Heysham Obs
In September 1992 we ringed a Thrush Nightingale and the same day produced a Speckled Wood - the latter was almost as unexpected as the former! Fast forward to this morning and there was a squabbling 'kettle' of 12 Speckled Wood competing for a warm sheltered spot on the top path
Inshore
Fairly dead walk around the circuit produced:
Arctic Tern - 2 juvs and 2 adults, net loss of birds from yesterday's strong winds
Common Tern - one juv
Little Gull - adult
Med Gull - 2 1CY and one adult
Grounded
One of those mornings when you feel short-distance 'british' migrants are passing through but you are not monitoring it properly. At this time of year, that usually means "a lot" of ticking Robins (& perhaps the odd migrant Wren) which are conversely absent on a beautiful still clear morning along with any other grounded migrant. At least 25 Robins were heard between the cream store and Red Nab
Goldcrest - at least 7 along the dog track/nature opark but only one on the reserve
Chiffchaff - one reserve
Robin - see above
Green Woodpecker - heard/seen about once a week at the moment - it was in the tank farm this morning
Vis Mig
A late arrival due to traffic problems but a 'mobile' vis mig (therefore underrecorded and reliant wholly on sound) whilst doing the circuit produced (0830-0930)
Meadow Pipit - minimum 52
Grey Wagtail - 2
alba Wagtail - 7
Chaffinch - 16
Goldfinch - 28 (also moving along the seawall)
Insects
Another Lunar Underwing graced the moth trap this morning along with reduced numbers of the usual suspects (see yesterdays catch) along with a late Sallow and Eudonia angustea. A lunchtime circuit of the reserve produced 25 Speckled Wood, late Meadow Brown, 2 Comma, Migrant Hawker (first for a bit) and two Common Darter
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Back from the dead
Heysham Obs
Lunar Underwing was a very common late autumn moth in the 1990s with up to 850 or so per year (yes, these need putting on MapMate!). However, it all started to go wrong in the noughties with a moderate 224 in 2002, followed by 2003 (60), 2004 (44), 2005 (81), 2006 (19), 2007 (4), then none until this morning. It has declined all along the Lancashire coast which getting towards the northern edge of its range
Outfalls area early morning, lunchtime & mid afternoon
Arctic Tern - 2 adults, 5-6 juvs
Common Tern - one juv
Little Gull - 2CY (beware, it has not grown its diagnostic post-moult 2CY outer primaries and looks superficially like a "round-winged adult") and adult
Med Gull - 4 1CY, 1 2CY and 2 adult
Kittiwake - 1CY behind the IOM ferry
Wheatear - one OE foreshore, one on the NHW mound
Office area
Goldcrest - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Late afternoon seawatch
Gannet - 1 2CY
Moths
Good catch for this time of year with the first Lunar Underwing (see above) and Green-brindled Crescent of the year, 4 Black Rustic, 4 Treble Bar, 2 scruffy Square-spot Rustic, a Frosted Orange, a Setaceous Hebrew Character, 9 Pink-barred Sallow and a Light-brown Apple Moth (which seems to have crashed a bit the last two years)
Lunar Underwing was a very common late autumn moth in the 1990s with up to 850 or so per year (yes, these need putting on MapMate!). However, it all started to go wrong in the noughties with a moderate 224 in 2002, followed by 2003 (60), 2004 (44), 2005 (81), 2006 (19), 2007 (4), then none until this morning. It has declined all along the Lancashire coast which getting towards the northern edge of its range
Outfalls area early morning, lunchtime & mid afternoon
Arctic Tern - 2 adults, 5-6 juvs
Common Tern - one juv
Little Gull - 2CY (beware, it has not grown its diagnostic post-moult 2CY outer primaries and looks superficially like a "round-winged adult") and adult
Med Gull - 4 1CY, 1 2CY and 2 adult
Kittiwake - 1CY behind the IOM ferry
Wheatear - one OE foreshore, one on the NHW mound
Office area
Goldcrest - 1
Chiffchaff - 1
Late afternoon seawatch
Gannet - 1 2CY
Moths
Good catch for this time of year with the first Lunar Underwing (see above) and Green-brindled Crescent of the year, 4 Black Rustic, 4 Treble Bar, 2 scruffy Square-spot Rustic, a Frosted Orange, a Setaceous Hebrew Character, 9 Pink-barred Sallow and a Light-brown Apple Moth (which seems to have crashed a bit the last two years)
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Desperately seeking Swallows
Heysham Obs
An unexpectedly productive morning started with two "shapes" flying about along Moneyclose Lane in the dark at about 0615hrs. They didn't look quite right for bats and a quick reverse and full beam revealed two Swallows hawking backwards and forwards (as at least two have been doing in this area for the last few days, so they 'know the area'). Is this evolution in action or just a desperate shortage of food to get into condition for migration?
