Saturday 21 September 2013

A rather odd murky morning

Heysham Obs
Seven Grey Wagtails colour-ringed in warm sector murk with hardly any vis mig?  Odd!  They comprised a singleton, a couple and a flock of four with only at least one and probably two other birds recorded.  All of them appeared between 0635 and 0715hrs, earlier than might be expected in the conditions

As far as I am aware, the Bonaparte's Gull did not perform this morning and it certainly did not appear to do its routine of bathing on Red Nab on the incoming tide. With the offshore wind, it may be resting on the calm seas around/off the harbour mouth

Vis mig by the office dawn to about 0945hrs
Meadow Pipit - just 16 SE
Grey Wagtail - 8, possibly 9 SE, then two flew north at Ocean Edge at 1130hrs
alba Wagtail - 5 SE
Chaffinch - 17 S at low level

Grounded
Just two Chiffchaff and one of the two unringed Robin caught was suggestive of a migrant on weight/fat

Outfalls/Red Nab
Good lot of Med Gulls!
Med Gull - 9 1CY, 5 2CY and 9 adult-type.  Some of the adults were resting on the sand off Ocean Edge but the only ringed birds were 'our' yellow-ringed bird 2P96 and a below the knee metal on an adult.  In addition, the Czech-ringed veteran was patrolling the north wall, therefore minimum  of 24 birds 
Little Gull - 3CY outfalls

Moths
Red-green Carpet and especially Brick were early.  A small plume still to be identified.