Friday 4 April 2014

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