Tuesday 18 September 2012

A few terns and an overdue first Red-throated Diver of the autumn

Heysham Obs
No-one could make it first thing this morning and nearby vis suggested we missed a similar effort to yesterday as also suggested by the trickle of Meadow Pipit after 0900hrs

A couple of satellite- tracked Ospreys retrospectively graced "our" airspace:
'Rothiemurchus' flew south just to the east of/over the reserve late am on 30/8 on a long migration which saw northern France being reached by evening
'Fiddich' flew across Morecambe bay on an approximate line from Ulverston to Cockersands, well within our seawatching range (!), late afternoon on 11/9
See the Roy Dennis site on the links for further information

Ocean Edge/outfalls pre-tide
Common Tern - juv and ad on outfalls and area
Arctic Tern - ad outfalls
Little Gull - ad outfalls
Med Gull - 3 1CY, 2 2CY, 1 3CY, 1 Ad outfalls/Red Nab

Sea 1115-1315 (thanks Ian)
Guillemot - 1
Red-throated Diver - 1 (IOA)
Pink-footed Goose - 110 SE
Med Gull - about 6 1CY around the harbour/outfalls at high tide, also at least one 2CY and the Czech-ringed adult

Moths
All change as wintry showers with hailstones peppered the night.  Far from the expected 'zilch' as no Treble Bars graced the wall, the egg packing revealed two new species for the year in the form of Black Rustic (2) and Green Brindled Crescent and one new for the autumn, Parsnip Moth.  The only other moth was a worn Rosy Rustic.  A bit of a memo to moth trappers who select their nights based on "nice conditions" - the two "worst" nights this week have been the most interesting!   This kind of weather certainly seems to produce the odd hour or two of suitable flying conditions during the lengthening night