A lot more thrushes

Another dry day, but little light and little breeze - what breeze there was came mainly from the east.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report by Alan:

It was quite an exciting morning.  Nets were set in the dark and opened by 07.00 and groups Redwings appeared straight away, presumably having been grounded overnight.  As the morning progressed there were many hundreds of Fieldfares attracted to the Mp3 player.  However, only one was trapped and that escaped whilst I was still a way from the net.  Fieldfares are well known to avoid mist nets. Other flocks of Redwings and mixed redwing/Fieldfare appeared and moved on until about 09.30 after then only occasional smaller numbers were seen.  They seemed to be generally moving towards the East away from the reserve.  Seven Redpolls were trapped at dawn but only one more after that.  Approx 50 corvids flew east to the south of the United Utilities site at 08.30, these were most likely Jackdaws.  The trickle of Chiffchaffs continues with two unringed caught, also a single Blackcap.

Robin  2

Redwing  12

Chiffchaff  2 + 1 retrap

Goldcrest  2

Blue Tit  2

Lesser Redpoll  8

Singles of Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush (0nly our 3rd this year), Blackcap, Reed Bunting.

One of the Redwing - picture by Jean

Jean also took this shot of Fieldfare passing over. Note the lack of formation........

........compared to the classic goose formation of Pinkfoot passing over 
a few days ago

Janet checked just after lunch

Fieldfare - still the odd one passing over

Cetti's warbler 1 singing

Common Snipe 1

Pheasant 1

I checked at twilight, although with today's dull conditions, there wasn't much change! I wanted to see if anything was roosting in the wooded area on the south side. In the second winter period earlier this year there were large Stock Dove and Jackdaw roosts. Today's effort was underwhelming!

Jackdaw 36

Wood Pigeon 2

Stock Dove 1

I'll check again in a week or so to see if there is any change.

Wildfowl pretty much as yesterday, but extra Gadwall (26 today). The lone adult Mute Swan is lone no more, it has been joined by another adult.

A Little grebe was showing today on the main pond.

Little grebe

Common Snipe 2 accidentally flushed

Jay 1

Fieldfare 2 

Meadow Pipit 1 over to west.

Chiffchaff 1 calling

South shore (Malcolm)

Just a short morning walk from Red Nab to the saltmarsh.

Wigeon 80+

Greylag goose 8

Greylag geese - just seconds after this shot they disappeared into the low cloud

Meadow Pipit 1 grounded on the foreshore 

Meadow Pipit