of Lancaster.
