Friday 15 April 2011

Migrant drip-feed

Heysham Obs
What may have been a Great Northern Diver seen very distantly floating in/diving (0915hrs).  No further sign.  Otherwise a bit slow in the rather uniform medium-high cloud and still conditions.  Based purely on Heysham evidence, it was amazing to see the number of latish Meadow Pipits and other vis mig over nearby Rossall (580+) and Walney in what appeared to be clearer conditions over the mouth of the Bay

Heysham Nature reserve office area
Willow Warbler - arrived a bit late (0610!!) and 5-10 were in the process of moving through with 6 subsequently caught, one ringed as a juvenile (female) at Middleton on 12/7/10 and one from Heysham NR last summer.  Another unringed female was caught (wing length)
Redstart - male by office
Redpoll - 6 north (2 ringed)
alba Wagtail - 10 north
Linnet - 16 north
Goldfinch - 8 north
Meadow Pipit - one north
Lesser Whitethroat - singing male tank farm
Grasshopper Warbler - singing male briefly on tank farm first thing - appeared to be moving north through the area with the final burst of song quite close.  Therefore doubtfully yesterdays bird still in situ

North harbour wall
Blackbird - singing male on the mound - an iconic atlas dot for SD36!!!
Greenshank - on flew 'in' - scarce here
Sandwich Tern - c20 blogging, 3 later on Red Nab
Swallow - c35 north
Diver spp - one in winter/2CY plumage, looked 'large and straight-billed', but distant (per Pete C)

Moths
A Golden-rod Pug appears to be the earliest record in at least VC60 and perhaps Lancs - continuing the main theme of this spring!