Very light breezes varied from NE early on to SE then East later. Sunshine pretty much all day.
John and I set nets this morning. It was very clear and calm as it had been most of the night after the strong winds of yesterday through to late evening. The catch was not large but did include 7 Cetti's Warblers (two of which were retraps) and a Yellow-browed Warbler.
Goldcrest 13 + 1 retrap
Cetti's Warbler 5 + 2 retraps
Wren 3 +2 retraps
Chiffchaff 5
Blackcap 1
Robin 3
Yellow-browed Warbler 1
Redwing 1
Overhead were two flocks of Pink-footed Geese moving North - 125 , and one flock of c70 flying South at 11.45
Also were quite a few Corvids on the move with a total of c86 flying South (probably all Carrion Crow) and 10 Jackdaws also South.
Nine Alba wagtails plus three Meadow Pipits also passed through.
Heysham Nature Reserve
Report from Jean and Pete:
There was a little bit of migration visible this morning with the main theme being corvid passage. A few thrushes and finches and other odds and ends were also visible/audible in the clear blue sky:
Carrion Crow 29 (in two main flocks)
Jackdaw 7
Rook 4
Magpie flock of 14 purposefully south
Blackbird 14 continental birds all adult or 1cy male
Redwing 2
Song Thrush 1
Mistle Thrush 1
Greenfinch 4
Bullfinch 3
Chaffinch c15 south
Siskin 1
Linnet 1
Meadow Pipit 5
Skylark minimum 15 south
Pied Wagtail 1
Great White Egret 1 - high south early on
Little Egret 2 similarly, but later
Pink-footed Goose - a flock headed north at 8am then 85 south in two flocks later on
Woodpigeon 22
Ringing comprised a total of 35 birds caught, 29 new and 6 retraps (all fairly recent birds):
Chaffinch 4 new, 2 retraps
Goldcrest 5 new, 2 retraps
Great Tit 1 new, 1 retrap
Blue Tit 3 new
Chiffchaff 2 new
Long-tailed tit 2 new
Robin 1 new
Greenfinch 3 new
Goldfinch 5 new
Wren 2 new
Dunnock 1 retrap
Grounded - Dave Bickerton
Cetti's warbler 1 singing on east side of marsh.
Yellow-browed Warbler 1 calling near dipping pond (also seen/heard later)
South shore (MD)
I checked twice today. Just a short circuit from saltmarsh to Red Nab in the morning
Linnet 70+
Greenfinch c10
Goldfinch c10
All above feeding on/around saltmarsh
Wheatear 1 quickly moved through
Stonechat 1 female/immature briefly by saltmarsh, before being moved on by a Robin.
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| Stonechat |
Reed Bunting 1 near slipway
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| Reed Bunting |
Rock Pipit 5
Meadow Pipit 2 south
Skylark 8 south (2, 2, 3, 1)
Jackdaw 53 south, one flock 09:50
Lapwing 60
Ringed Plover 40
(Both the above counts not estimates)
Grey Wagtail 1 Red Nab
The only insect seen was a single Common Darter in the Nature park.
It was a different story in the late afternoon, the light breeze had been from the east all day and the sun was warm. I went specifically to check if any insects had come in off the sea, there had.
Saltmarsh to end of foreshore
Small Tortoiseshell 1
Small White 4
Red Nab
Small white 1
Common Darter 6 (all males)
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| One of six male Common Darters sunning themselves on Red Nab rocks |
Sea wall to wooden jetty
Common Darter 4 (2 females)
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| Aged female Common Dater on sea wall near wooden jetty |
No further butterflies seen, but there were 4 moths, 3 refused to land and were beyond my identification skills. The one that settled was a Silver Y, the other three could have been.
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| Silver Y - half way along the sea wall |
Alan had mentioned a large gathering of Ladybirds at his home this lunchtime, it would seem it wasn't an isolated event. Two were resting on the sea wall, both Harlequin, but totally different variations
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| Harlequin Ladybird - this is typical of the variation I normally see |
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| Another variant of Harlequin Ladybird - can't say I've seen this one before (MD) |
There were loads of flies, and presumably other beetles. Needless to say the birds were taking advantage. I was surprised that only one Rock Pipit was feeding on the sloping wall near the lighthouse, but along the main sloping wall the wagtails were busy.
Pied Wagtail 40+
Grey Wagtail 1
These are just a few of the Pied Wagtails
Shag 1 on wooden jetty
Janet took this shot of one of the Heysham Head Rock Pipits
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| Rock Pipit |
