Heysham Obs
Visibility still too good to drop any significant numbers of night migrants and the large Long-tailed Tit flock failed to interest any 'Yellow-brows' which might have passed through as it was checked early and late morning. What was needed was an early morning bush searcher.
Vis by the office 0700-1000
Most of the first 1.5 hours was NE to SW finches and subsequent time mainly NW to SE Meadow Pipit and alba wagtail. The Livingstone paper was applied to the underparts of overflying albas and, providing they flew directly overhead, a good number could be identified as White.
Reassurance was found by subsequently examining the more sullied underparts of the grounded Pied Wagtails around Ocean Edge! A single call from something more interesting, but the bird could not be located in the short time you have observing the sky
Chaffinch - 58 SW
Brambling - 12 SW (including flock of 11)
Redwing - 25 S
Song Thrush - 15 S
alba Wagtail - 78 SE, 35 identified as White, the remainder unspecified
Siskin - 51 S/SW
Starling - 102 S
Cormorant - flock of 4 high to the SE
Grey Heron - one 'in-off' then high to the SE
Meadow Pipit - 51 SE
Greenfinch - just 13 SW
Pink-footed Goose - 117+60 NE, 17 SW
Collared Dove - 4 S
Carrion Crow - flock of 4 high to the S
Reed Bunting - 4 S
Woodpigeon - 5 S
Linnet - 8 SE
Bullfinch - flock of 3 high from the north, then SW, then turned SE, before joining two Chaffinch heading S! Way above pylon height
Grey Wagtail - 2 SE
Mistle Thrush - 2 SE
Dunnock - 2S
no tit movement today in cloudy conditions
Grounded
3 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, perceived increase in Wren from early morning 'noise' (!), 2-3 Goldcrest
North wall
2 x 2nd W Med Gull
Other coastal sightings
3 Wheatear this evening and Kingfisher still around the outfalls
Moths
Late Large Yellow Underwing and the first (2) Red-line Quaker of the year. Why have there not been any Lunar Underwing to date?
Elsewhere
Female Cetti's Warbler trapped and ringed at Leighton Moss near the E end of the public causeway. 3rd record for Leighton and this area. Great White Egret still around. Juv Common Tern still Pine Lake.
