Given the weather forecast for tomorrow, this will be the end of the month as regards ringing and any vis mig sessions and it was a month with an amazing one-off, the Little Shearwater and which can otherwise be consigned to the instantly forgettable
There was no decent visible migration with all the Meadow Pipit being sent along the Pennines or down the east coast by strong westerlies to the north of us and even the "seawatching weather" promised much but was never (with one notable exception) quite right on the day with a lot of watching paint dry waiting for the odd Leach's
As regards 'falls' and other possibilities with overnight migrants, a lot of effort was put in around the office area, where the feeder fare was a back-up to any poor migrant showing, but Middleton motivation suffered from the general synoptic mediocrity and received the worst coverage for a few years. The few visits made did suggest that more warblers were moving through there than Heysham NR
So the monthly ringing totals top ten as follows: Chaffinch (65), Blue Tit (64), Goldfinch (55), Grey Wagtail (37), Robin (32), Blackcap (29), Chiffchaff (23), Greenfinch (22), Meadow Pipit (18 - we did try!), Long-tailed Tit (17). So the top species away from the feeders was the study-targeted Grey Wagtail with a meagre 37! Grand total about 455. Thanks for all the effort, often with low but by no means worthless catches
Vis mig today
Pink-footed Goose - northerly passage of 3865 visible from HNR office and two other flocks heard further west. These were tracked over the bay/south Cumbria and were almost certainly all overshoots heading for the Solway. Note that both movements this week have been in SW winds eg virtually none seen yesterday. 25+1(!) south.
Chaffinch - 30
alba - 8
Meadow Pipit - 11
Grey Wagtail - 4
Reed Bunting - 1
Grounded
Only perceptible stuff round HNR office was single Goldcrest, Blackcap, Chiffchaff
Miscellany
Ad and Juv med gulls near jetty - probably Czech ad - no available tubeworms now
Shag 2cy - flew from harbour to wooden jetty
Ringing
About 30 new birds by office - surprisingly good - mostly goldfinch, chaffinch and blue tit
