Monday 14 October 2019

Yellow-browed Warbler Reserve

Heysham is crawling with Yellow-browed Warblers. At least 8 of them today:
1 calling near the fire pond on Heysham Nature Reserve
4, probably 5 in the NE corner of the Reserve (including a ringed bird from yesterday)
2 in the Heysham Head bracken fields (with mixed Tit flock)
1 in the woods at the top of Heysham Head (with Long-tailed Tits)
There are likely to be more hidden away in the vegetation and much patience is needed to get the sort of views shown in the photos below. The little sprites flit about a lot and are only as big as a leaf so it’s a bit like playing hide and seek in which you, as the birder seeks and the Yellow-browed Warbler hides!

 A Heysham Head bird (pic by Kevin Eaves)
A Heysham Nature Reserve bird (pic by Craig Bell)

Other birds lurking in the trees and undergrowth were Chiffchaffs (at least 9), Blackcaps (5), Redwing (25), continental Blackbirds (5+), Song Thrushes (3+), Goldcrests (up to 5 early morning), and Cetti’s Warblers (1 ringed at Heysham NR, 1 ringed at Middleton NR)

and
Siberian Chiffchaff - calls and plumage - discovered late on by Shaun by the Greenfoot community garden on Smithy Lane
 
Overhead vis consisted of:
Pink-footed Goose 201
Carrion Crow 66
Meadow Pipit 5
Chaffinch 64
Jay 3
Alba Wagtail 15
Grey Wagtail 6
Goldfinch 4
Greenfinch 12
Merlin 1
Kestrel 1
Sparrowhawk 1
Skylark 6
Mistle Thrush 2
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 1 
Woodpigeon 5
Siskin 2
Grey Heron 1 

In addition about 60 birds were ringed including 9 Chiffchaffs and a Treecreeper. Full results on Trektellen tomorrow.