Six warbler species singing

Light early east breeze freshened slightly and moved more SE. High cloud and hazy sun. At 18:30 the wind suddenly turned round to the SW bringing in heavy cloud for the anticipated overnight rain.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

Ringing this morning:

We set four nets at Heysham NR by 06.30 this morning. Although the wind was much lighter than forecast the sky was open and grounded night migrants were not expected in numbers. However, this favoured passage Redpolls and a decent total of 22 was caught, including another one ringed elsewhere.

A Chiffchaff wearing a French ring was trapped and processed. 

Birds trapped and ringed were:

Robin 2

Blackcap 3

Chiffchaff 2 plus one retrap plus one ringed elsewhere 

Blue Tit 1 plus one retrap

Chaffinch 1 retrap

Greenfinch 1 retrap

Goldfinch 1

Lesser Redpoll 21 plus one ringed elsewhere 

Pete Crooks paid a visit this morning, this is his report posted on the Lancaster & District BW Site (see side bar for links to the site):

Six species of singing warbler: Cetti’s, Willow, Sedge, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap, but no Lesser Whitethroat or Grasshopper Warbler
4 Gadwall

Heysham North Harbour Wall (7.25 – 10.10 am)

The ‘highlights’ of a sea-watch on the early rising tide comprised

1 Razorbill

1 Guillemot

2 distant unidentified auks

6 Sandwich Tern

1 Whimbrel

A very distant possible dark morph Arctic Skua was mobbed by an immature gull, but disappeared into the offshore haze.

A trickle of passerine ‘vis mig’ included 

3 Tree Pipit (a single group at 7.30 am)

17 Linnet

8 Pied Wagtail

5 Meadow Pipit

3 Goldfinch

2 Redpoll

2 Swallow

3 Carrion Crow.

2 Rock Pipit at Near Naze

I walked the waterline at the same time as Pete was checking from the wall, but I only managed the Sandwich Terns. The only overhead passage was a single Pied Wagtail . I did manage this clip of a grey seal, it is just finishing off a reasonable sized Bass (MD)

Kevin also checked a bit later and took this shot of an Eider pair, you don't often see the female plumage as clearly as this.

Pair of Eider out from the north sea wall

There were two geese species using the main pond at Middleton, before it became too busy. Janet took these shots.

Canada goose

Greylag geese

Also from Janet, 

2 Buzzard soaring high above Kingsway

Finally, this splendid moth from Kevin's overnight moth trap

a lovely Purple Thorn in the moth trap. Not particularly rare, but very attractive.