Heysham Obs
Not a morning for glasses-wearers in fine drizzle and poor visibility. Decent numbers of the 'obvious' =Wheatear made you wonder what of the non-obvious might have slipped through. However, coverage not at all bad and thanks the Bill and Janet for early morning Middleton visits (and Malcolm's and Justine's on previous days)
Middleton early am
Grasshopper Warbler - one presumably singing on territory, the other a probable migrant alongside Ocean Edge
Redstart - male (IOY)
Jack Snipe - late bird flushed from shallow wetland
Willow Warbler - 8+, c40 later on
Stock dove - 2 (Ioy)
Heysham NR circuit
Goldcrest - late female
Willow Warbler - 2 migrants
Chiffchaff - 4 migrants, two on territory
Wheatears
Ocean Edge - 11
North harbour wall - 17
South harbour - 1
PS non-operational land - 3
Middleton - 7
North harbour wall
Meadow Pipit - 6 grounded
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.