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+