Wednesday 4 September 2013

More landbird coverage and the return of the Czech Med

Heysham Obs
The only coastal coverage today was a quick gathering up of an actinic left in the iconic SD36V where the "highlights" were the first records of Parsnip Moth and indeed Square Spot Rustic for the 10km square!

North harbour wall
Med Gull - Czech-ringed bird and a 2CY on the railings in true 'winter' mode

Office area and Middleton NR
Vis
Grey Wagtail - a decent passage with at least 23 birds south, including flocks of 5 + 4 and 13 colour-ringed (would have been more but for a broken shelf-string at a critical (very early) time!)
Tree Pipit - one south
Swallow - perhaps 200 S, mainly mid-morning onwards
House Martin - 25 S
Goldfinch - at least 15 seeming to be on migration to the south
Meadow Pipit - none
alba Wagtail - 3 south

Grounded
The office area suggested that it was 'all' leftovers with just three Chiffchaff in residence.   Difficult to judge at Middleton with low single figures of 'new' Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap but 'wetland warbler species' conspicuous by their absence

Moths
See above, also 16 Lime-speck Pug and 7 Agonopterix nervosa in the trap.  The office trap held single Magpie, Dark Sword Grass, 8 Silver Y and the usual stuff included half a dozen Treble Bar

Butterflies
The census included four Small Copper together in the heathland area