Monday 26 March 2012

Clear weather fare

Heysham Obs
The problem this morning was traffic noise during the peak vis mig period - it is odd how this is only a problem on certain mornings, seemingly unrelated to the wind - the wrong kind of air?  Nice flock of Knot at Middleton/off Ocean Edge which we have been counting all week - 12000-14000 each day:


Office area
Ring Ouzel - probable male tank farm then flew inland 0725hrs
Redwing - 2 flew inland just after dawn - late for here
Chiffchaff - just the one obvious migrant ringed
Goldcrest - none
Lesser Redpoll - at least 42 north (just 7 ringed)
Chaffinch - 5 NE
alba Wagtail - 9 N
Meadow Pipit - c80 N
Carrion Crow - 2 N
Linnet - 7 N
Woodpigeon - flock of 6 N
Collared Dove - 1 NE
Goldfinch - just one N!

Offshore
Eider - 122

North wall in afternoon (more seed put out after Twite seen this am)
Twite - at least 5 on seed but flew off before could be examined
Linnet - at least 6 as above

Ocean Edge
Twite - 5, then flew north, possibly out to sea (at least two were unringed, rest not seen properly)

Moths
Surprisingly good catch considering it was 3.5C at dawn, with a mass break-out of Double-striped Pug (8), Early Thorn (4) and a nice individual moth in the form of Red Sword Grass (not common here). Another Speckled Wood seen today - this time at Middleton:


All pics taken by Janet today - thanks for these