Heysham Obs
The pony and trap cleared the foreshore of waders again today - even the Grey Plover cleared off towards Fluke Hall
Inshore
Med Gull - 12
Grey Plover - 250, then flushed
Ringing Middleton
47 new birds (just one retrap), including 8 species of warbler
Two juv Med Gulls flew inland
Swallow roost
29 ringed, probably most of the roost!
Tuesday, 30 August 2016
Monday, 29 August 2016
The running sore of Potts corner
Heysham obs
Depressingly predictably the pony and trap ran the whole length of the tideline flushing all the waders along about a mile with only the grey plover and a handful of Dunlin returning. The birds try and persist through this because the area is so rich in food but numerous attempts to engage those who can influence access and behaviour have proved to be a complete waste of effort
A few odds and ends were ringed by the office notably sedge warbler and grey wagtail
12 med gulls (4 x juv) were seen on red nab, ocean edge saltmarsh or on the outfalls
Depressingly predictably the pony and trap ran the whole length of the tideline flushing all the waders along about a mile with only the grey plover and a handful of Dunlin returning. The birds try and persist through this because the area is so rich in food but numerous attempts to engage those who can influence access and behaviour have proved to be a complete waste of effort
A few odds and ends were ringed by the office notably sedge warbler and grey wagtail
12 med gulls (4 x juv) were seen on red nab, ocean edge saltmarsh or on the outfalls
Sunday, 28 August 2016
Wader fest and stop-start ringing
Heysham Obs
A decent look at the tideline on the lowish high tide was a good move. Perhaps predictably here juvenile Curlew Sandpipers could be initially 'identified' because they were loosely associating with the Redshank, not with the Dunlin 'mass'!
Ocean Edge tideline
Grey Plover - c205
Bar-tailed Godwit - a disappointing 35 (but they do not like being disturbed)
Knot - 220
Dunlin - 270
Curlew Sandpiper - 3 juv
Redshank - 77
Greenshank - one adult on the edge of the saltmarsh creek
Seagulls
Mostly displaced out of range therefore only 6 Meds could be found
Ringing
A very short session at Middleton included yet another Garden Warbler. The HNR office ringing surprisingly included two Sedge Warbler along with ones and twos of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap - plus the usual feeder fare, mainly unringed Green and Goldfinches
A decent look at the tideline on the lowish high tide was a good move. Perhaps predictably here juvenile Curlew Sandpipers could be initially 'identified' because they were loosely associating with the Redshank, not with the Dunlin 'mass'!
Ocean Edge tideline
Grey Plover - c205
Bar-tailed Godwit - a disappointing 35 (but they do not like being disturbed)
Knot - 220
Dunlin - 270
Curlew Sandpiper - 3 juv
Redshank - 77
Greenshank - one adult on the edge of the saltmarsh creek
Seagulls
Mostly displaced out of range therefore only 6 Meds could be found
Ringing
A very short session at Middleton included yet another Garden Warbler. The HNR office ringing surprisingly included two Sedge Warbler along with ones and twos of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap - plus the usual feeder fare, mainly unringed Green and Goldfinches
Saturday, 27 August 2016
Garden Warblers
Middleton Nature Reserve
42 birds caught this morning:
4 Garden Warblers - the highest day total to date...............plus another caught on the HNR CES
4 Whitethroat
2 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcaps
5 Chiffchaff
1 Cetti's Warbler (moulting adult. No longer headline news)
1 Reed Bunting
1 Wren
1 Robin
2 Blue Tits
3 Great Tits
3 Bullfinch
1 Chaffinch
2 Dunnock
3 Goldfinch.
and a Grey Wagtail
Vis
4 Grey Wagtail
1 Tree Pipit
6 Meadow Pipits
25 Swallows
Friday, 26 August 2016
The 'outfalls from Ocean Edge foreshore' routine
Heysham Obs
Limited to long-range scans with my leg injury and that didn't make things very easy with an intermediate-toned-mantle on large gull sat on the rocks at the seaward end of Heysham One. Not the bird photographed on the wooden jetty a few days ago - that was a deceptive Lesser Black-backed Gull, rear on straight into the sun - this was side-on in good light.
Outfalls/Red Nab
Med Gull - at least 14 including 4 2CY
Little Gull - moulting adult
Large Gull - possibly the bird photographed by Janice the other day - putative ad Yellow-legged Gull
Limited to long-range scans with my leg injury and that didn't make things very easy with an intermediate-toned-mantle on large gull sat on the rocks at the seaward end of Heysham One. Not the bird photographed on the wooden jetty a few days ago - that was a deceptive Lesser Black-backed Gull, rear on straight into the sun - this was side-on in good light.
Outfalls/Red Nab
Med Gull - at least 14 including 4 2CY
Little Gull - moulting adult
Large Gull - possibly the bird photographed by Janice the other day - putative ad Yellow-legged Gull
Thursday, 25 August 2016
Delayed fall
Heysham obs
It looked like there should have been a few migrants this morning but the CES time period at Middleton was very quiet. A quick visit by one of the two ringers to the office saw at least 5 willow warblers calling there. Then at about 1100hrs the most pronounced movement of warblers I have ever seen outside the early hours at Middleton. First indication was visual with at least 5 willow warblers and a whitethroat in the hawthorn next to the ringing base. These quickly headed inland avoiding the three nets still in operation but the next net round more than doubled the morning's ringing total!
Ringing Middleton
Catch included high single figures of whitethroat and willow warbler, three sedge warbler, two lesser whitethroat and blackcap and a reed warbler. The juvenile Cettis warbler caught the other day was retrapped.
Outfalls/Red Nab
Good stuff Pete - one of the few mornings this wasn't otherwise covered. Lifted from Birds to Blog, no need to re-word! "Got the timing right at Heysham yesterday and got there three hours before high tide to take up the challenge and find 15 Mediterranean Gull on Red Nab and Stage 2 outfall, they were seen as 9 adult, 2 1st summer, a 2nd summer, and 3 juvenile. A juvenile Black Tern was at the seaward end of Stage 2 outfall". Also Ad winter Little Gull photographed
Middleton wetland fare (thanks Malcolm)
Mute Swan - 1 pair with 4 young on model boat pond, single bird on "no swimming" and pair on Tim Butler ponds.
