Monday 26 August 2013

Time to leave seagulls and switch to landbirds for the rest of this week

Funny morning. Middleton NR CES saw a Crossbill, 11 Tree Pipit and two Yellow Wagtail south by 0645hrs but deadly silent as regards grounded birds or lingering local summer visitors. Then the vis ceased apart from a few hirundines and two early Meadow Pipit and there was an hour of absolute zero activity. Then a trickle of grounded migrants from about 0830 to 1000 including a bit of local quality in the form of three Whinchat together and a Pied Flycatcher
The other significant feature this morning was a complete absence of Willow Warblers within earshot at either Middleton or Heysham
The Ad Bonaparte's Gull was on Heysham one outfall just after lunchtime along with 3CY Little Gull

Middleton NR 0530-1015 grounded
Whinchat - flock of three made their way inland across the two marshes, perching regularly, at 0835
Pied Flycatcher - female type in willow by gate into central marsh area at least 1005hrs 
Sedge Warbler - one seen & heard & caught!
Reed Warbler - three juvs (2 unringed) the only activity
Whitethroat - about 10 seen 4 ringed
Lesser Whitethroat - moulting adult and three juvs ringed

Middleton NR vis 0530-1015
Tree Pipit - 11 south-east, all before 0645hrs and including groups of 5 and 3 
Flava wagtail - two south-east
Crossbill (spp?!) south at about 0635hrs - too high to see details
Swallow - difficult to work out whether there was any passage
House Martin - at least 20 presumed migrants

Heysham NR
A trickle of warbler species and one Tree Pipit

Outfalls area 1230ish for about 25 mins
Little Gull - 3CY on mud, then flew towards Heysham one outfall
Bonaparte's Gull - on Heysham one outfall
Med Gull - at least 5

Moths
Yellow-barred brindle notable for here

Butterflies
The office buddleia hosted: Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Green-veined, Small and Large Whites, Painted Lady, Comma (briefly), Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Peacock

Heysham Moss 2 snipe flushed.