Sunday 18 October 2020

The wind turns

The gentle breezes switched to the south. Mainly overcast and dry.

First an omission from yesterday's records

Short-eared Owl spiraling over Half Moon Bay then headed west (high) towards Walney - ref Shaun


Late news - Siberian Chiffchaff on Heysham Nature Reserve. Picture to be added to Monday's post - Thanks Craig.


Middleton Nature Reserve 

Visible migration and ringing report from Alan:

Ringing this morning was a bit desperate with 11 birds in total between the four net sites.


Few birds were seen moving except for Pink footed Geese:

Flocks south 30+23

Flocks North c1000+38+c600+150+c400


Grey Wagtail - two separate birds dropped to the net area but were not captured even though a superfine net was set.


Afternoon and early evening

Ring Ousel 1 female /immature 

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

Common snipe 4

Gadwall 2

Little Grebe 1

Shoveller 1 eclipse male

First Shoveller record this year


Saltmarsh 12:00 as tide was covering

Common snipe 3
Jack Snipe at least 1, probably 2

Shaun's records

Yellow-browed Warbler one by itself at the pond on the dog walk track that runs parallel to Moneyclose Lane at 1045.

Chiffchaff 4

Treecreeper 1 (near Dipping Pond)

Goldcrest 4

Coal Tit 4

LTTit 11+ 7

Siskin 2

Redwing 15

Blackbird c30

Song Thrush 8

Woodcock 2

Jay 2

Water Rail 2 calling 


Peregrine ad + imm

Merlin 1 high heading east

Sparrowhawk (large) female hunting


Pink-footed Geese 500 N at 1000, 400 N at 1015. Two other groups heard to the East (over Middleton) but not visible from where I was.


Red Nab: Little Egret 3 and 68 Wigeon.


Great White Egret 1 NW 14:15 ref Kevin

Also from Kevin's moth trap - a Lunar Underwing 

not common in the North of Lancashire