Saturday 2 February 2019

Knot - a lot!

Malcolm’s photo of just a few of the Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits today:
Amongst the 3500 Knot at the heliport there were quite a few with coloured leg flags. Richard managed to read 10 of them, 3 were ringed in Iceland, 2 had Dutch rings and 5 had been ringed at Formby in September 2017.  A further 5000+ were on the south side (pic)
They certainly travel eg one had been ringed in SW Iceland in May 2017, the following March it was at Formby, in April it was at Southport then in May it was back in SW Iceland (on passage to Greenland), it was then seen today wintering on the old heliport at Heysham.

786787/31A Ad 20/05/2017 Skogarnes, ICELAND SW  64 46N  22 36W
Seen 21/03/2018 Marshside Marsh, Southport
Seen 27/04/2018 Southport
Seen 13/05/2018 Hitarnes, ICELAND SW  64 42N  22 21W
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
791996/84N Ad 24/05/2017 Skogarnes, ICELAND SW  64 46N  22 36W
Seen 17/5-20/5/18 Skogarnes, ICELAND SW  64 46N  22 36W
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
787402/VEP Ad 20/05/2014 Dyrafjordur, ICELAND NW  65 51N 23 20W
Seen 25/05/2018 Dynjandisvogur, ICELAND NW  65 44N 23 12W 
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport

SR77047/OY Ad 22/09/2017 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 28/9-12/10/17 Caldy Wildfowl, Merseyside
Seen 25/4-1/5/18 Leighton Moss
Seen 13/5-15/5/18 Lambastadir, Myrarsysla, ICELAND SW 64 28 N 22 05W
Seen 27/7-3/8/18 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 06/08/2018 Crosby, Merseyside
Seen 24/9-23/10/18 Caldy Wildfowl, Merseyside
Seen 25/10/2018 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 27/10-28/10/18 Caldy Wildfowl, Merseyside
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
SR76792/P2 Ad 22/09/2017 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 06/10/2017 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 20/12/17 & 14/2/18 Thurstaston, Merseyside
Seen 31/7-3/8/18 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 11/08/2018 Seaforth, Merseyside
Seen 04/09/2018 Crosby, Merseyside
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
SR76987/52 Ad 22/09/2017 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 27/02/2018 West Kirkby, Merseyside
Seen 03/03/2018 Thurstaston, Merseyside
Seen 05/03/2018 West Kirkby, Merseyside
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
SR76732/K1 Ad 22/09/2017 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 11/08/2018 Seaforth, Merseyside
Seen 08/10/2018 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport
SR76799/L2 Ad 22/09/2017 Altcar, Merseyside
Seen 06/10/2017 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 20/12/17 & 14/2/18 Thurstaston, Merseyside
Seen 31/7-3/8/18 Formby Point, Merseyside
Seen 02/02/2019 Heysham old heliport

On the subject of ringing, a Robin caught at Heysham today was first ringed in 2012 so pretty old by Robin standards which is usually 2 years. The oldest recorded Robin is 8 years 4 months and 30 days (BTO birdfacts).

The Czech Mediterranean Gull was on the railings on the north harbour wall.

The Cormorants were fishing near the Outfalls when one of them caught an enormous Bass which it managed to eat before any of its mates snatched it away:

Cor, what a whopper!