Heysham Obs
A pre-dawn arrival saw a clear sky and no evidence of thrushes landfalling at dawn before reorientating and heading inland. This is a feature of many cloudy/misty October mornings. On the R & M day, several (continental) Song Thrushes were present on an essentially cloudy morning and these subsequently moved around at net level before departing and 4 were ringed. This morning appeared to be clear and thrushless with the only chance being high-flying vis. However, during the second hour (not the first) after dawn, Song Thrushes suddenly rose out of several bushes close to the office and headed off high to the south. A total of 21 were logged and there is absolutely no way these birds could have arrived in these bushes at or just after dawn as they were under constant observation during the 'vis' watch. Therefore the assumption is that they landed during the night (the site is fairly well lit) and took a bit of time to wake up before heading off. The difference between this morning and Saturday was the clear skies and this undoubtedly prompted the steep take-off with no chance of any being mistnetted.
Vis from the office dawn to 0930hrs
Chaffinch - 72 SW
Greenfinch - 38 SW
Collared Dove - 10 in 4 groups high to the south - a good count!
alba Wagtail - 45 SE
Meadow Pipit - just 28 SE
Grey Wagtail - 2 (one ringed!) SE
Redwing - 2 E
Goldfinch - 68 S
Siskin - 4 S
Coal Tit - 2 S
Skylark - 1 SE
Linnet - 10 SW
Dunnock - 2 high to the south
Carrion Crow - 4 high to the SW perceived as migrants
Reed Bunting - 2 S
Bullfinch - yet another high to the south
Sparrowhawk - 2 south
Not a single Mistle Thrush seen!
Grounded
A little bit more than yesterday which is not saying much. At least 4 Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 21 Song Thrush (see above), 7 presumed migrant Blackbird, possibly more. Quite a bit of tit activity, notably an unringed flock of 35 Long-tailed Tit, but no definite irruptive behaviour other than by the two Coal Tit.
Ringing
Included some of the LTTs, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and a Grey Wagtail
North harbour wall
At least 2 2nd W Med Gulls
Elsewhere
No reports of the Leighton Moss Great Grey Shrike which has plenty of places to go out of public view but the juv Marsh Harrier still present. Possible update here later. Male Crossbill over Caton Moor vis site and 4+2 Crossbill in Thrushgill Plantation but no public access to where seen [Richard's Pipit over the Rossall Point vis site]
