The now 'long-staying' Ad Arctic Tern photographed yesterday by Mike Watson. Thanks for this, Mike. Heysham Obs
Nothing mind-boggling but a fair selection of birds. Today was in the top ten of personal 'best days birding in this area' but this was mainly due to discoveries elsewhere (see below)
Ocean Edge foreshore/outfalls
Twite - one saltmarsh edge
Linnet - 12 football pitch
Rock Pipit - one by slipway
Wheatear - large bird along foreshore
Arctic Tern - adult still on outfalls
Wigeon - increase to 31 on Red Nab
Heysham NR & area
Goldcrest - c10
Song thrush - 6
Chiffchaff - 3
Middleton IE
Pochard - 1
Gadwall - 1
Tufted Duck - 16
Stonechat - 1 female
Snipe - 16
Blackcap - female ringed
Chiffchaff - one ringed
Goldcrest - 3
Reed Bunting - 6 unringed birds and two retraps
North harbour wall
Shag - 2 juvs
Med Gull - 3 adults
Vis mig dawn to c0930hrs
Meadow Pipit - 116
Greenfinch - 3
Coal Tit - 2
Grey Wagtail - 4 (one colour-ringed)
alba Wagtail - 28
Chaffinch - 2
Skylark - 34 (a lot for here early morning)
Goldfinch - 1
Linnet - 23
Siskin - 8
Song Thrush - 2
Pink-footed Goose - 14+11
Elsewhere
Yes!!! Yellow-browed Warbler with a Long-tailed Tit-based flock near Botton Mill 1440-1450 (intermittently), then headed towards Stairend bridge before heading down the west side of the Hindburn valley [terrain too uneven to keep up with flock]. Just one call attributable to this bird, but it was a bright individual with broad tertial fringes and eliminating Hume's Warbler was not a problem. Also 30 Redwing and a single flock of 44 Siskin in this area, but Thrushgill plantation appeared rather dead and coneless. No further sign of this flock in the next 3.5 hours. Early-morning two hour vis mig session on Caton Moor was reasonably good and highlighted by Snow Bunting (0837hrs) and Rock Pipit (0914hrs) - both SW. Nothing at Leighton Moss other than huge numbers of people & single lingering Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper on the EM Pool & Marsh Harrier on the main reserve, but no-one "interpreting the pager news" & checking the slag tips for Lap/Snow Bs.. Late Garden Warbler Freeman's Wood area. Anyone else do moorland edge vis this morning (where it was clear c/p coast)?
Nothing mind-boggling but a fair selection of birds. Today was in the top ten of personal 'best days birding in this area' but this was mainly due to discoveries elsewhere (see below)
Ocean Edge foreshore/outfalls
Twite - one saltmarsh edge
Linnet - 12 football pitch
Rock Pipit - one by slipway
Wheatear - large bird along foreshore
Arctic Tern - adult still on outfalls
Wigeon - increase to 31 on Red Nab
Heysham NR & area
Goldcrest - c10
Song thrush - 6
Chiffchaff - 3
Middleton IE
Pochard - 1
Gadwall - 1
Tufted Duck - 16
Stonechat - 1 female
Snipe - 16
Blackcap - female ringed
Chiffchaff - one ringed
Goldcrest - 3
Reed Bunting - 6 unringed birds and two retraps
North harbour wall
Shag - 2 juvs
Med Gull - 3 adults
Vis mig dawn to c0930hrs
Meadow Pipit - 116
Greenfinch - 3
Coal Tit - 2
Grey Wagtail - 4 (one colour-ringed)
alba Wagtail - 28
Chaffinch - 2
Skylark - 34 (a lot for here early morning)
Goldfinch - 1
Linnet - 23
Siskin - 8
Song Thrush - 2
Pink-footed Goose - 14+11
Elsewhere
Yes!!! Yellow-browed Warbler with a Long-tailed Tit-based flock near Botton Mill 1440-1450 (intermittently), then headed towards Stairend bridge before heading down the west side of the Hindburn valley [terrain too uneven to keep up with flock]. Just one call attributable to this bird, but it was a bright individual with broad tertial fringes and eliminating Hume's Warbler was not a problem. Also 30 Redwing and a single flock of 44 Siskin in this area, but Thrushgill plantation appeared rather dead and coneless. No further sign of this flock in the next 3.5 hours. Early-morning two hour vis mig session on Caton Moor was reasonably good and highlighted by Snow Bunting (0837hrs) and Rock Pipit (0914hrs) - both SW. Nothing at Leighton Moss other than huge numbers of people & single lingering Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper on the EM Pool & Marsh Harrier on the main reserve, but no-one "interpreting the pager news" & checking the slag tips for Lap/Snow Bs.. Late Garden Warbler Freeman's Wood area. Anyone else do moorland edge vis this morning (where it was clear c/p coast)?
