Yellow-brow-fest

This was very much a starting from scratch morning with zero around small migrant-wise yesterday.  Therefore initial impressions of nowt around the office soon changed when the more 'arrival-type bushes' were visited below the old Obs Tower site by Jean.  Almost certainly two Yellow-brows and 6+ Goldcrest and at least one Chiff was the verdict

The rain alarm suggested a miraculous split in the two great splodges west and east of us and this corridor suggested a single net for migrants and a close watch of this rain alarm

This worked a treat with six migrant warblers caught, including two Yellow-browed Warblers, before the gap in the rain closed and the net hurriedly taken down

Later a circuit of the reserve produced a third un-ringed bird in the far north-east corner for Jean but not a lot of other migrants.  Later on one of the ringed birds joined the un-ringed bird in the NE corner. Then Malcolm located one by the white barrier at the southern end of dog walk track. This multiple YBW arrival in rain, but not vast numbers of anything else also happened with the first records in autumn 1985.

Grounded Heysham NR
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - c10
Yellow-browed Warbler - 3 HNR, one Middleton NR
Redwing - 1
Blackbird - c10

Vis Mig
Grey Wagtail - one, possibly local movement now

WeBs highlights
Little Gull - ad on sea by Red Nab
Redshank - 720 heliport seawall a good count
Knot - 3700 heliport seawall

Vis mig big bird day

This was going through the motions on a day of clear westerlies we wouldn't usually have touched with a barge pole.  Beggars can't be choosers in the current weather although tomorrow looks tasty apart from the rain.  As it happened it was marginally entertaining including high-flying Magpie action.

Vis dawn to about 1000
Cormorant - 3 high to south together
Meadow Pipit - 33 SE
Reed Bunting - 5 SE
Red wing - just 1-2 SW
alba Wagtail - 4 SE
Linnet - 16 SE
Skylark - 3 SE
Jay - flock of 5 plus 1+1 south
Chaffinch - just 2 south
Jackdaw - loose flock of 49 S
Pink-footed Goose - 270 N, 20 S
Whooper Swan - 6 high to S
Magpie - 3+2+1 high south
Carrion Crow - flock of 5 high S, possibly others lower down on the move
Bullfinch - 1 high S
no Grey Wags

Ringing
Ringing at Middleton included a Redwing, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and two Robin & Reed Bunting!  The feeder net at Heysham NR produced 13 new Greenfinch and two new Goldfinch

11th Oct - nothing of note