Mallard - 1 female with 3 quite mature chicks (originally 7) on model boat pond. 1 male + 1 female type on "no swimming" pond.
Tufted - 1 male + 1 female type on model boat pond
Gadwall - 2 female type on "no swimming" pond
Little grebe - 1 in summer plumage on model boat pond
Coot - 5
Moorhen - 6
Water Rail - 2+
It looked like there should have been a few migrants this morning but the CES time period at Middleton was very quiet. A quick visit by one of the two ringers to the office saw at least 5 willow warblers calling there. Then at about 1100hrs the most pronounced movement of warblers I have ever seen outside the early hours at Middleton. First indication was visual with at least 5 willow warblers and a whitethroat in the hawthorn next to the ringing base. These quickly headed inland avoiding the three nets still in operation but the next net round more than doubled the morning's ringing total!
Ringing Middleton
Catch included high single figures of whitethroat and willow warbler, three sedge warbler, two lesser whitethroat and blackcap and a reed warbler. The juvenile Cettis warbler caught the other day was retrapped.
Outfalls/Red Nab
Good stuff Pete - one of the few mornings this wasn't otherwise covered. Lifted from Birds to Blog, no need to re-word! "Got the timing right at Heysham yesterday and got there three hours before high tide to take up the challenge and find 15 Mediterranean Gull on Red Nab and Stage 2 outfall, they were seen as 9 adult, 2 1st summer, a 2nd summer, and 3 juvenile. A juvenile Black Tern was at the seaward end of Stage 2 outfall". Also Ad winter Little Gull photographed
Middleton wetland fare (thanks Malcolm)
Mute Swan - 1 pair with 4 young on model boat pond, single bird on "no swimming" and pair on Tim Butler ponds.
Mallard - 1 female with 3 quite mature chicks (originally 7) on model boat pond. 1 male + 1 female type on "no swimming" pond.
Tufted - 1 male + 1 female type on model boat pond
Gadwall - 2 female type on "no swimming" pond
Little grebe - 1 in summer plumage on model boat pond
Coot - 5
Moorhen - 6
Water Rail - 2+
Wednesday, 24 August 2016
Osprey highlight
Heysham Obs
Not a lot going for it this morning with clear conditions, quite a bit of moon, sun on the mist nets and below par vis mig over here. The reduced number of warblers still included un-ringed Garden, two Lesser Whitethroat and Reed at Middleton but the Willow Warblers really nosedived
Middleton Swallow roost
About 50 birds, 20 odd caught including juv S094327 from memory and more certainly an adult Z759034...........and a Sand Martin. Four ringed-elsewhere Swallows out of only about 50-60 birds. What's going on! One of the previous ones was ringed as a nestling at Preesall Moss and the other was 'reverse migration' from the Fleetwood roost - the first of tonights might also be from there. Water Rail squealing.
Coastal stuff
Common Scoter - two pairs by Heysham skeer, then flew out as the tide started to rise (thanks Malcolm)
Horrible heat haze checking from Ocean Edge, but at least 16 Meds - mainly on Red Nab (7+2CY, 5 Ad, 4 Juv). No sign of any Black Tern mirages.
Heysham NR
Osprey - one high to the south at 0815, sent even higher by seagulls over the PS
Grey Wagtail - 4 S
Tree Pipit -2 S
"No" migrant warblers perceived but a probable Spot Fly seen in rapid flight through the area
Middleton NR
Just a trickle of warblers in the nets - no real evidence of an arrival with 90% on the first round
Not a lot going for it this morning with clear conditions, quite a bit of moon, sun on the mist nets and below par vis mig over here. The reduced number of warblers still included un-ringed Garden, two Lesser Whitethroat and Reed at Middleton but the Willow Warblers really nosedived
Middleton Swallow roost
About 50 birds, 20 odd caught including juv S094327 from memory and more certainly an adult Z759034...........and a Sand Martin. Four ringed-elsewhere Swallows out of only about 50-60 birds. What's going on! One of the previous ones was ringed as a nestling at Preesall Moss and the other was 'reverse migration' from the Fleetwood roost - the first of tonights might also be from there. Water Rail squealing.
Coastal stuff
Common Scoter - two pairs by Heysham skeer, then flew out as the tide started to rise (thanks Malcolm)
Horrible heat haze checking from Ocean Edge, but at least 16 Meds - mainly on Red Nab (7+2CY, 5 Ad, 4 Juv). No sign of any Black Tern mirages.
Heysham NR
Osprey - one high to the south at 0815, sent even higher by seagulls over the PS
Grey Wagtail - 4 S
Tree Pipit -2 S
"No" migrant warblers perceived but a probable Spot Fly seen in rapid flight through the area
Middleton NR
Just a trickle of warblers in the nets - no real evidence of an arrival with 90% on the first round
Tuesday, 23 August 2016
More migrant warblers
Heysham obs
South east wind and rain at dawn is a good recipe and the ringing effort at Middleton was pretty good until the weather went pear shaped- too hot and too sunny
Outfalls/red nab
Thanks to Matthew for letting us know the two juvenile black tern were still around -roosting on the wooden jetty this afternoon. Also at least 7 meds around
Middleton
Tree pipit -2-3 south
Grey wagtail - 0ne south (and another two south over ocean edge)
Meadow pipit - two together south
Newly ringed birds included: 15 willow warbler, 6 sedge warbler, 6 white throat, two lesser whitethroat, two blackcap one chiff chaff and a tree pipit
South east wind and rain at dawn is a good recipe and the ringing effort at Middleton was pretty good until the weather went pear shaped- too hot and too sunny
Outfalls/red nab
Thanks to Matthew for letting us know the two juvenile black tern were still around -roosting on the wooden jetty this afternoon. Also at least 7 meds around
Middleton
Tree pipit -2-3 south
Grey wagtail - 0ne south (and another two south over ocean edge)
Meadow pipit - two together south
Newly ringed birds included: 15 willow warbler, 6 sedge warbler, 6 white throat, two lesser whitethroat, two blackcap one chiff chaff and a tree pipit
Monday, 22 August 2016
Toyota fare
Heysham Obs
The Peugeot 107-like hire car did good in the driving rain, allowing a prolonged scan of the outfalls on the incoming tide
Outfalls/Red Nab area
Black Tern - two juvs - they never came closer inshore than the seaward end of the outfalls and seemed to disappear about 1215hrs but conditions very challenging
Little Gull - odd-looking 2CY (moult) and an Ad
Sandwich Tern - ad
Med Gull - minimum of 15 with 5 x juv, 5 x ad and 5 x 2CY
Impossible to look south along the tideline
The Peugeot 107-like hire car did good in the driving rain, allowing a prolonged scan of the outfalls on the incoming tide
Outfalls/Red Nab area
Black Tern - two juvs - they never came closer inshore than the seaward end of the outfalls and seemed to disappear about 1215hrs but conditions very challenging
Little Gull - odd-looking 2CY (moult) and an Ad
Sandwich Tern - ad
Med Gull - minimum of 15 with 5 x juv, 5 x ad and 5 x 2CY
Impossible to look south along the tideline
Sunday, 21 August 2016
Varied reports
Heysham obs
Had better days with cylinder head gasket blow five minutes from checking heysham to stone jetty pre tide. No chance!
