Saturday, 17 October 2020

Marsh Tit and Jack Snipe

Very light breezes again, but more due north. Largely overcast, but dry.

Middleton Nature Reserve 
Visible migration and ringing report from Jean:

Migrants still trickling over

Linnet 10 - some going W

Redwing 4 - E

Blackbird 2 - SE

Reed Bunting 3 - E

Lesser Redpoll 6 - SE

Meadow Pipit 3 - E

Greenfinch 4

Bullfinch 4 - N

Chaffinch 7 NE

Pink-footed Goose - 890 in 5 flocks N

Grey Wagtail - 3

Jackdaw 20 SE

Snipe - 5 

Woodpigeon - 9 S


Ringing:

Redwing 2, Wren 2, Goldcrest 1, Blackcap 1, Robin 1, Reed Bunting 5, Lesser Redpoll 3, Chaffinch 1, Coal Tit 1

Retraps: Cetti’s Warbler 1, Long-tailed Tit 2, Blue Tit 1, Blackbird 1.


Cetti's Warbler - birds singing from four widespread locations.



Heysham Nature Reserve 

Marsh Tit confirmed in eastern section

Kingfisher 1 on dipping pond

LTTit 4 groups (8, 9. 8 and 5). 

Coal Tit min 8. 

Goldcrest 2. 

Blackbird 40, 

Song Thrush 5 

Redwing 3

Pink feet 160, 50 and 150 north between 1200-1215. 


Heysham Head (Shaun)
0830-1000. 
Pink feet c350 north, 
Rock Pipit 4 (including a very grey one). 
Coal Tit 4. 
Blackcap male. 

Ocean Edge area (MD)
Today's 10.20 metres high tide at 12:15 covers the saltmarsh about an hour before high water. This flushes any feeding snipe, including:
Jack Snipe 2 (11:13 and 11:20) both, flew directly to Middleton Nature Reserve. There is another chance 11:50ish tomorrow. I would be reasonably confident, but they do get "fed up" of being flushed by successive tides, and may remain on Middleton 
Unless a flushed bird lands again, this is the typical view!
Common Snipe, only one seen, but the saltmarsh was already largely covered when I got
Great White Egret 1 SE 10:50
Pink-Footed Goose - 300 N (probably same as Shaun's) + 115 NW
Rock Pipit 2 together plus 1 (very grey bird) alone. A second report of 5 together may include these three.
The grey Rock Pipit - possibly the same one seen by Shaun
Meadow Pipit 3 Grounded
Reed Bunting 1
Grey Plover 6
The tide was higher today