Heysham Nature Reserve
Report by Jean:
I arrived at Heysham full of hope for Redwings and Chaffinches. There were a few of the latter but none of the former. It was pretty quiet, the thick cloud seemed to deaden any vis and the chilly weather put off birds arriving at the feeder till mid morning. But by 1300hrs I'd caught 42 birds - 31 new ones and 11 retraps, so not a bad haul. All the retraps were recent birds.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 0 new, 1 retrap (young male that I'd caught in August)
Coal Tit 1 new
Blue Tit 1 new, 2 retraps
Great Tit 2 new, 1 retrap (all males)
Chiffchaff 1 new (early morning, none later)
Goldcrest 2 new (a male and female caught together - do they travel together, as a pair I wonder?)
Wren 0 new, 1 retrap
Blackbird 1 new (a female)
Robin 1 new, 1 retrap
Dunnock 1 new, 2 retraps
Chaffinch 6 new
Goldfinch 13 new, 11 retraps
Other birds of note:
2 Mistle Thrushes dropped in.
This report and excellent pictures by Craig Bell:
Yellow-Browed warbler - at the gate/galvanised fence on left hand side of road before the entrance to Ocean Edge
Located mid afternoon, it was still present at 16:00. This was after a thorough search of Heysham Nature Reserve had found nothing of note.
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| Yellow-Browed Warbler |
South shore
I Just had a walk along foreshore and sea wall at 08:30 high water (Malcolm)
I started the walk past the galvanised fence and didn't see or hear any warbler at that time.
When I got to the saltmarsh, there wasn't a single small passerine. I suspected that they had been moved on by a raptor. So I had my camera and my wits ready - neither proved to be good enough!
As I approached the slipway a Merlin flew from that direction low and fast over the saltmarsh, then disappeared . All I managed were a few blurry shots!
As I walked along the foreshore Linnets were returning to the saltmarsh, 2, 20, 1 and 12. When I checked again on the way back there was a flock of 80+ finches. Mainly Linnet, but some Goldfinch amongst them. No sign of the Merlin this time.
Rock Pipit 3 (foreshore, Red Nab and lighthouse)
Meadow Pipit 3 SE
Shelduck 43 - 34 feeding, 8 south and 1 north
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| Shelduck flying south past along the shipping lane |
Wigeon 35
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| Some of the birds on Red Nab. Wigeon, Redshank, Curlew, Black-Headed and Lesser Black-Backed gull |
Grey Heron 1
Little Egret 6
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| Little Egret resting on No.2 outfall rail, with Black-Headed and Herring gulls This bird later flew off NW |
Great White Egret 1 - flew NW from the direction of the Lune estuary
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| This Common Gull was the only gull feeding on No.1 outfall |
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| Immature Herring Gull with a plastic bottle - oh dear! |
