Heysham Obs
This was definitely a singing Robin morning with the unwelcome sweet music, a result of nothing to chase and chastise, a feature of the first hour after dawn. Reverted to 'vis'........again hardly anything. The problem was the remains of the weather front were still just to the north and the high cloud meant visibility was also too good. Plus a "nothing" wind direction (vaguely south). Should have gone for the Cretz! However:
Jackdaw - two landed on the pylons at 0900 adding a very difficult species to the BTO challenge list (99.99% of British Energy land records are fly-overs, mainly in autumn)
Common Crossbill - Juvenile came in from the NW, landed on the willow by the Obs. Tower pond for about 3 minutes (0940) before heading south
Grounded included:
Common Whitethroat - 2 late juveniles ringed = about 10% of the annual ringing total for this species which has had a dreadful year
Garden Warbler - one off-passage, fat level 3 bird ringed
Lesser Whitethroat - one seen by the office mid-afternoon (unringed)
Inshore
Guillemot by the heliport at high tide. At least two Shag on the wooden jetty and three adult Med Gulls along the north harbour wall at high tide. Thanks to Jackie and David for these records
Vis from the office
Bullfinch - not sure what to make of these - 1 high to the SE, then 3 high to the west
Meadow Pipit - 44 SE
Grey Wagtail - 7 SE
alba Wagtail - 9 SE
Linnet - 6 S
Goldfinch - 14 SE
Siskin - 10 SE
Chaffinch - 16 S/SW
Woodpigeon - 3 SE
Swallow - 10 SE
Dunnock - 2 S
Elsewhere
Both Lancs pagered Honey Buzzards during the morning have been to the south of here today with one over Carleton early am and one over Brockholes just prior to midday. Adult Honey Buzzard joined 5 Common Buzzard in a thermal over Lancaster at 1.35pm before heading south and another 'dark morph' was seen in the Trough near Sykes. Just outside the LDBWS area is a Black-necked Grebe on Barnacre reservoir. Nothing from the hides at Leighton Moss other than a Curlew Sandpiper on the EM Pool and just 15 Little Egret in the roost. Aerial raptor searches there suggested 8 different Common Buzzard.