Grounded
Robin - at least 8 ticking birds within audible range by the office and others (10+) on a circuit of the reserve
Chiffchaff - 3 by the office first thing and two in the NE corner
Garden Warbler - one NE corner
Reed Warbler - juv NE corner
Sedge Warbler - juv NE corner (with the above for a short time)
Song Thrush - at least 5, 3 flew inland
Goldcrest - at least 4
Treecreeper - one alder woodland
Water Rail - one calling from reeds in NE corner
Vis mig 0630-0900
Quietish, but a trickle of most of the usual stuff, including 3 Grey Wagtail. Didnt really have time for ringing, but kept an eye on trainee John whilst he operated a couple of nets. A smattering of finches and two more Dunnocks taking this unobtrusive species on its way to a record annual ringing total, but it was too windy to catch Grey Wagtail which need completely still nets.
Inshore stuff
Med Gull - 2 adults
Kittiwake - 1CY wooden jetty area
Commic Tern - 4-5, including 2 adult Arctic and one juv Arctic
Wheatear - one
Turnstone - c200 wooden jetty
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 1
Whilst aimlessly checking out links, I came across Michael Foley's blogsite with a pic of (an additional) close Leach's Petrel on 14th Sept. Fortunate indeed, as the wind had dropped down by then - the closest I managed to see one was about 1/2 mile! I've added a link to this site. Michaeil site has additional Gannet and Sabine's Gull shots from Heysham and some nice photography from elsewhere.
An unexpectedly productive morning started with two "shapes" flying about along Moneyclose Lane in the dark at about 0615hrs. They didn't look quite right for bats and a quick reverse and full beam revealed two Swallows hawking backwards and forwards (as at least two have been doing in this area for the last few days, so they 'know the area'). Is this evolution in action or just a desperate shortage of food to get into condition for migration?
Grounded
Robin - at least 8 ticking birds within audible range by the office and others (10+) on a circuit of the reserve
Chiffchaff - 3 by the office first thing and two in the NE corner
Garden Warbler - one NE corner
Reed Warbler - juv NE corner
Sedge Warbler - juv NE corner (with the above for a short time)
Song Thrush - at least 5, 3 flew inland
Goldcrest - at least 4
Treecreeper - one alder woodland
Water Rail - one calling from reeds in NE corner
Vis mig 0630-0900
Quietish, but a trickle of most of the usual stuff, including 3 Grey Wagtail. Didnt really have time for ringing, but kept an eye on trainee John whilst he operated a couple of nets. A smattering of finches and two more Dunnocks taking this unobtrusive species on its way to a record annual ringing total, but it was too windy to catch Grey Wagtail which need completely still nets.
Inshore stuff
Med Gull - 2 adults
Kittiwake - 1CY wooden jetty area
Commic Tern - 4-5, including 2 adult Arctic and one juv Arctic
Wheatear - one
Turnstone - c200 wooden jetty
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 1
Whilst aimlessly checking out links, I came across Michael Foley's blogsite with a pic of (an additional) close Leach's Petrel on 14th Sept. Fortunate indeed, as the wind had dropped down by then - the closest I managed to see one was about 1/2 mile! I've added a link to this site. Michaeil site has additional Gannet and Sabine's Gull shots from Heysham and some nice photography from elsewhere.
Monday, 19 September 2011
More than one Greenshank at last!
Heysham Obs
Strange how some common species can be unexpectedly scarce at seemingly suitable local patches - Greenshank and Golden Plover are two examples here..................and Black-tailed Godwit seems to have reverted to its 'notable' status this autumn, especially with all the work-related extra attention given to waders
Ocean Edge/outfalls area on and off all day
Greenshank - two Ocean Edge saltmarsh creek - the first time more than one has been recorded here!
