No sea but seo

Heysham Obs
A 'first' was a session at Heysham without seeing the sea - a shame because the outfalls/offshore might have produced on the early morning incoming tide, especially with the huge squall covering the Bay.  Unfortunately survey work in deepest Yorkshire beckoned.  A bit of micrositing cloud movement led to a decision that the Middleton CES was viable by about half a mile!  It was a pretty good second CES session of the season for what is often a 'graveyard slot', undoubtedly assisted by the lateness of the year and even male Sedge Warblers still being on the move.  The first bird taken out of the nets was a British-ringed Sedge Warbler from elsewhere.

Middleton Nature reserve 0530-0915
Short-eared Owl - one was disturbed by gulls as they were gathering nesting material and flew a short distance before appearing to land on the high point towards Ocean Edge
Swallow - 17 north, mostly in last 20 mins
Reed Warbler - 6 singing males within earshot western/central marshes, two males caught were returning birds (ringed).  Unusually, one was singing full song whilst in the mist net and the other gave a burst of song whilst in the birdbag!
Lesser Whitethroat - presumed migrant male (wing length) caught
Sedge Warbler - 5 'new' birds caught, all but one presumed males on wing-length (but not recorded as such in ringing data before anyone queries!), including the British-ringed bird from elsewhere
Whitethroat - 3 ringed - at least one a non-territorial male