Thursday, 26 September 2024

Trying hard not to spook the gulls

Calm and dry till just after 09:00, then rain for most of the day. The NE wind was quite strong by early evening.

Heysham Nature Reserve 
Ringing report by Pete:
Absolutely dead in the calm weather window pre 0900 
just four chiffchaff which have been around for a bit I think.  
Surrounded by cloud and rain blocking overhead movement  

South shore (Malcolm)
Same morning walk as yesterday, but today in the pouring rain!
Along foreshore all grounded
Meadow Pipit 6
Rock Pipit 1
Pied Wagtail 2
Wheatear 2
It was raining too hard to get a Wheatear shot today, this is one from yesterday 

Shelduck 25

Just a handful of small waders feeding close to the shoreline 
Dunlin 34
Ringed Plover 17

Mediterranean gull 19 including 1 second calendar year and 1 third calendar year - at least most were stood for most of the time today. Three had darvic rings, unfortunately although they were all together, it wasn't a tight group and also included other gulls. Approaching close enough to check the rings, was invariably too close for the outer birds causing them and others to move a little further south. By the time I'd managed to read all three, they were well past the faux castle. And after all that stalking, all three birds have been seen here previously this year. Still, good practice.
This well traveled bird was ringed in the Netherlands in 2019
More details can be found in the Annual Report, see side bar.
Or the Lancashire Bird report - see bottom of today's post

Same Med, this time with a Black-Headed Gull and Common gull

This is the 3rd calendar year - ringed as a nestling in France in 2022
Now looking adult

An evening walk along the sea wall - still raining! And by now the NE wind was surprisingly strong.
Wheatear 3 
Rock Pipit 5 (1 Red Nab, 2 + 1 along the sea wall and 1 at the lighthouse)
It was sheltered from the wind and rain on the sloping wall.
This Rock Pipit wasn't for moving

Kingfisher 1 flew past No.1 outfall

Grey Seal 1 near No.1 outfall

Grey Seal, closer to shore than typical 

A comprehensive account of the birds of Lancashire in 2023 - essential reading for local birders with plenty of Heysham input, especially ringing recoveries.  Please visit Lancashire and Cheshire Fauna Society website to obtain a copy