Friday 14 August 2009

Rock bottom early autumnal dross

Forecast 'back on again' (via the usually reliable XC weather) for early Sunday morning and seabird possibilities. Note it is an anniversary of some sort for Balearic Shearwater!

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Robert-the Bruce-like persistence with Red Nab saw a third visit late afternoon which produced fleeing Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits, seagulls etc and a family of 'flattened mohicans' with a double 'tideline' on the shaven bit along the side of the head. Extraordinary: father & two small sons with identical highly intricate patterns.
Black-tailed Godwit - 24
No Meds at all at high tide!

North harbour wall
Nothing

Heysham Nature reserve
The Constant Effort Site ringing session revealed that there was no movement of an ornithological nature through the bushes below the observation tower. A supplementary net next to the office produced a sprinkling of finches and warblers, including one of three Lesser Whitethroats around the office during the morning

No vis at all. A perceived Swallow passage was resolved as the same bird on a sizeable circuit!

Moths
Highlighted by White-spotted Pug plus the first of the local Agriphila latistria for the year. Another rarity, Agriphila selasella wandered from the local saltmarshes for the second time this year.

Elsewhere
Similarly dead by the look of the pager