Sunday 9 September 2012

Vis mig to the fore in clear conditions

Heysham Obs
The first decent movement by Grey Wagtail and Meadow Pipit was unfortunately not reflected in the ringing effort where sun on the nets was a major problem.  Finch passage was also noticeable, but very few hrundines by 1000hrs other than a 'wadge' of House Martins.  The vis was almost certainly underestimated as multi-tasking was the order of the day (plus a late start!).  Grounded birds amounted to a rather surprising Redstart but very little else.

Walney are individually colour-ringing Goldfinches.  Please could you keep a lookout and make sure you record the single colour ring on the left leg (with metal) and the two single-colour rings on the right leg.  A bit easier than Twite where we have had to use split two-colour rings.  Please email any sightings (even if you don't manage to decipher all the colour-rings) to colin@walneyobs.fsnet.co.uk

Office vis mig 0645-1000hrs onwards
Meadow Pipit - 145 SE
Grey Wagtail - 22 SE
House Martin - 16 S
Swallow - 7 S
Chaffinch - 29 S
Tree Pipit - 1 SE
alba Wagtail - 4 SE
Starling - flock of 6 high to S
Jay - 1 possibly 2 thought to be passage birds
Goldfinch - 18 SE

Middleton
Raven - 11+2 moving south.

Ringing
5 Grey Wagtail colour-ringed was a pretty poor return from a major migration morning - there were more birds sitting on top of the nets than in them!  Very little else but did include a Sedge Warbler and four Reed Bunting

Moths
Mainly Treble Bar and Square-spot Rustic with nothing of note other than perhaps Agriphila geniculea

Butterflies
A late Gatekeeper by the office, also 2 male Common Blue