Little Gull - ad & 2CY
Arctic Tern - 4 juvs and an adult early on but these seemed to disappear during the afternoon
Common Tern - one juv
Med Gull - 4 adult, one darvic-ringed 2CY (no chance of reading it but it was 'darkish' with white letters), 2 1CY
Kittiwake - single adult behind the IOM ferry
Turnstone - 52 Red Nab at high tide
Bar-tailed Godwit - there have been quite a few juveniles remaining close inshore feeding in the creeks this autumn, 'replacing' the Black-tailed Godwits doing exactly the same thing last autumn - Black-tailed Godwit have been conscpicuous by their absence. This is additional to a large synchronised "tideline" flock of Barwits which seems to comprise mainly adults
Vis mig by the office
House Martin - 3 south mid-afternoon
The meagre haul in the morning will be posted later but did include a group of three Grey Wagtail, one of which was caught and ringed in a very optimistic mist net which was otherwise devoid of avian life
Grounded
A fastish walk round Heysham NR produced 2 Chiffchaff
Half Moon bay (Evening)
Wheatear - 1
Moths
Nothing startling; included Treble Bar with Pink-barred Sallow taking over the 'commonest species' mantle
Strange how some common species can be unexpectedly scarce at seemingly suitable local patches - Greenshank and Golden Plover are two examples here..................and Black-tailed Godwit seems to have reverted to its 'notable' status this autumn, especially with all the work-related extra attention given to waders
Ocean Edge/outfalls area on and off all day
Greenshank - two Ocean Edge saltmarsh creek - the first time more than one has been recorded here!
Little Gull - ad & 2CY
Arctic Tern - 4 juvs and an adult early on but these seemed to disappear during the afternoon
Common Tern - one juv
Med Gull - 4 adult, one darvic-ringed 2CY (no chance of reading it but it was 'darkish' with white letters), 2 1CY
Kittiwake - single adult behind the IOM ferry
Turnstone - 52 Red Nab at high tide
Bar-tailed Godwit - there have been quite a few juveniles remaining close inshore feeding in the creeks this autumn, 'replacing' the Black-tailed Godwits doing exactly the same thing last autumn - Black-tailed Godwit have been conscpicuous by their absence. This is additional to a large synchronised "tideline" flock of Barwits which seems to comprise mainly adults
Vis mig by the office
House Martin - 3 south mid-afternoon
The meagre haul in the morning will be posted later but did include a group of three Grey Wagtail, one of which was caught and ringed in a very optimistic mist net which was otherwise devoid of avian life
Grounded
A fastish walk round Heysham NR produced 2 Chiffchaff
Half Moon bay (Evening)
Wheatear - 1
Moths
Nothing startling; included Treble Bar with Pink-barred Sallow taking over the 'commonest species' mantle
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Corvids of ill-omen?
Heysham Obs
Considering this is/was THE opportunity to catch a significant number of Grey Wagtails, we did really badly this morning with too much activity below the flightline sending birds over the top of the net (starting with an ill-timed car door slam from myself). Unless they fly in down the 'corridor' on the usual NW to SE flightline at a fairly low level, you rarely catch them. We usually manage to catch at least 50% of those recorded, this morning saw 4/17! Blame the Ravens?
Vis Mig on and off 0615-1100hrs
Raven - a tight flock of 12 headed SW at 0645hrs and then about an hour later, a tight flock of 10 (plus a single corvid spp some distance away which may have been a Raven) also headed SW - what was presumably this latter flock (certainly 10 "large black birds") was seen far to the west by the Caton Moor vis migger, therefore they were not the same flock circling round out of audible range and losing two of their number. One previous record of a big flock but this is the first time any have been seen on the usual corvid NE to SW coastal flightline
Jay - flock of four headed south
Meadow Pipit - 359 S/SE
Chaffinch - 67 S/SW
Linnet - 1
Grey Wagtail - 17, all singletons apart from two lots of two
alba Wagtail - 18
Reed Bunting - 4
Swallow - 40
Goldfinch - just 5, conspicuous by its absence this morning
Siskin - 10
Skylark - one 'hearing'
Mistle Thrush - flock of 5 SW (first movement of the autumn)
House Martin - 1
Dunnock - 4 high to south
Grounded
not a lot
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 1
Blackcap - 1
Song Thrush - at least 4, possibly 6 soon after dawn
Outfalls/Red Nab (thanks Pete and Mike) totals
Arctic Tern - 6 adult, 3 juv
Common Tern - 2
Little Gull - ad & 2CY
Med Gull - 2 ads & 1CY
Kingfisher - male Stage on outfall
Pink-footed Goose - 21 S at 1238hrs
Dunlin - 24
usual mixed flock of Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot awaiting my six-hour vigil plotting their movements!
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Rock Pipit - 1
Moths
Included Rusty Dot Pearl and Silver Y
Considering this is/was THE opportunity to catch a significant number of Grey Wagtails, we did really badly this morning with too much activity below the flightline sending birds over the top of the net (starting with an ill-timed car door slam from myself). Unless they fly in down the 'corridor' on the usual NW to SE flightline at a fairly low level, you rarely catch them. We usually manage to catch at least 50% of those recorded, this morning saw 4/17! Blame the Ravens?