1) ad summer Sabine's gull located by pete crooks on the mudflats by the stone jetty unfortunately just before being flushed by incoming tide and the designated location for windsurfers and as such not seen in obs recording area
2) highly secondhand report of 3x black tern, possible white-winged black term, yellow legged gull and 'a' med gull from southport Rspb group. Presumably a few record shots kicking around?
3) a belated late afternoon visit saw 14 x med gull (6 2cy, 4 ad, 4juv), sandwich tern
Hopefully a bit more enlightened about SRSBP records tomorrow
Had better days with cylinder head gasket blow five minutes from checking heysham to stone jetty pre tide. No chance!
1) ad summer Sabine's gull located by pete crooks on the mudflats by the stone jetty unfortunately just before being flushed by incoming tide and the designated location for windsurfers and as such not seen in obs recording area
2) highly secondhand report of 3x black tern, possible white-winged black term, yellow legged gull and 'a' med gull from southport Rspb group. Presumably a few record shots kicking around?
3) a belated late afternoon visit saw 14 x med gull (6 2cy, 4 ad, 4juv), sandwich tern
Hopefully a bit more enlightened about SRSBP records tomorrow
Saturday, 20 August 2016
Friday, 19 August 2016
2CY Med day
Heysham Obs
These can usually be found when you have a bit of time to go through hordes of gulls.
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge foreshore
Black-headed Gull - 1700
Med Gull - 5 x 2CY, 2 x ad, 1 x juv
Sandwich Tern - presumably THE adult
No recent sign of Little Gull
WeBs bits
Cormorant - 75
Turnstone - 62
These can usually be found when you have a bit of time to go through hordes of gulls.
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge foreshore
Black-headed Gull - 1700
Med Gull - 5 x 2CY, 2 x ad, 1 x juv
Sandwich Tern - presumably THE adult
No recent sign of Little Gull
WeBs bits
Cormorant - 75
Turnstone - 62
Thursday, 18 August 2016
Welcome juvenile Cetti's Warbler
Heysham Obs
After no sight nor sound recently, a juvenile Cetti's Warbler appeared in the Middleton nets this morning. The office nets were also run and produced 9 warblers amongst the 'feeder fodder'
Middleton & HNR ringing sessions
Cloud cover first thing soon gave way to a sunny easterly morning but there were less Whitethroat around this morning. Ringing from both sites included the following new birds: 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap
Vis mig
Tree Pipit - two over HNR, one of which was probably the bird caught at Middleton
Coal Tit - flock of four headed noisily south over HNR
Could get round to doing the gulls in time c/f spring tide
Routine moths with Lime-speck Pug probably the best
After no sight nor sound recently, a juvenile Cetti's Warbler appeared in the Middleton nets this morning. The office nets were also run and produced 9 warblers amongst the 'feeder fodder'
Middleton & HNR ringing sessions
Cloud cover first thing soon gave way to a sunny easterly morning but there were less Whitethroat around this morning. Ringing from both sites included the following new birds: 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap
Vis mig
Tree Pipit - two over HNR, one of which was probably the bird caught at Middleton
Coal Tit - flock of four headed noisily south over HNR
Could get round to doing the gulls in time c/f spring tide
Routine moths with Lime-speck Pug probably the best
Wednesday, 17 August 2016
Same format, stronger easterly
Heysham Obs
A real bonus (on the forecast just two days ago) being able to run the three western nets at Middleton and a decent catch for the single ringer in operation (thanks Jean) given the light/mod breeze, crystal clear skies and last night's moon.
Middleton NR ringing
Water Rail - I+ western marsh reedbed
Swallow - single figures south
No other vis mig other than the two Tree Pipits found in the mist net and a single Grey Wagtail heard flying over way to the south of the site!
Newly-ringed birds included: 2 Tree Pipit, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler (having its best year this millennium), 8 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap. Despite this being the fourth consecutive day operating these nets, the only retraps were a single Blackcap, three tits and a Bullfinch
Red Nab/outfalls
A bit too glary for my eyes after a dawn start to the day and could easily have missed the odd 2CY Med
Med Gull - 3 x Ad, 4 x juv
Whimbrel - 3
Moths
Hardly any with the easterly into the window but did include Purple Bar
A real bonus (on the forecast just two days ago) being able to run the three western nets at Middleton and a decent catch for the single ringer in operation (thanks Jean) given the light/mod breeze, crystal clear skies and last night's moon.
Middleton NR ringing
Water Rail - I+ western marsh reedbed
Swallow - single figures south
No other vis mig other than the two Tree Pipits found in the mist net and a single Grey Wagtail heard flying over way to the south of the site!
