Heysham Obs
"Progressive deterioration in migration corridor" was todays original headline. Straight afterwards, a circuit of the nature reserve was enthused by at least three chiffchaffs around the dipping pond and three further individuals in the NE marsh. Then a Yellow-browed Warbler called twice as I passed through the gorse. A backtrack revealed brief views as it moved through some hawthorn above ivy. Then it disappeared and called further to the left. Later it called a few times and then about 1510hrs showed in the top of a willow for a minute or so with most of the views being of underparts and the head pattern. More vis today ahead of what looked like a band of quite organised cloud which reached here about 0830hrs. Dawn was crystal clear with a fresh SE wind. This depression to the SW is a pain - in many circumstances it would have filled by now and given us a decent light easterly airflow and a bit of murk. Instead it has stayed and formed a pressure gradient and clear conditions, especially first thing this morning. The other thing is the high is now developing into a 'ball' over southern Scandinavia, blocking stuff from north Scandinavia. This was written prior to discovering the YBW: "Therefore we have a situation which might be ok for the odd Firecrest or Black Redstart but is increasingly looking poor for any more Yellow-browed Warbler and unfortunately sending many of the hundreds leaving the northern isles out into the Atlantic".
Vis mig dawnish to about 1030hrs
Chaffinch - 148 S
Meadow Pipit - 283 SE
alba Wagtail - 83 SE
Swallow - one gang of 11 SE
Pink-footed Goose - 2+69 SE
Grey Wagtail - 6 SE
Goldfinch - 9 S
Dunnock - 1+2 S
Siskin - 4 S
Linnet - 1 S
Raven - 2 high to the north
Grounded
Yellow-browed Warbler - NE corner of nature reserve mid/late afternoon at least but elusive in dense vegetation although calling reasonably regularly (& Pete Cook, Janet Packham, Jean Roberts). Obviously no idea whether this was the same as two days ago but it was behaving as though it had a circuit
Wheatear - 1 north wall
Chiffchaff - at least 9 Heysham NR
Goldcrest - at least 4
Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Wigeon - 51
Med Gull - 5 adults
Little Egret - 1
Insects
Comma - 5 together NE corner
Red Admiral - at least 15, most seeming to fly south
Speckled Wood - at least 30
Small White - 5
Small Tortoiseshell - 3
Peacock - 1
Silver Y - 6
