Thursday 14 October 2010

Siberian Chiffchaff

Heysham Obs
Not quite so productive this morning, especially vis from the east, with the rather high-layered cloud and perhaps too much north in the wind on both sides of the country.  The two most interesting birds in the nets, a very lightweight orange Robin and the Siberian Chiffchaff both turned up after the thickest darkest piece of cloud & associated spits.  Tom found the best diurnal migrant - a Yellowhammer by the anemometer.  Thanks to Emma for the pics below

..........Trapped and ringed at 1100hrs today.  The key thing was the call - a soft 'pew' like a weak high-pitched Bullfinch.  The plumage (and biometrics) also filled the tick boxes.  Photos are notoriously deceptive - please accept there was absolutely no green tinge to the mantle/rump/head.  We have had a good variety of Chiffchaffs here over the years including some with similar plumage but no calls heard

Grounded
Song Thrush - 7
Goldcrest - 10
Rock Pipit - 1
Chiffchaff - 3-4
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1
Robin - an orange bird caught weighing 14.8 grams just after very light shower!
Blackbird - c20
Redwing - 15
Mistle Thrush - 11
Yellowhammer - grounded by the anemometer then headed ESE
Water Rail - one by dipping pond
Fieldfare - single grounded  by dipping poind, then headed south

Vis
Redpoll - 2 S
Linnet - 2 S
Chaffinch - 31 SW
Grey Wagtail - 1 S
Siskin - 2 S
alba Wagtail - 13 SE
Meadow Pipit - 38 SE
Goldfinch - 4 S
Raven - two flew high out to sea, then u-turned at the tideline & headed inland
Sparrowhawk - male 'in-off' then SE
Coal Tit - 3 S
Pink-footed Goose 72 S early morning

Middleton IE (BE strip)
Garden Warbler - 1
Chiffchaff - 2
North wall
Med Gull - 2 adults
Meadow Pipit - 26 grounded
Linnet - 8 grounded
Blackbird - 1

Ringing (all HNR)
From memory - perhaps one or two numbers wrong!  Goldcrest (1), Wren (2), Greenfinch (10), Blue Tit (3), Dunnock (1), Robin (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Siberian Chiffchaff (1), Treecreeper (1 - yet another - I think this is about 10 since the comment after the July one that this would be the first and last of the year!), Chaffinch (4), Long-tailed Tit (4)

Moths
Dark Chestnut is a good record for here & first Mottled Umber of the autumn