This was a peculiar day with a SE wind kicking in late morning and if the 'vis' from a nearby almost day-long vantage point survey is included, it reveals a significant increase during the day, with Meadow Pipit peaking at about 1400hrs! The other peculiar thing was the complete (as far as we undertand & certainly until at least 1145hrs) non-appearance of the Black Guillemot in "perfect" conditions
Vis mig from the office, later NHW 0700-1145hrs, later Middleton IE late evening
Redpoll spp. - 2 north
Siskin - 4 east
Linnet - 2 NE
Meadow Pipit - just 46 NE
alba Wagtail - 4 NE
Swallow - 5 NE, 51 E late evening at Middleton
Willow Warbler - at least 6 migrants passing through the bushes
Goldcrest - just one
Sandwich Tern - minimum of 4 blogging, then out
Merlin - one eventually flew north out to sea towards Ulverston climbing very high at c0830hrs
Vis from a VP just to the east
Absolutely nothing 0830-1000!
1030-1230, all heading NE as the south-easterlies freshened to F 2-4, 2-3 oktas
Meadow Pipit - c150
Siskin - 30
Linnet - 25
Redpoll spp - 1
Swallow - 18
Sand Martin - 8
1230-1630, (peaking around 1400h) SE F 2-4, 5 oktas
other species dried up but:
Meadow Pipit - c600, heading NE
Middleton IE
Grasshopper Warbler still singing in western marsh - stay on the raised concrete roads please
Stonechat - singing male on territory
Tufted Duck - 5
More info on yesterdays Heysham-ringed Twite seen at NR608209 (c.r. info)
1) one of 10 ringed between 31/10/2008 and 26/11/2008 (narrowed down by final digit of metal ring being visible!)
2) one of 31 ringed between 04/02/2009 and 24/03/2009
Cannot narrow them down any further without full metal ring numbers
InsectsFirst Holly Blue of the year in Heysham village (also one at the VP site just to the east "miles away" from the 'correct' habitat!)
Elsewhere
Red Kite flew north Langden Valley early afternoon. Spoonbill arrived Leighton Moss late afternoon. Male Garganey Griesdale Hide Leighton Moss. Osprey N over Aldcliffe 1620ish