Vis Mig on and off 0615-1100hrs
Raven - a tight flock of 12 headed SW at 0645hrs and then about an hour later, a tight flock of 10 (plus a single corvid spp some distance away which may have been a Raven) also headed SW - what was presumably this latter flock (certainly 10 "large black birds") was seen far to the west by the Caton Moor vis migger, therefore they were not the same flock circling round out of audible range and losing two of their number. One previous record of a big flock but this is the first time any have been seen on the usual corvid NE to SW coastal flightline
Jay - flock of four headed south
Meadow Pipit - 359 S/SE
Chaffinch - 67 S/SW
Linnet - 1
Grey Wagtail - 17, all singletons apart from two lots of two
alba Wagtail - 18
Reed Bunting - 4
Swallow - 40
Goldfinch - just 5, conspicuous by its absence this morning
Siskin - 10
Skylark - one 'hearing'
Mistle Thrush - flock of 5 SW (first movement of the autumn)
House Martin - 1
Dunnock - 4 high to south
Grounded
not a lot
Chiffchaff - 2
Goldcrest - 1
Blackcap - 1
Song Thrush - at least 4, possibly 6 soon after dawn
Outfalls/Red Nab (thanks Pete and Mike) totals
Arctic Tern - 6 adult, 3 juv
Common Tern - 2
Little Gull - ad & 2CY
Med Gull - 2 ads & 1CY
Kingfisher - male Stage on outfall
Pink-footed Goose - 21 S at 1238hrs
Dunlin - 24
usual mixed flock of Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot awaiting my six-hour vigil plotting their movements!
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Rock Pipit - 1
Moths
Included Rusty Dot Pearl and Silver Y
Saturday, 17 September 2011
Dampish!
Heysham Obs
A short spell of mist-netting this afternoon produced the day's highlight - a candidate for the last Lesser Whitethroat of the year
Outfalls/Red Nab
Arctic Tern - c4 juvs
Common Tern - one juv
Little Gull - 2CY
Med Gull - 2 1CY and adult
Ocean Edge saltmarsh
Greenshank - 1CY with Redshank roost
No obvious vis mig over here in the torrential rain this morning
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Two Silver Y plus another Pink-barred Sallow & Black Rustic & 2 Common Marbled Carpet completed the meagre haul
Butterfly
One Speckled Wood ventured forth next to the office
A short spell of mist-netting this afternoon produced the day's highlight - a candidate for the last Lesser Whitethroat of the year
Outfalls/Red Nab
Arctic Tern - c4 juvs
Common Tern - one juv
Little Gull - 2CY
Med Gull - 2 1CY and adult
Ocean Edge saltmarsh
Greenshank - 1CY with Redshank roost
No obvious vis mig over here in the torrential rain this morning
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Two Silver Y plus another Pink-barred Sallow & Black Rustic & 2 Common Marbled Carpet completed the meagre haul
Butterfly
One Speckled Wood ventured forth next to the office
Friday, 16 September 2011
Pulsating Swallows
Heysham Obs
A bit of a bonus to have anything to say this morning as the weather was far from promising with the approaching front far too north to south in alignment
The office vis mig site, usually chosen for comfort, nearby refreshment and the ability to double-up with mist-netting appeared to be on a major Swallow flightline this morning, with the impression that we were receiving birds which had left various roosts in gangs and continued in a series of clusters on the 'vis'. The office area is usually pretty poor for hirundine passage with far more of them hugging the coast and also usually later in the morning. The morning session finished early in order to say farewell to "Hairy Joe" Lambert in Wray church and recall fond memories of yarns which included an encounter with a presumed Eagle Owl whilst "acquiring" sea trout in a most sustainable manner - Joe was a good conservationist - from the Roeburn
Vis mig by the office 0645-0940 (mainly SE)
Meadow Pipit - 84
Chaffinch - 56
alba Wagtail - 4
Goldfinch - 42
Swallow - 466
Reed Bunting - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - two individually high to the south
Dunnock - two flew south together
Grey Wagtail - 4
Merlin - female south
Greenfinch - seemed to be some high vis this morning with at least 26 south
Skylark - 2
Siskin - 2
Collared Dove - 3 east
Jackdaw - 2
Grey Heron - one SSE
Rook - 4 (unusual here)
Grounded
There were four Chiffchaff early on but absolutely nothing else e.g. no Goldcrest heard
Inshore
Access to Heysham one outfall a bit difficult due to a crane on the seawall and all that was reported was a single Arctic Tern. Anyone improve on this please? Thanks.
