Heysham Obs
The day dawned with singing Robins. This is not good. Singing Robins mean nothing else in the bushes to chase and chastise. Good migrant mornings are accompanied by lots of 'ticking noises' and chasing sessions, including any other passerines invading the inner sanctum of bushes at the centre of the territory. This applied to yesterday when the first Robin song (as opposed to 'ticking') from those around the office was not until at least a couple of hours after dawn.
The 'vis' was far too high, the pylon was crackling making birds even more difficult to hear and there were several other birders providing coverage. Melmerby cafe (en route to work in Northumberland) seemed a whole lot better prospect than the supermarket brand "muesli" in the kitchen which doubled up as substandard mammal trap bait. Good move - secured the last ever bowl of Fig and Date Compote in 2007 (off the menu in 'winter')
North wall/harbour area
The male Black Guillemot, now in winter plumage, returned and was chased off the wooden jetty by feral pigeons and ended up in the water next to the jetty during at least the morning
Guillemot - one in the harbour still
Med. Gull - 3 x 2nd W along the north wall and two adults (one may have been the other (less regular) very faintly-marked 2nd W?) on the heliport
Vis mig from the office intermittently 0700-0900
Difficult, as described above, due to height of birds and crackling electricity wires.
Reed Bunting - 2 SE
alba Wagtail - 14 S
Chaffinch - 44 SW
Dunnock - 2 S
Starling - 32 S
Greenfinch - 5 SW
Woodpigeon - 17 SE
Meadow Pipit - 20 SE
Redwing - one flock of 16 SW
Grey Wagtail 2 SE
Linnet 12 S
Goldfinch - 15 SW
Grounded
Not much pre-0900hrs around the office. Wheatear on the NHW mound
Red Nab
51 Shelduck and the first (13) Wigeon reported this autumn
Kingfisher by the outfalls
Moths
At last! The first Lunar Underwing of the year.
Elsewhere
"Stubble burning" at Cockersands produced a Short-eared Owl along with 53 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting and a surprising 104 Meadow Pipit. The Great Grey Shrike seen again by a reliable observer from the public causeway at Leighton Moss. What has been described as a 'grey' Willow Warbler with white underparts was trapped and ringed nearby. Great White Egret and two Avocets on the EM complex. Male Ring Ouzel at Aldcliffe
