Saturday 9 February 2013

Murky miscellany

Heysham Obs
A ringing session next to the office competed with the national decibel competition on the nearby non-op land, where they seemed to be breaking up containers (anyone want a asbo-proof bird hide?).  This put the Greenfinches off the feeder but drove a few odds and ends out of the tank farm, including a surprising unringed female Bullfinch

North harbour wall
Twite - a good view of 89 on the seed revealed what was presumably the usual Machrihanish-ringed bird and just 4 unringed birds
Med Gull - Czech-ringed adult on the railings, ad on fisher's roof
Goldfinch - one on seed
Too murky to see anything offshore

HNR Office area
Blackbird - unringed continental female caught
Robin - unringed bird caught
Bullfinch - unringed female caught

Middleton NR (thanks Malcolm)
Jack Snipe - 1
Teal   54, mainly Tim Butler pond
Gadwall - pair TB pond, female model boat pond
Goldeneye -  1
Mallard 13
Tufted Duck 6
Pochard - 4 males
Mute  Swan - 7 (just 3 juvs left)
Little Grebe - singles on TB pond and fence pond
Coot   5
Moorhen -  4+

Stage 2 outfall
Little Gull - 2 2CY late afternoon

Moths
2 Dotted Border and a Chestnut