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Black Rustic was new for the year
A bit of a bonus to have anything to say this morning as the weather was far from promising with the approaching front far too north to south in alignment
The office vis mig site, usually chosen for comfort, nearby refreshment and the ability to double-up with mist-netting appeared to be on a major Swallow flightline this morning, with the impression that we were receiving birds which had left various roosts in gangs and continued in a series of clusters on the 'vis'. The office area is usually pretty poor for hirundine passage with far more of them hugging the coast and also usually later in the morning. The morning session finished early in order to say farewell to "Hairy Joe" Lambert in Wray church and recall fond memories of yarns which included an encounter with a presumed Eagle Owl whilst "acquiring" sea trout in a most sustainable manner - Joe was a good conservationist - from the Roeburn
Vis mig by the office 0645-0940 (mainly SE)
Meadow Pipit - 84
Chaffinch - 56
alba Wagtail - 4
Goldfinch - 42
Swallow - 466
Reed Bunting - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - two individually high to the south
Dunnock - two flew south together
Grey Wagtail - 4
Merlin - female south
Greenfinch - seemed to be some high vis this morning with at least 26 south
Skylark - 2
Siskin - 2
Collared Dove - 3 east
Jackdaw - 2
Grey Heron - one SSE
Rook - 4 (unusual here)
Grounded
There were four Chiffchaff early on but absolutely nothing else e.g. no Goldcrest heard
Inshore
Access to Heysham one outfall a bit difficult due to a crane on the seawall and all that was reported was a single Arctic Tern. Anyone improve on this please? Thanks.
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Black Rustic was new for the year
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Fidgety-Dunnock-fest and a hint of Jay movement
Heysham Obs
An isolated day (according to the forecasts) of fine calm weather with the usual and some not so usual culprits on the move...........and a lack of any numbers of grounded night migrants was par for the course after a clear night complete with fullish moon
Vis mig 0600-1100hrs
Jay - 1+2+4 high to the south (no other discernable corvid passage)
Great-spotted Woodpecker - two together high to the south
Dunnock - maybe as many as 20 on the move to the south including six unringed birds caught by the office, all at below average weight
Sparrowhawk - female 'in-off', then south-east
Chaffinch - 198 south (mainly early)
Meadow Pipit - 206 counted south, mainly mid-morning and not very conscientiously recorded due to a lot of 'activity' around and about - could have been double this!
Reed Bunting - 1
Linnet - 10
alba Wagtail - just 2
Grey Wagtail - just 5 south-east with four of them ringed
Lesser Redpoll - one
Goldfinch - 21
Greenfinch - 61 - definite vis mig birds passing straight over this morning
Swallow - only 5 in sharp contrast to elsewhere
Skylarks - heard and not seen on four occasions
Reed Bunting - one
Pink-footed Goose - skein of 35 early on and a large skein of c250 mid-morning
Grounded
Song Thrush - 2
Whitethroat - one ringed
Blackcap - 2 ringed
Goldcrest - the only one reported was in a small bush on the seawall enroute to the outfalls!
Chiffchaff - 3-4 early on (one ringed)
Robin - 3 ringed
Wheatear - just 2 coastal sightings
Ringing
A real mixed bag of new-ringed birds: Goldfinch (4), Greenfinch (18), Blue Tit (6), Dunnock (6), Robin (3), Meadow Pipit (2), Chaffinch (7), Grey Wagtail (4, plus colour rings), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (2), Whitethroat (1), Song Thrush (1 and one escape - both considered to be the first migrants of the autumn), Blackbird (2), Bullfinch (1), Great Tit (2) plus about 10 retraps, mainly Blue Tit
Outfalls/harbour area
Predictable leftovers with the Black Tern presumably the one belatedly reported as being present yesterday afternoon
Black Tern - juv seaward end of Heysham one early on
Kittiwake - 2 juvs early on
Arctic Tern - c12 (2 adults)
Common Tern - ad & 2 juvs
Little Gull - adult and 2CY
Med Gull - 7 on Red Nab during a very brief visit, including 3 1CY - smaller numbers, not necessarily these birds reported around the harbour mouth/behind ferries. Please note that one of the 1CY is very "contrasty" and therefore displaying quite a 'triangular wing pattern'
No known sightings of the Sabine's Gull, although an apparently erroneous report reached the info services mid-afternoon at a time when quite a few observers were grilling the area (as others had been doing since about 0630hrs!)
