The Bonaparte's Gull was on Red Nab again. Also Little Gull.
But most notable today were the overhead squadrons of Pink-footed Geese - 803 counted by Bryan this morning. This detailed report was received later from Bryan - Thanks very much for this:
"Enjoyed myself this morning at Heysham from 0845hrs to 1040hrs,
unfortunately there was minimal passerine or hurundine movement,
although I would have thought the conditions were OK.
A good couple
of hours on the Pink Footed Goose which again where going
through on a
reasonable regular basis throughout although they had
started to "lull"
after 1000hrs. The geese were coming through at all
levels (mainly high) on
a far broad front eg: perhaps about four
parties actually came directly over
the "Office" or nearabouts, but the
main were crossing over the bay and well
back, in fact the last party
looked as though they could have been as far
back as "Piel Island" and
also a couple of parties were well inland almost
as far as you can
see. Observations were made from the top of the "Mount"
nearto the
office and overlooking the bay (good vista).
Pink Footed
Goose: 803 (15 skeins,
40,32,40,30,30,45,16,50,130,50,150,50,50,80,5) all
coming
from North/North West to South/South West. I did not notice any
"East"
influence today.
Meadow Pipit: 5
Chaffinch: 5
Swallow:
15
Goldfinch: 5 (one party)
On leaving Heysham, the hirundines were
picking up a little, though
difficult to count because of the erratic
variant directions and
undecided as to which were local or on direct
migration.
Of note which I did mention to the chaps, when I first bobbed
my head
above the "Mount" level and looking directly in front there were
literally "thousands" of dark birds crossing through the back of the
power station which kept a straight line and must have been about 40
birds deep going from NW to SE. It was really thick and you could
see birds from as far left to as far right on that lineage. I never
really got into it, caught out with the immediate "happening" but can
only think that perhaps they were Oyks, although I did not see any
"white" flashes at all, everything seemed deep black (probably
silhouetted) but first immpressions was like I see with the Jackdaws as
they leave roost, but these were tight in a deep line just like you get
with the Starlings as they leave the roost, but far bigger birds. I
wish now I had took much more note on this, but why I mention it now is
purely because the chaps did not know of what they could have been and
obviously this does not appear to be a regular "noticeable" event.
I
will probably be back to Heysham again on Monday.
Regards,
Bryan."
Ringing
Grey Wagtail - 6 trapped and colour ringed
Chaffinch - 4
Goldfinch - 6
Greenfinch - 6
Blue Tit - 6
Great Tit - 1
Dunnock - 3
Moths
Lunar Underwing in the hut trap
ajd
