Friday 6 October 2017

Gold rush

Clear skies overnight and a full moon usually mean a clearout of night migrants so a netful of Goldcrests was a big surprise (20+ first round at Middleton). Some were pretty weighty for this minute migrant (6 grams ! ) suggesting that they had hung around for a day or two feeding up.

Ringing with a line of 3 sunlit nets at Heysham and two better ones at Middleton
included 34 Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Coal Tit, 4 Wren and a couple each of Grey Wagtail and Robin and a single Bullfinch 

Vis over Heysham and Middleton NR
Meadow Pipit - c250
Skylark - 4
Raven - 1
Song Thrush - 7
Siskin - 2
Redpoll - 3
Alba Wagtail - 22
Chaffinch - 14
Grey Wagtail - 11 (just 2 ringed)
Jackdaw - 44 (3 lots)
Pink-footed Goose - c160 in three lots 
Carrion Crow - 8
Goldfinch - c30
Coal Tit - 7 (3 ringed)
Kingfisher - one

Grounded
included:
Cetti's Warbler - one migrant just to the south of the area at Potts Corner and at least opne singing/calling at Middleton
Chiffchaff - at least 11 in addition to those caught
Stonechat - two together Middleton
Goldcrest - at least 50 around

Miscellany
Sandwich Tern - one Red Nab
Med Gull - ad, 2CY, 1CY behind IOM ferry

PH, MJ, MD, JM, JR, PJM, DH