Newly-ringed birds included: 2 Tree Pipit, 10 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler (having its best year this millennium), 8 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap. Despite this being the fourth consecutive day operating these nets, the only retraps were a single Blackcap, three tits and a Bullfinch
Red Nab/outfalls
A bit too glary for my eyes after a dawn start to the day and could easily have missed the odd 2CY Med
Med Gull - 3 x Ad, 4 x juv
Whimbrel - 3
Moths
Hardly any with the easterly into the window but did include Purple Bar
Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Even sunnier easterlies and an early Spot Fly
Heysham Obs
A bit of a bonus this morning with winds much lighter than forecast so same again at Middleton. In retrospect, we were too weighted towards Grey Wagtail (one over, not caught) and Tree Pipit (2 caught) with respect to MP3 players and might have been better off with Willow Warbler instead of Grey Wagtail. Nevertheless, the colour-ring study does prompt use of the tape if there is any chance of catching any, but it does seem that the recent early movement was during the light NW winds, not so much these easterlies. Probably the only site in the country where Whitethroat is still ahead of Willow Warbler as regards ringing totals this year! A good year so far for Lesser Whitethroat as well with 43 ringed.
Ringing/observation at Middleton
Spotted Flycatcher - one 'bombed' through landing on top of a bush briefly allowing identification!
Tree Pipit - 2 ringed and no definite evidence of any others
Grey Wagtail - one SE
Water Rail - heard
Newly ringed warblers and others from memory: 11 Whitethroat, 5ish Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Robin. No tits!
Red Nab/outfalls
Most of the time was spent trying I think successfully to read a German-ringed adult Med - a returning bird from the Hamburg rooftop colony. Definitely 3 other adult/3CY, 2 2CY but no juvs seen and no time to check tideline to south
Moths
Included Bordered Beauty
A bit of a bonus this morning with winds much lighter than forecast so same again at Middleton. In retrospect, we were too weighted towards Grey Wagtail (one over, not caught) and Tree Pipit (2 caught) with respect to MP3 players and might have been better off with Willow Warbler instead of Grey Wagtail. Nevertheless, the colour-ring study does prompt use of the tape if there is any chance of catching any, but it does seem that the recent early movement was during the light NW winds, not so much these easterlies. Probably the only site in the country where Whitethroat is still ahead of Willow Warbler as regards ringing totals this year! A good year so far for Lesser Whitethroat as well with 43 ringed.
Ringing/observation at Middleton
Spotted Flycatcher - one 'bombed' through landing on top of a bush briefly allowing identification!
Tree Pipit - 2 ringed and no definite evidence of any others
Grey Wagtail - one SE
Water Rail - heard
Newly ringed warblers and others from memory: 11 Whitethroat, 5ish Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Robin. No tits!
Red Nab/outfalls
Most of the time was spent trying I think successfully to read a German-ringed adult Med - a returning bird from the Hamburg rooftop colony. Definitely 3 other adult/3CY, 2 2CY but no juvs seen and no time to check tideline to south
Moths
Included Bordered Beauty
Monday, 15 August 2016
Sunny easterlies
Heysham Obs
Bit too bright and sunny this morning, following a sizeable moon during the night. Small arrival of Willow Warblers, otherwise relatively slow-going ringing on Middleton but still just under 30 new birds
Vis mig
Tree Pipit - two found in the mist net the only ones seen/heard!
Grey Wagtail - just two together which avoided the mist net
Grey Heron - 3 juvs together high to SE
Meadow Pipit - at least 2 SE
Swallow - c20, mainly blogging during flying ant session
Ringing at Middleton
New birds included: 9 Willow Warbler, 3 each of Lesser and Common Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Tree Pipit
Miscellany
Med Gull - adult anting over Middleton may have been one of the two earlier on the HT roost (roost disturbed prior to arrival and gulls very tricky on the sand straight into the sun)
Bar-tailed Godwit - 113
Grey Plover - 65
Bit too bright and sunny this morning, following a sizeable moon during the night. Small arrival of Willow Warblers, otherwise relatively slow-going ringing on Middleton but still just under 30 new birds
Vis mig
Tree Pipit - two found in the mist net the only ones seen/heard!
Grey Wagtail - just two together which avoided the mist net
Grey Heron - 3 juvs together high to SE
Meadow Pipit - at least 2 SE
Swallow - c20, mainly blogging during flying ant session
Ringing at Middleton
New birds included: 9 Willow Warbler, 3 each of Lesser and Common Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Tree Pipit
Miscellany
Med Gull - adult anting over Middleton may have been one of the two earlier on the HT roost (roost disturbed prior to arrival and gulls very tricky on the sand straight into the sun)
Bar-tailed Godwit - 113
Grey Plover - 65
Sunday, 14 August 2016
Waders 'shepherded' within range
Heysham Obs
An alsation plus owner flushed a chunk of waders up towards the Ocean Edge section of the low high tideline this morning, the rest went the other way, too far to discern but seemingly mainly small calidrids. They were the only tideline miscreants today. At last, some waders along this tideline after an early autumn of chronic disturbance
Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls
Med Gull - 2 x ad, 2 x 2CY, 4-5 x juv
Sandwich Tern - ad
Whimbrel - 2
Bar-tailed Godwit - 109
Grey Plover - 68
Dunlin - 35
Knot - 30
Grey Wagtail - 2 south-east - almost certainly the Middleton ones
Middleton NR
Grey Wagtail - 2 SE (one ringed)
Sparrowhawk - young male ringed
Newly-ringed warblers from memory comprised: 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat (plus bird ringed elsewhere), 12 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, one Sedge Warbler. A young Grasshopper Warbler was retrapped.
Middleton evening
About 20 Swallows caught and ringed including one ringed elsewhere - S09xxxx from memory - a bit odd as this sequence would normally have been used ages ago, yet a pristine ring on a juv. Re-read several times by two people! Good to have a nice quiet evening without reeling Grasshopper Warblers. Roost about 40 birds, so still small
Moths
Quite autumnal all of a sudden with 5 x Sallow, 2 x Canary shouldered Thorn, Eudonia angustea, Agriphila geniculea, and Flounced Rustic by far the commonest at 30. An Old Lady lurked behind the door!
