Heysham Obs
Murk and a very short pulse of rain just after dawn, clearing after about 1.5 hrs and a south-easterly airflow. It was predictable that there would be some birds, however the species composition held a few surprises - the main one being that Goldcrest, as opposed to phylloscs, were by far the most numerous night migrant in evidence - I thought these had just about passed through
Grounded migrants
Redstart - male by Heysham NR office early on
Willow Warbler - one ringed
Chiffchaff - surprisingly few new birds in relation to e.g. Goldcrest with just 3 ringed
Goldcrest - 30+; 20 ringed and additional bird on north wall mound
Wheatear -at least 14 seen
Redwing - 162 grounded on the tank farm overnight - flew inland in dribs and drabs
Song Thrush - one with above
Blackbird - two unringed birds caught - there have been 'extra' Blackbirds around on many mornings this month but so difficult to quantify (unlike e.g. Walney)
Blackcap - singing male Moneyclose Lane
Robin - at least 4 migrants
Middleton grounded etc
Willow Warbler - 5 singing
Chiffchaff - 5 singing
Phyllosc - 5+
Swallow - 5
Sand Martin - 2
Tufted Duck - 21
Teal - 6
Vis mig (north-east unless stated)
Almost all this happened after the skies cleared at about 0830hrs
Meadow Pipit - at least 640 over Heysham NR pre-1100hrs.
Tree Pipit - 1
Brambling - 1 poss 2
Chaffinch - at least 6
Redpoll spp - only three
Siskin - plenty but so difficult to see e.g. "one calling" transpired to be a flock of 13. At least 11 separate registrations involving a minimum of 23 birds
Goldfinch - c15
Sand Martin - 2
Swallow - c75 (all coastal)
Woodpigeon - 11+9 over reserve
alba Wagtail - c40
Collared Dove - 1
Carrion Crow - 6+2+3
North Harbour Wall
Meadow Pipit - 324 from 0615-0850
alba Wagtail - 4
Woodpigeon - 17
Carrion Crow - 4
Redpoll sp - 1
Siskin - 6
Greenfinch - 8
Goldfinch - 1
Swallow - 8
Grounded:
Chiffchaff - 1
Goldcrest - 1
Wheatear 3
Sea passage
Sandwich Tern - maximum at any one time of 40
Red-throated Diver - at least 3
Great-crested Grebe - noticeable influx with 10+ on water
Arctic Tern - 1+1+18
Dark-bellied Brent Goose - one 'out'
Little Gull - adult-type on water
Kittiwake - flock of 16
Sanderling - 1
Miscellany
Rock Pipit along seawall
Twite - still 56 - all ringed!
Purple Sandpiper - still on wooden jetty
Moths
At last! Agonopterix heracliana (2), Acleris hastiana (1), Shoulder Stripe (4), Hebrew Character (1), Common Quaker (3), Clouded Drab (1) - about 300 less than in the Millhouses trap!
