Heysham Obs
Just two hours this morning & it was quite eventful overhead but predictably dire as regards any grounded leftovers/new arrivals after a clear starry half-moony night
Office 0700-0900, on and off to 0945
Chaffinch - 341 SW, mainly high flocks of up to 8 birds
Brambling - all calls from a flock of 10 (largest finch flock of morning) were this species & two others flew over - all SW
Goldfinch - 62 SW
Woodpigeon - flock of 8 S
Redwing - flock of 5 in from NE, then landed briefly on tank farm
Starling - 42+11+2 SW
alba Wagtail - 26 S
Meadow Pipit - just 7 SE
Grey Wagtail - none
Linnet - 1 S
Geese - c60 very high to the north-west and the only calls I could hear fitted Barnacle but couldnt get any detail at all on the birds. Anyone get to grips with them (c0750hrs)?
Chiffchaff - one caught whilst setting the nets seemed to be the only early morning grounded migrant! Gave typical collybita call on release
Pink-footed Goose - 75 low to the east over the dog-walk track at 0800hrs (not the high flock!)
Middleton NR evening (thanks Malcolm)
Tufted Duck (9), Teal (2) & 8 Greylag low to the south
Vis supplement 0950ish to 1030
More cross-bay stuff in clearer conditions:
Skylark - 5 SE
Swallow - 1 S
Meadow Pipit - 22SE
Chaffinch - 38 SW
Goldfinch - 7 SW
an unringed Chiffchaff by the Obs T pond
Mammals
Stoat crossed the power station approach road at 08:30 at SD 405599. Observed by rabbit (Ian Taylor)