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 1
Moths
Still a single Treble Bar in the trap
Butterfly/dragonfly census of HNR
Highlighted by a singular lack of anything other than Katia-trashed insects, apart from about 10 of the 30ish Speckled Wood, the 3 Comma and a single Small White & Small Tortoiseshell. The Meadow Brown, Common Blus and even Small Copper looked on their last legs and there were no Migrant Hawkers and only three weary-looking Common Darter
An isolated day (according to the forecasts) of fine calm weather with the usual and some not so usual culprits on the move...........and a lack of any numbers of grounded night migrants was par for the course after a clear night complete with fullish moon
Vis mig 0600-1100hrs
Jay - 1+2+4 high to the south (no other discernable corvid passage)
Great-spotted Woodpecker - two together high to the south
Dunnock - maybe as many as 20 on the move to the south including six unringed birds caught by the office, all at below average weight
Sparrowhawk - female 'in-off', then south-east
Chaffinch - 198 south (mainly early)
Meadow Pipit - 206 counted south, mainly mid-morning and not very conscientiously recorded due to a lot of 'activity' around and about - could have been double this!
Reed Bunting - 1
Linnet - 10
alba Wagtail - just 2
Grey Wagtail - just 5 south-east with four of them ringed
Lesser Redpoll - one
Goldfinch - 21
Greenfinch - 61 - definite vis mig birds passing straight over this morning
Swallow - only 5 in sharp contrast to elsewhere
Skylarks - heard and not seen on four occasions
Reed Bunting - one
Pink-footed Goose - skein of 35 early on and a large skein of c250 mid-morning
Grounded
Song Thrush - 2
Whitethroat - one ringed
Blackcap - 2 ringed
Goldcrest - the only one reported was in a small bush on the seawall enroute to the outfalls!
Chiffchaff - 3-4 early on (one ringed)
Robin - 3 ringed
Wheatear - just 2 coastal sightings
Ringing
A real mixed bag of new-ringed birds: Goldfinch (4), Greenfinch (18), Blue Tit (6), Dunnock (6), Robin (3), Meadow Pipit (2), Chaffinch (7), Grey Wagtail (4, plus colour rings), Chiffchaff (1), Blackcap (2), Whitethroat (1), Song Thrush (1 and one escape - both considered to be the first migrants of the autumn), Blackbird (2), Bullfinch (1), Great Tit (2) plus about 10 retraps, mainly Blue Tit
Outfalls/harbour area
Predictable leftovers with the Black Tern presumably the one belatedly reported as being present yesterday afternoon
Black Tern - juv seaward end of Heysham one early on
Kittiwake - 2 juvs early on
Arctic Tern - c12 (2 adults)
Common Tern - ad & 2 juvs
Little Gull - adult and 2CY
Med Gull - 7 on Red Nab during a very brief visit, including 3 1CY - smaller numbers, not necessarily these birds reported around the harbour mouth/behind ferries. Please note that one of the 1CY is very "contrasty" and therefore displaying quite a 'triangular wing pattern'
No known sightings of the Sabine's Gull, although an apparently erroneous report reached the info services mid-afternoon at a time when quite a few observers were grilling the area (as others had been doing since about 0630hrs!)
Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 1
Moths
Still a single Treble Bar in the trap
Butterfly/dragonfly census of HNR
Highlighted by a singular lack of anything other than Katia-trashed insects, apart from about 10 of the 30ish Speckled Wood, the 3 Comma and a single Small White & Small Tortoiseshell. The Meadow Brown, Common Blus and even Small Copper looked on their last legs and there were no Migrant Hawkers and only three weary-looking Common Darter
Wednesday, 14 September 2011
Nice selection and major Pink-footed Goose arrival
Heysham Obs
Thanks to various people for info this morning which enabled coverage of the sea from about 0645hrs through to at least 1300hrs. Any updates after then gratefully received as I dont think any of the "usual observers" are around this afternoon. Thanks. Evening update: One of the regulars did a short period of afternoon seawatching and the Sabines Gull was seen around the departing ferry at about 1435hrs. However, not a peep from anyone after that (unless there is info on personal blogs) and there were several birders around the 'wheel'. Was it seen later on, please, as I suspect it will now be on its way at least first thing tomorrow?
