Migration delayed by the murk

Heysham Obs

The rain shower mid-morning did the trick and dropped three Lesser Whitethroat (one HNR, two Middleton) - the earliest ever records here but following one at Aldcliffe yesterday.  A trickle of phylloscs was most apparent on Middleton although 5 Chiffchaffs were ringed HNR along with the first Willow Warbler of the ringing year.  Thanks to Malcolm for extensive coverage.

Heysham NR (vis mig session 1200-1300 as it cleared)

Meadow Pipit - 56 NE - started moving as soon as started to clear

alba Wagtail - 12 NE

Redpoll spp - one ringed early (Lesser) and one NE early pm

Carrion Crow & Jackdaw - mixed flock north early on but don't know exact numbers (8+ Jackdaw) - very unusual in spring

Lesser Whitethroat - singing male appeared 1330hrs

Goldcrest - 2 ringed

Chiffchaff - 5 ringed

Middleton NR

2 lesser whitethroat

1 willow warbler

14 chiffchaff heard + several CC/WW seen only

1 singing skylark

Tufted Duck - 19 (5 obvious pairs) 

5 gadwall (4 males)

2 mallard

6 teal

2 shelduck

Mute Swan: 2 on boating pond, 1 sitting on Tim Butler pond, 1 sitting on Fence pond + mate

6 coot

5 moorhen

1 little grebe

2 lapwing

2 snipe

2 pheasant

2 reed bunting

24 linnet

 

Ocean Edge

1 little egret

2 snipe

4 greylag low to SE

5 wheatear

12 meadow pipit grounded - 1 parachuting

North harbour wall in mist first thing

Linnet - 8

Robin - migrant at the end which flew across the harbour

Otherwise totally dead with useless offshore visibility