A red-throated diver trailing a bright orange item round its leg was diving close inshore by the near naze attracting alarm calling gulls. This unfortunately spooked 6000 Knot but I managed to read seven colour marks but made the cardinal mistake of not writing down an Icelandic one as I was trying to read another bird at the same time. Then I promptly forgot what the last letter was. Familiar?
Kittiwake - single 2cy
Vis 0915-1030
Meadow pipit - c25 North
Pied Wagtail - 2 N
Goldfinch- 7 N
Greenfinch - 3N
Linnet - 4N
Siskin - 2N
Sparrowhawk - 1 N
Low tide channel
Eider - 430
Wigeon - 3
Great-crested Grebe - 8
Middleton Nature Reserve pm
Chiffchaff 5 seen and or heard
No sign of Shoveler or Tufted
Gadwall 2
Teal 4
Little grebe 1
Cetti's warbler, two singing
Some high raptor movement including at least one Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.