An alsation plus owner flushed a chunk of waders up towards the Ocean Edge section of the low high tideline this morning, the rest went the other way, too far to discern but seemingly mainly small calidrids. They were the only tideline miscreants today. At last, some waders along this tideline after an early autumn of chronic disturbance
Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls
Med Gull - 2 x ad, 2 x 2CY, 4-5 x juv
Sandwich Tern - ad
Whimbrel - 2
Bar-tailed Godwit - 109
Grey Plover - 68
Dunlin - 35
Knot - 30
Grey Wagtail - 2 south-east - almost certainly the Middleton ones
Middleton NR
Grey Wagtail - 2 SE (one ringed)
Sparrowhawk - young male ringed
Newly-ringed warblers from memory comprised: 6 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Whitethroat (plus bird ringed elsewhere), 12 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler, one Sedge Warbler. A young Grasshopper Warbler was retrapped.
Middleton evening
About 20 Swallows caught and ringed including one ringed elsewhere - S09xxxx from memory - a bit odd as this sequence would normally have been used ages ago, yet a pristine ring on a juv. Re-read several times by two people! Good to have a nice quiet evening without reeling Grasshopper Warblers. Roost about 40 birds, so still small
Moths
Quite autumnal all of a sudden with 5 x Sallow, 2 x Canary shouldered Thorn, Eudonia angustea, Agriphila geniculea, and Flounced Rustic by far the commonest at 30. An Old Lady lurked behind the door!
Saturday, 13 August 2016
No medals for today's sightings
Visitors reported an adult Mediterranean Gull on Red Nab
A Wheatear was seen.
That's all folks!
Friday 12th
Heysham Obs
No Red Grouse flying in-off or more likely off-out. A large gull on Red Nab whilst on a whistle-stop visit was awkward. Mantle as per Yellow-legged, bill looked adult but either immaturity or staiing on the tertials, rest of it hidden by rocks. Then it was flushed and it had 'more' old primaries than the bird the other day and no obvious white P10 spot but it was all very brief before it landed in an even worse spot with just the head visible. It had moved when JR went down but nothing new to add ie no view of leg colour. Couldn't find it later in sunny heat-haze
Outfalls/Red Nab
Sandwich tern - adult
Large Gull - see above
Med Gull - 1 x ad, 1 x 2CY, 3 x 1CY
No Red Grouse flying in-off or more likely off-out. A large gull on Red Nab whilst on a whistle-stop visit was awkward. Mantle as per Yellow-legged, bill looked adult but either immaturity or staiing on the tertials, rest of it hidden by rocks. Then it was flushed and it had 'more' old primaries than the bird the other day and no obvious white P10 spot but it was all very brief before it landed in an even worse spot with just the head visible. It had moved when JR went down but nothing new to add ie no view of leg colour. Couldn't find it later in sunny heat-haze
Outfalls/Red Nab
Sandwich tern - adult
Large Gull - see above
Med Gull - 1 x ad, 1 x 2CY, 3 x 1CY
Thursday, 11 August 2016
Minimal coverage
Heysham Obs
Not a lot to report today other than 4 x 1CY Meds on the seaward end of Heysham one and a 2CY on REd Nab = all well before high tide. Moths included a Herald and two White-line Dart
Just been going through the historical north Lancs recoveries from the BTO site. The first and third I didn't know about - the Blue Tit is odd as we were supposed to have caught it - wonder if it was deemed a misread at the time. The Goldcrest remains the most inexplicable ringing recovery we have had from Heysham - never mind the odd movement, there are not usually any around by early May with the spring passage over by mid-April
Guillemot
Not a lot to report today other than 4 x 1CY Meds on the seaward end of Heysham one and a 2CY on REd Nab = all well before high tide. Moths included a Herald and two White-line Dart
Just been going through the historical north Lancs recoveries from the BTO site. The first and third I didn't know about - the Blue Tit is odd as we were supposed to have caught it - wonder if it was deemed a misread at the time. The Goldcrest remains the most inexplicable ringing recovery we have had from Heysham - never mind the odd movement, there are not usually any around by early May with the spring passage over by mid-April
Guillemot
| T25440 | Nestling | 28-06-1985 | Badbea, Helmsdale: 58°8'N 3°32'W (Highland) |
| Dead | 22-01-1986 | Heysham 460km S | |
Goldcrest |
|||
| DKC | First-year Male | 09-04-2001 | Blavand Fuglestation, Oksbol: 55°33'N 8°4'E (Ribe) Denmark |
| A28540 | Caught by ringer | 02-05-2001 | Heysham Obs 725km WSW |
Blue Tit |
|||
| K274678 | Nestling | 01-06-1996 | near Turnastone: 52°0'N 2°57'W (Herefordshire) |
| Caught by ringer | 22-09-1997 | Heysham 226 KM N |
Wednesday, 10 August 2016
Ridge of plenty
Heysham Obs
A few weird things going on. A Green Lovebird was near Ocean Edge caravan park/Nature Park associating with Goldfinch on Monday (per Janice Sutton). Today we found out that the Heysham NR car park noticeboard was a pokespot, or whatever its called, giving some 'reward' to the hordes waving mobile phones around
After looking a heap of rubbish until the later forecasts yesterday, this morning was rather good with a three net session on Middleton west side producing almost 50 new birds. The moths also produced three surprises in the form of Phoenix, Pale Prominent and, way ahead of its time, a pristine Pink-barred Sallow
Middleton NR
Decent fall of Whitethroat and Willow Warbler with a few other odds and ends. A Willow Warbler with an interesting retrap history was caught. Ringed on 7th September 2014 at Heysham, retrapped at Middleton on 8th September 2014, then nothing until today
Tree Pipit - 2 south
Swift - 2 south
Swallow - 20-25 south
Grasshopper Warbler - adult male retrapped (first ringed as 3J in 2014, no sign 2015, bred 2016)
Sedge Warbler - none seen/heard
Reed Warbler - 2 ringed
Lesser Whitethroat - 4 ringed
Whitethroat - 15 ringed
Willow Warbler - 11 ringed
Garden Warbler - 2 ringed
Chiffchaff - 3 ringed
Red Nab/outfalls/wooden jetty area
Wheatear - 2 on gravel by wooden jetty
Med Gull - 6 x 2CY, 2 x unringed juv, 4 x adult
Sandwich Tern - 1
