Monday 7 September 2015

Not quite what was expected yet again!

Heysham Obs
A very clear night with a decreasing north-westerly leading to a cold flat-calm morning did not seem a good recipe for night migrants, but conversely seemed promising enough for e.g. Grey Wagtail passage.   Instead the nets were 'full' of night migrants with Middleton seeing the 'full house' of common warbler species being ringed - not bad for the end of the first week in September.  There were no Grey Wagtail seen or heard at Middleton and just two (three birds?) seen/ringed at Heysham NR.  Some really good photography from Janet during the afternoon




Middleton NR
Some of the ringing data:
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 ringed
Sedge Warbler - 1 ringed, one retrapped
Reed Warbler - 2 ringed
Willow Warbler - one ringed
Chiffchaff - 5 ringed
Whitethroat - 6 ringed, one retrap
Blackcap - 4 ringed, one retrap
Garden Warbler - one ringed
Dunnock - 7 ringed and two escaped (!) - definitely on the move this morning
Robin - 3 presumed migrants ringed

Vis mig
Tree Pipit - 1 south early on, then a flock of 3 grounded later on
Lesser Redpoll - 1 S
alba Wagtail - c10 SE
Swallow - c35 S all mid am onwards
Meadow Pipit - c5 SE
Siskin - 7+10+1 SE
Tree Sparrow - 4 west
Common Buzzard - heard to east
House Martin - c5 S

Heysham NR
Grey Wagtail - at least two possibly three
Robin - three ringed
Reed Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff - singletons ringed

More excellent pics from Janet






Sunday 6th September

Heysham Obs

I left a single mist net up for a couple of hours whilst finishing the county ringing report - 3 x Grey Wagtail arrived in singletons

The Swallow roost in the evening held about 80 birds and 38 Swallow and 2 Sand Marin were ringed

Water Rail in the usual area

Saturday 5th September

Heysham Obs
Little Gull and 52 Treble Bar in moth trap