Leach's Petrel - 3: two out at 1200 and 1245hrs (both quite distant) and one in the harbour mouth as the IOM ferry arrived at about 1215hrs and one apparently later in the afternoon (see Michael Foley blogsite)
Sabine's Gull - 3: the 'usual' adult with the damaged foot was around close inshore along the outfalls until about 1100hrs, then may have roosted in the harbour as it was next seen behind the IOM ferry at c1215, then the last known report was following the outgoing IOM ferry at c1435hrs. There were definitely TWO adults as the Arrow came into port at about 0900hrs and a juv was behind the Clipper Panorama at c0950hrs as far as about the final inshore green buoy, when it peeled off and headed for the permanently moored red boat
Black Tern - juv out 1250hrs and it or another then seen later in the afternoon and presumably the same seen early tomorrow morning
Common Tern - appeared to be more around today as seen from Ocean Edge with at least two adults and 3 juvs
Arctic Tern - a higher percentage of the terns around the wooden jetty were these with total of about 20 (5+ adults)
Sandwich Tern - about 5
Little Gull - adult and 2CY
Skua spp - one seen early morning by two independent observers and both distant views favoured juv Arctic
Fulmar - 2
Gannet - at least 15 seen, including 3 exhausted birds at various times close inshore
Kittiwake - c10 behind the IOM ferry and 2-3 inshore
Wheatear - 2 Ocean Edge, one north wall
Whimbrel - late bird seen/heard flying over OE
Med Gull - more 1CY seen today with at least 6 around, also c4 adults and at least one 2CY
Eider - 6
Vis mig
Preoccupied this morning but at least 38 Meadow Pipit flew SE & 4 Grey Wagtail over Ocean Edge 0800-0900hrs. No real evidence of any vis thereafter other than:
Pink-footed Goose - 20 south at 1050hrs, then skeins of 44, 52, 35, c60 & c30 over post-midday
Evening - Half Moon Bay
Pink-footed Goose: 8 W 18:00, 32 S 19:00
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Pink-barred Sallow was a long-overdue new addition to the year list
Thanks to various people for info this morning which enabled coverage of the sea from about 0645hrs through to at least 1300hrs. Any updates after then gratefully received as I dont think any of the "usual observers" are around this afternoon. Thanks. Evening update: One of the regulars did a short period of afternoon seawatching and the Sabines Gull was seen around the departing ferry at about 1435hrs. However, not a peep from anyone after that (unless there is info on personal blogs) and there were several birders around the 'wheel'. Was it seen later on, please, as I suspect it will now be on its way at least first thing tomorrow?
Leach's Petrel - 3: two out at 1200 and 1245hrs (both quite distant) and one in the harbour mouth as the IOM ferry arrived at about 1215hrs and one apparently later in the afternoon (see Michael Foley blogsite)
Sabine's Gull - 3: the 'usual' adult with the damaged foot was around close inshore along the outfalls until about 1100hrs, then may have roosted in the harbour as it was next seen behind the IOM ferry at c1215, then the last known report was following the outgoing IOM ferry at c1435hrs. There were definitely TWO adults as the Arrow came into port at about 0900hrs and a juv was behind the Clipper Panorama at c0950hrs as far as about the final inshore green buoy, when it peeled off and headed for the permanently moored red boat
Black Tern - juv out 1250hrs and it or another then seen later in the afternoon and presumably the same seen early tomorrow morning
Common Tern - appeared to be more around today as seen from Ocean Edge with at least two adults and 3 juvs
Arctic Tern - a higher percentage of the terns around the wooden jetty were these with total of about 20 (5+ adults)
Sandwich Tern - about 5
Little Gull - adult and 2CY
Skua spp - one seen early morning by two independent observers and both distant views favoured juv Arctic
Fulmar - 2
Gannet - at least 15 seen, including 3 exhausted birds at various times close inshore
Kittiwake - c10 behind the IOM ferry and 2-3 inshore
Wheatear - 2 Ocean Edge, one north wall
Whimbrel - late bird seen/heard flying over OE
Med Gull - more 1CY seen today with at least 6 around, also c4 adults and at least one 2CY
Eider - 6
Vis mig
Preoccupied this morning but at least 38 Meadow Pipit flew SE & 4 Grey Wagtail over Ocean Edge 0800-0900hrs. No real evidence of any vis thereafter other than:
Pink-footed Goose - 20 south at 1050hrs, then skeins of 44, 52, 35, c60 & c30 over post-midday
Evening - Half Moon Bay
Pink-footed Goose: 8 W 18:00, 32 S 19:00
Wheatear - 4
Moths
Pink-barred Sallow was a long-overdue new addition to the year list
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Hard work but a bit more rewarding than yesterday
Heysham Obs
Again the day was beset by the lack of squalls until a late one about 1530hrs which "produced" the day's highlight, a Grey Phalarope at 1545hrs
