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!