A few weird things going on. A Green Lovebird was near Ocean Edge caravan park/Nature Park associating with Goldfinch on Monday (per Janice Sutton). Today we found out that the Heysham NR car park noticeboard was a pokespot, or whatever its called, giving some 'reward' to the hordes waving mobile phones around
After looking a heap of rubbish until the later forecasts yesterday, this morning was rather good with a three net session on Middleton west side producing almost 50 new birds. The moths also produced three surprises in the form of Phoenix, Pale Prominent and, way ahead of its time, a pristine Pink-barred Sallow
Middleton NR
Decent fall of Whitethroat and Willow Warbler with a few other odds and ends. A Willow Warbler with an interesting retrap history was caught. Ringed on 7th September 2014 at Heysham, retrapped at Middleton on 8th September 2014, then nothing until today
Tree Pipit - 2 south
Swift - 2 south
Swallow - 20-25 south
Grasshopper Warbler - adult male retrapped (first ringed as 3J in 2014, no sign 2015, bred 2016)
Sedge Warbler - none seen/heard
Reed Warbler - 2 ringed
Lesser Whitethroat - 4 ringed
Whitethroat - 15 ringed
Willow Warbler - 11 ringed
Garden Warbler - 2 ringed
Chiffchaff - 3 ringed
Red Nab/outfalls/wooden jetty area
Wheatear - 2 on gravel by wooden jetty
Med Gull - 6 x 2CY, 2 x unringed juv, 4 x adult
Sandwich Tern - 1
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
Showery northwesterly brings forth the old lady
Heysham Obs
A line of showers decided the best route was through Heysham so it rained on and off all day but this did keep the heat haze at bay whilst going through the seagulls
Red Nab/outfalls
Tricky conditions but a few odds and ends
Little Gull - moulting ad /second winter or the ad summer after rapid moult - distantly a few times on the outfalls
Med Gull - darvic with either a dark blue or black background with white (four character) letters/numbers on the left leg, metal below knee right leg was...... as far as I got with a new juv Med - be great if anyone with better eyesight than I could 'nail' this one. In total: 2 x 2CY, 3 x juv, 2 x ad. possibly/probably more
Sandwich Tern - 1 briefly
Good number of large gulls but no sign of Yellow-legged Gull
Moths
Old Lady a welcome addition to the year list along with a more predictable Copper Underwing. 'Escaped during photography' is something these two have in common!
A line of showers decided the best route was through Heysham so it rained on and off all day but this did keep the heat haze at bay whilst going through the seagulls
Red Nab/outfalls
Tricky conditions but a few odds and ends
Little Gull - moulting ad /second winter or the ad summer after rapid moult - distantly a few times on the outfalls
Med Gull - darvic with either a dark blue or black background with white (four character) letters/numbers on the left leg, metal below knee right leg was...... as far as I got with a new juv Med - be great if anyone with better eyesight than I could 'nail' this one. In total: 2 x 2CY, 3 x juv, 2 x ad. possibly/probably more
Sandwich Tern - 1 briefly
Good number of large gulls but no sign of Yellow-legged Gull
Moths
Old Lady a welcome addition to the year list along with a more predictable Copper Underwing. 'Escaped during photography' is something these two have in common!
Monday, 8 August 2016
Too sunny too northwesterly
Heysham obs
Red nab area
Just 7 Meds located in tricky condition - 4x 2cy, 1x juv, 2x ad.
No sign yellow-legged gull
Red nab area
Just 7 Meds located in tricky condition - 4x 2cy, 1x juv, 2x ad.
No sign yellow-legged gull
Sunday, 7 August 2016
Adult Yellow-legged Gull
Heysham Obs
An adult Yellow-legged Gull with 4-5 old primaries and a single small mirror on P10 was a very restless and mobile visitor to Red Nab for about 10 minutes before heading out into the shipping channel. Underwing views not possible as it always faced into the strong wind in flight. At the large end of the spectrum with the custard yellow legs contrasting with the deeper orange/yellow legs of nearby LBBGs. Surely this bird is still going to be doing the rounds for a bit in wing moult but it was certainly not settled on Red Nab and obviously hasn't been there during several recent periods of intense scrutiny. I'll just go and check now as the tide is starting to move and hopefully get a phone-scope shot if its there. Apologies for making a fuss over this but they are not common up here and perhaps outnumbered by hybrid look-likes
Morning low tide check
Yellow-legged Gull - adult - see above
Med Gull - 2CY and 2 1CY. 4 x 1CY later, but too late for the surging tide which had covered red nab!
Little Gull - adult summer or certainly summerish at long range
An adult Yellow-legged Gull with 4-5 old primaries and a single small mirror on P10 was a very restless and mobile visitor to Red Nab for about 10 minutes before heading out into the shipping channel. Underwing views not possible as it always faced into the strong wind in flight. At the large end of the spectrum with the custard yellow legs contrasting with the deeper orange/yellow legs of nearby LBBGs. Surely this bird is still going to be doing the rounds for a bit in wing moult but it was certainly not settled on Red Nab and obviously hasn't been there during several recent periods of intense scrutiny. I'll just go and check now as the tide is starting to move and hopefully get a phone-scope shot if its there. Apologies for making a fuss over this but they are not common up here and perhaps outnumbered by hybrid look-likes
Morning low tide check
Yellow-legged Gull - adult - see above
Med Gull - 2CY and 2 1CY. 4 x 1CY later, but too late for the surging tide which had covered red nab!
Little Gull - adult summer or certainly summerish at long range
Saturday, 6 August 2016
Another small fall
Heysham obs
All second hand info today and not complete
A ringing session at Middleton saw double figures of new willow warbler and Whitethroat, low single figures of the other usual warbler species including the first ever moulting adult garden warbler. The nets also held single tree pipit and an early grey wagtail - unfortunately the colour rings hadn't been sorted out for this autumn!
