Friday 16 October 2009

A bit of vis and that

Heysham obs

Vis by the office:
Apart from an initial rush of Redwing lifting off the Tank Farm there was little movement in the skies until 10am. Many birds headed north into the wind, whilst sensible species like Chaffinches headed south to warmer climes:
Skylark 15 (6>s, 9>N)
Meadow Pipit 4 (S)
Rock Pipit 1
Grey Wagtail 1 (SW)
alba Wagtail 12 (S)
Blackbird 1 (S)
Fieldfare 29 (28 SW,1 N)
Song Thrush 2
Redwing 204 (39>S, 165>N)
Jackdaw 70 (17>S, 53>N)
Larger corvids 25
Starling 85 ((37>N, rest S or SW)
Chaffinch 16 (S)
Greenfinch 8 (3>S, 5>N)
Goldfinch 5 (S)
Siskin 5 (S)
Redpoll sp 2 (S)
Great Spotted Woodpecker flew south but might have been going to Middleton.

On the reserve: Tawny Owl on the cream store pre-dawn. Greenfinch were notable by their absence, Robins notable by their presence - at least 14 Robins 'ticking'. 11 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrush and then the usual Dunnocks, Wrens etc

Ringing: the grand sum of 2 birds, one of which was a retrapped adult Great Tit (first ringed in March this year) and a new Grey Wagtail which now sports yellow and white colour rings.

Elsewhere
Cetti's Warbler male retrapped at Leighton Moss (11 days). Long-billed Dowitcher still Cockersands but missing for some time around midday. 2(+?) Brambling with Chaffinches in the beech copse 2/3 of the way up the Caton Moor cul-de-sac