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