All second hand info today and not complete
A ringing session at Middleton saw double figures of new willow warbler and Whitethroat, low single figures of the other usual warbler species including the first ever moulting adult garden warbler. The nets also held single tree pipit and an early grey wagtail - unfortunately the colour rings hadn't been sorted out for this autumn!
Friday, 5 August 2016
2CYs coming out of the woodwork
Heysham Obs
Quick scans of gull flocks with birds at all angles but mainly facing away with a slight heat haze are a recipe for missing Meds, especially 2CY. A pretty careful check of the gang on Red Nab, remaining stuff on the outfalls AND the stuff off Ocean Edge saltmarsh (missed by many visiting birders) produced a fair amount today, including a re-sighting of the Czech Juv. This was more advanced into 1st winter plumage than any I have seen previously at this stage of the autumn (earlier fledging than usual more northerly sources?)
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge latter stages of incoming tide
Med Gull - 5 x ad, 5 x 2CY, 4 x juv, including Czech ringed juv
Little Gull - summer adult on mudflats south of Ocean Edge
Whimbrel - at least two
Ringing
The two CES sessions were bedevilled by a stronger NW wind than forecast and, despite a few migrant Willow Warbler around, were highlighted only by a single Garden Warbler and a pair of unringed adult Bullfinch - not the first time this has happened with a species with odd dispersive timing
In an ignominious but inexpensive day for ringing, the Swallow roost did not materialise tonight but we did ring almost half of them..........5. Time to leave alone and hope it builds up. No sign of the Long-eared Owl - careful check of nearby willows before dusk
Moths
Highlighted by Toadflax Pug
Quick scans of gull flocks with birds at all angles but mainly facing away with a slight heat haze are a recipe for missing Meds, especially 2CY. A pretty careful check of the gang on Red Nab, remaining stuff on the outfalls AND the stuff off Ocean Edge saltmarsh (missed by many visiting birders) produced a fair amount today, including a re-sighting of the Czech Juv. This was more advanced into 1st winter plumage than any I have seen previously at this stage of the autumn (earlier fledging than usual more northerly sources?)
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge latter stages of incoming tide
Med Gull - 5 x ad, 5 x 2CY, 4 x juv, including Czech ringed juv
Little Gull - summer adult on mudflats south of Ocean Edge
Whimbrel - at least two
Ringing
The two CES sessions were bedevilled by a stronger NW wind than forecast and, despite a few migrant Willow Warbler around, were highlighted only by a single Garden Warbler and a pair of unringed adult Bullfinch - not the first time this has happened with a species with odd dispersive timing
In an ignominious but inexpensive day for ringing, the Swallow roost did not materialise tonight but we did ring almost half of them..........5. Time to leave alone and hope it builds up. No sign of the Long-eared Owl - careful check of nearby willows before dusk
Moths
Highlighted by Toadflax Pug
Thursday, 4 August 2016
Older Meds return
Heysham Obs
An early low tide visit with the longshot of a Stormie feeding on the seaward end of the outfalls and then a short check on the early stages of the incoming tide (nothing new added on this visit)
Outfalls/Red Nab
Little Gull - ad summer seaward end Heysham 2 outfall
Sandwich Tern - presumably the adult on Red Nab
Med Gull - 5 x ad, 4 x 2CY, 3 x 1CY - all but two of the juvs on Red Nab
Curlew - 310
YESTERDAY: 4 x Common Scoter (unusual this time of year) and another Gannet off the north wall lunchtime (thanks Tom)
Moths
Not a lot but did include Barred Rivulet and not a single Large Yellow Underwing!
An early low tide visit with the longshot of a Stormie feeding on the seaward end of the outfalls and then a short check on the early stages of the incoming tide (nothing new added on this visit)
Outfalls/Red Nab
Little Gull - ad summer seaward end Heysham 2 outfall
Sandwich Tern - presumably the adult on Red Nab
Med Gull - 5 x ad, 4 x 2CY, 3 x 1CY - all but two of the juvs on Red Nab
Curlew - 310
YESTERDAY: 4 x Common Scoter (unusual this time of year) and another Gannet off the north wall lunchtime (thanks Tom)
Moths
Not a lot but did include Barred Rivulet and not a single Large Yellow Underwing!
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
No extras in the strong wind other than more juv Meds
Heysham Obs
Ringing recovery
The juv Med seen here on 31/7/16 (but not definitely since) ringed as follows:
ZKR4/Praha ET05047
Karvina, Melcina Fishpond, North Moravia, Czech Republic 49 88N 18 50E Nestling 22/5/16
Thanks to Josef for a quick response
Outfalls/Red Nab
Almost as though various birds present on and off recently (including the same Sandwich Tern??) reappeared on the outfalls during the strong winds and rough seas. The exceptions being the older age class Meds which seem to have mainly moved on
Med Gull - 2 x Ad, 5 x juv
Little Gull - adult
Sandwich tern - adult
Kittiwake - 2CY
Gannet - adult at long range but no time to do any seawatching as such
Moths
Decent variety including Mouse Moth (rare these days), two White-line Dart, Barred Rivulet, Double Lobed
Ringing recovery
The juv Med seen here on 31/7/16 (but not definitely since) ringed as follows:
ZKR4/Praha ET05047
Karvina, Melcina Fishpond, North Moravia, Czech Republic 49 88N 18 50E Nestling 22/5/16
Thanks to Josef for a quick response
Outfalls/Red Nab
Almost as though various birds present on and off recently (including the same Sandwich Tern??) reappeared on the outfalls during the strong winds and rough seas. The exceptions being the older age class Meds which seem to have mainly moved on
Med Gull - 2 x Ad, 5 x juv
Little Gull - adult
Sandwich tern - adult
Kittiwake - 2CY
Gannet - adult at long range but no time to do any seawatching as such
Moths
Decent variety including Mouse Moth (rare these days), two White-line Dart, Barred Rivulet, Double Lobed
Tuesday, 2 August 2016
Welcome Spotted Redshank
Heysham Obs
A funny fairly lengthy check of the outfalls/Red Nab on the incoming tide - couldn't find any adult or 3CY Med Gulls! Doubled checked that it was not an inadequacy at checking head-on easterly wind gulls (more used to tail-on!) and could only find 2 x juv and one x 2CY Med amongst 850 Black-headed Gulls.