Grey Phalarope - on flew close inshore south along the harbour wall and the head pattern was clearly seen by a very experienced observer. Unfortunately not possible to see whether it flew round the jetty or through one of the gaps (it was not in the harbour). Also at that time the wind and glare prevented any observation of a likely feeding area at the seaward end of Heysham one outfall
Leach's Petrel - Really poor numbers in the conditions with a maximum of 8 up until 1630hrs
Sabines Gull - TWO adults around. The usual one was 'available' all day until at least 1630hrs and a second adult with more black on the head (the usual one has moulted quite a bit since its arrival - recognised by the damaged leg) was seen at the same time at least mid-morning and when the IOM passenger ferry struggled in
Kittiwake - about 30 flew out and similar numbers behind the IOM ferry
Arctic Tern - c20, including at least 3 adults
Common Tern - at least one adult and 2 juvs
Sandwich Tern - at least 5 seen
Gannet - at least 16 seen, including lingering birds late afternoon
Fulmar - 9 out
Diver spp - distant bird out
Manx Shearwater - 2 out
Little Gull - usual 2CY and adult plus a 1CY behind the IOM ferry
Sanderling - 1+3 flew out
Med Gull - 9 around the inner end of the wooden jetty early on, including the German darvic--ringed bird. Also Czech metal-ringed bird seen along the north harbour wall
Wheatear - one by twite feeder
Merlin - on 'in-off', then south-east late morning
Moths
Treble Bar, Flounced Rustic and Setaceous Hebrew Character - one of each
Butterflies
5 x Speckled Wood in the office area mid-afternoon
Mammal
Weasel Moneyclose Lane
Elsewhere & relating to Heysham sightings
Adult Sabine's Gull seen at 1116hrs off Morecambe Town Hall did not appear to pass north harbour wall observers and it could not have been the second (offshore) adult at Heysham as that was seen just prior to the Morecambe observation. This, of course, assumes the bird seen behind the IOM ferry was indeed the second bird, not another adult. So three in our area
The lack of observation to the south, as opposed to checking along the wave troughs, meant that we all missed the Great Skua which would have been visible just to the south, off Cockersands and then Pilling. We will be doing a long session tomorrow looking offshore from Ocean Edge caravan park and will definitely pick up any similar occurences!
Again the day was beset by the lack of squalls until a late one about 1530hrs which "produced" the day's highlight, a Grey Phalarope at 1545hrs
Grey Phalarope - on flew close inshore south along the harbour wall and the head pattern was clearly seen by a very experienced observer. Unfortunately not possible to see whether it flew round the jetty or through one of the gaps (it was not in the harbour). Also at that time the wind and glare prevented any observation of a likely feeding area at the seaward end of Heysham one outfall
Leach's Petrel - Really poor numbers in the conditions with a maximum of 8 up until 1630hrs
Sabines Gull - TWO adults around. The usual one was 'available' all day until at least 1630hrs and a second adult with more black on the head (the usual one has moulted quite a bit since its arrival - recognised by the damaged leg) was seen at the same time at least mid-morning and when the IOM passenger ferry struggled in
Kittiwake - about 30 flew out and similar numbers behind the IOM ferry
Arctic Tern - c20, including at least 3 adults
Common Tern - at least one adult and 2 juvs
Sandwich Tern - at least 5 seen
Gannet - at least 16 seen, including lingering birds late afternoon
Fulmar - 9 out
Diver spp - distant bird out
Manx Shearwater - 2 out
Little Gull - usual 2CY and adult plus a 1CY behind the IOM ferry
Sanderling - 1+3 flew out
Med Gull - 9 around the inner end of the wooden jetty early on, including the German darvic--ringed bird. Also Czech metal-ringed bird seen along the north harbour wall
Wheatear - one by twite feeder
Merlin - on 'in-off', then south-east late morning
Moths
Treble Bar, Flounced Rustic and Setaceous Hebrew Character - one of each
Butterflies
5 x Speckled Wood in the office area mid-afternoon
Mammal
Weasel Moneyclose Lane
Elsewhere & relating to Heysham sightings
Adult Sabine's Gull seen at 1116hrs off Morecambe Town Hall did not appear to pass north harbour wall observers and it could not have been the second (offshore) adult at Heysham as that was seen just prior to the Morecambe observation. This, of course, assumes the bird seen behind the IOM ferry was indeed the second bird, not another adult. So three in our area
The lack of observation to the south, as opposed to checking along the wave troughs, meant that we all missed the Great Skua which would have been visible just to the south, off Cockersands and then Pilling. We will be doing a long session tomorrow looking offshore from Ocean Edge caravan park and will definitely pick up any similar occurences!
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