Heysham Obs
Nice mixture of calm, a few dark clouds and a light northerly airflow for the first half of this morning. 'Bet there is a Wryneck somewhere' was the assessment - a Red-backed Shrike later materialised just to the south - but there was no way that we could cover everywhere and complete the final Middleton CES. As I type this, rumbles of thunder to the north might liven things up again after a breezy sunny spell late morning/early afternoon
Middleton CES
There seemed to be quite a few common migrants whizzing through at a vast rate of knots, including at least four Common Whitethroat and a Wheatear. Others migrant warblers latched themselves on to the local LTT flock
Goldcrest - 2-3
Grey Wagtail - 2 early on and one after we had packed up - SE
Swallow - c120 south, with the ex-roost birds earlier swirling up and disappearing high to south
House Martin - just one
Siskin - 5-6 registrations totally an absolute minimum of 8 birds i.e. didn't see any of them!!
Wheatear - one inland
Pied Wagtail - at least 7 SE
Reed Bunting - just one migrant - conspicuous absence of local birds
Reed Warbler - 2 ringed - no other obvious birds
Sedge Warbler - 3 ringed
WillowWarbler - 5+
Chiffchaff - 2+
Whitethroat - up to 4 rapidly passed through and one ringed
Lesser Whitethroat - one ringed
Blackcap - at least 5
Meadow Pipit - 5 SE
Goldfinch - c50 grounded
Water Rail - one in the breeding area western marsh
Moths
A NI MOTH was on the wall of the toilet trap but unfortunately tried to pot it when a pic would have been a better option and it shot out of the window. Very good views but not a proper documentation. This is the problem when the trap is not checked until mid-morning with the sun blazing on it