A look down the incoming tideline towards the Lune Estuary was similarly disappointing with just 8 pristine adult Grey Plover which soon flew off, leaving 'just' Oystercatcher and Curlew.
A switch to Ocean Edge saltmarsh saw a pale blotchy bird with the pre-roost Redshank which materialised as an almost moulted adult Spotted Redshank - a really nice record for here. It flew towards Potts Corner with about half the Redshank but well worth looking for this next few days
A fairly major ringing operation was slightly better than 'the day after it all happened', but the grand total from 9 nets was pretty well the same as from three yesterday and was supplemented by a decent arrival of 14 unringed Greenfinch next to Heysham NR office and highlighted by three Garden Warbler (two Middleton and one Heysham)
Outfalls/Ocean Edge area
Med Gull - 2 x juv, 1 x 2CY
Whimbrel - 1
Spotted Redshank - 1 adult
Grey Plover - 8
Ringing
61 new birds, but rather different composition to yesterdays warbler fest. New birds included: Whitethroat (9), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Garden Warbler (3), Blackcap (3), Reed Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler (1), Willow Warbler (6), Chiffchaff (2), Grasshopper Warbler (1), Greenfinch (14), Goldfinch (4)
Moths
Least Yellow Underwing and Canary Shouldered Thorn were added to the year list and a check of yesterdays total saw Grass Emerald and Barred Rivulet notable
A funny fairly lengthy check of the outfalls/Red Nab on the incoming tide - couldn't find any adult or 3CY Med Gulls! Doubled checked that it was not an inadequacy at checking head-on easterly wind gulls (more used to tail-on!) and could only find 2 x juv and one x 2CY Med amongst 850 Black-headed Gulls.
A look down the incoming tideline towards the Lune Estuary was similarly disappointing with just 8 pristine adult Grey Plover which soon flew off, leaving 'just' Oystercatcher and Curlew.
A switch to Ocean Edge saltmarsh saw a pale blotchy bird with the pre-roost Redshank which materialised as an almost moulted adult Spotted Redshank - a really nice record for here. It flew towards Potts Corner with about half the Redshank but well worth looking for this next few days
A fairly major ringing operation was slightly better than 'the day after it all happened', but the grand total from 9 nets was pretty well the same as from three yesterday and was supplemented by a decent arrival of 14 unringed Greenfinch next to Heysham NR office and highlighted by three Garden Warbler (two Middleton and one Heysham)
Outfalls/Ocean Edge area
Med Gull - 2 x juv, 1 x 2CY
Whimbrel - 1
Spotted Redshank - 1 adult
Grey Plover - 8
Ringing
61 new birds, but rather different composition to yesterdays warbler fest. New birds included: Whitethroat (9), Lesser Whitethroat (2), Garden Warbler (3), Blackcap (3), Reed Warbler (1), Sedge Warbler (1), Willow Warbler (6), Chiffchaff (2), Grasshopper Warbler (1), Greenfinch (14), Goldfinch (4)
Moths
Least Yellow Underwing and Canary Shouldered Thorn were added to the year list and a check of yesterdays total saw Grass Emerald and Barred Rivulet notable
Monday, 1 August 2016
Decent fall and juv Long-eared Owl surprise
Heysham Obs
Two ringers, one with a knee injury, were available today so just three nets were put up on Middleton and that was enough! Whitethroat were in good numbers, including at least five around Heysham NR office (after none recently) and juvenile Blackcap were also on the move. The status of the two young Grasshopper Warbler caught late on in the ringing session was uncertain - possibly migrants rather than wanderers from territories outside the ringing area
Red Nab/outfalls
One sweep
Med Gull - 2 x juv, 1 x 2CY, 2 x Ad
Sandwich tern - adult
Middleton ringing central marsh
Twenty birds were caught in these nets on the timed CES yesterday and the only retrap of a bird ringed yesterday was one of the Long-tailed Tit flock. Therefore stuff is really on the move with newly-ringed birds including: Whitethroat (18), Blackcap (10), Sedge Warbler (5), Willow Warbler (4), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Grasshopper Warbler (2), Reed Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (2), Garden Warbler (1), Reed Bunting (2). Just 7 retraps out of 61 birds and only 8 birds caught which were not warblers.
Swallow roost Middleton
Single net used. Roost very scattered with birdsw using three or more sites and totalling no more than 30 (& 6 or so House Martin). 9 Swallow including one ringed elsewhere, one Pied Wagtail and one juvenile Long-eared Owl were caught!!
Moths
Included Bordered Beauty
Two ringers, one with a knee injury, were available today so just three nets were put up on Middleton and that was enough! Whitethroat were in good numbers, including at least five around Heysham NR office (after none recently) and juvenile Blackcap were also on the move. The status of the two young Grasshopper Warbler caught late on in the ringing session was uncertain - possibly migrants rather than wanderers from territories outside the ringing area
Red Nab/outfalls
One sweep
Med Gull - 2 x juv, 1 x 2CY, 2 x Ad
Sandwich tern - adult
Middleton ringing central marsh
Twenty birds were caught in these nets on the timed CES yesterday and the only retrap of a bird ringed yesterday was one of the Long-tailed Tit flock. Therefore stuff is really on the move with newly-ringed birds including: Whitethroat (18), Blackcap (10), Sedge Warbler (5), Willow Warbler (4), Lesser Whitethroat (3), Grasshopper Warbler (2), Reed Warbler (2), Chiffchaff (2), Garden Warbler (1), Reed Bunting (2). Just 7 retraps out of 61 birds and only 8 birds caught which were not warblers.
Swallow roost Middleton
Single net used. Roost very scattered with birdsw using three or more sites and totalling no more than 30 (& 6 or so House Martin). 9 Swallow including one ringed elsewhere, one Pied Wagtail and one juvenile Long-eared Owl were caught!!
Moths
Included Bordered Beauty
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