Wednesday 19 October 2016

At last!

This produced some varied sightings highlighted by a long overdue confirmed first record for the obs - two Great White Egret flying north over the eastern end of Middleton Nature Reserve at about 1015hrs.  Seen by Janet and Malcolm just after Janet had put her camera in the car - cue rapid action and a creditable shot given the circumstances.  One previous report from an angler of a big heron with a yellow beak going back a few years


The as-seen-on-TV mutt known as Mukka flushed two Jack Snipe from the model boat pond:

Vis mig initially from Heysham Head them Middleton when it was realised that it was calm enough for a short spell of ringing
Great White Egret - 2 north 1015ish
Whooper Swan - 2 S
Pink-footed Goose - 8+1
Jackdaw - 9+5
Chaffinch - 47 (early am)
Brambling - 2 (early am)
alba Wagtail - 4
Goldfinch - 9
Meadow Pipit - 7
Redwing - 2
Grey Wagtail - 1 or blogger
Skylark - 5
Song Thrush - 2

Grounded Middleton NR
Goldcrest - 20+
Blackcap - 3

Chiffchaff - 1
Reed Bunting - 2

Ringing in just two rounds of two nets at Middleton (all new):  Reed Bunting (2), Robin (1), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (2), Goldcrest (12)

Miscellany
Cetti's Warbler - singing male usual place Middleton
Common Scoter - flock of 10 female/imms off Heysham Head




Tuesday 18th October northwesterly routine

A break from bush bashing in a brisk WNW wind which did not seem to hold any seabirds of note - notably a big fat zero behind the IOM ferry

Red Nab/outfalls incoming tide
Med Gull - 2CY and adult
Little Gull - adult briefly end of outfalls

Heysham Head café area
Chiffchaff - 1
Nuthatch - 1