Heysham Obs
Just about worth the early start today with virtually everything landbird-wise in the short interregnum between the two yellow things in the sky. Indeed, its a real shame this last week wasnt in the new moon period. Rather "1980's" vis mig with the best daily Tree Pipit and flava Wagtail counts for years!
Heysham Nature reserve office area 0515-0930
Ring Ouzel - female tacking in the gorse by the office (in there overnight??), then flew to classroom area, then over on to golfcourse at c0535hrs
flava Wagtail - singles heading north at 0555, 0620 and 0905hrs, the latter circled round and appeared to eventually head north-west
Goldfinch - 37 north
Lesser Redpoll - 5+1 north, the flock of 5 left a presumed overnight roost site at 0520hrs in the gorse next to the office and headed straight into the sky to the north!
alba Wagtail - 17 north
Linnet - 9 north
Meadow Pipit - 22 north
Tree Pipit - 6 north, all before 0630 and before any Meadow Pipit, then a further pulse with 8 north between 0830 and 0930, including 4 together [14]
Canada Goose - two low inland
Swallow - 7 north
House Martin - one north
Willow Warbler - 15-20 migrants first thing soon melted away
Garden Warbler - one singing below the Obs Tower 0625-0630, but not later
Grasshopper Warbler - one singing distantly in the tank farm
Ringing - too windy/sunny with all birds caught prior to 0630 (6 Willow Warbler, one Chiffchaff) other than a single Blackcap
Sea 0930-1000 north wall
Sandwich Tern - 3 in
Wheatear - 1
Small White - 12 north-east along seawall
Outfalls area 1030ish
Black Tern - one distantly in the channel between Heysham 2 and the sewage pipe, then appeared to fly 'in'. On its own, no other tern species seen!
Arctic Tern - two flew in, then gained height & headed north-west about midday
Common Sandpiper - one along the seawall
Wheatear - 4 Ocean Edge
