Canadian-ringed Brents

Thanks to Colin for informing us that this pair were likely to be those which had wintered on Walney for the last few years and were first ringed at:

Therefore we just double-checked the ringing details this morning and they matched these two birds

The Walney birds disperse as the Eel grass runs out in late winter and some have started to cross the Bay and feed on Gutweed

A new high of 17 Pale-bellied Brent Geese this morning

Kittiwake - 16 in, then landed on sea

Ringed Brent geese

A bit late getting to south shore this morning. By the time I reached Ocean Edge foreshore the tide had almost covered Red Nab, but there were still some pale-bellied Brent. The picture below shows eight birds, two of which have rings. By the time I reached Red Nab only the three regular birds remained. They then flew towards Pott's corner.

Hopefully the ringed birds will return tomorrow. Two hours before high water, or slightly earlier, should be best. If anyone reads the rings, please advise Pete of either ring details or the returned "life histories".

Also on Ocean Edge salt marsh:
Rock pipit 1
Skylark 2
Reed bunting 2

March catchup

3 March 19

7 Pale-bellied Brents today on Red Nab.

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2 March 19

Reed Bunting at Middleton NR

Red Nab
244 Wigeon
3 Pale-bellied Brent

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1 March 19

The elusive (though noisy) Cetti's Warbler at Middleton NR. One of two singing males in the Central Marsh.

The trickle continues

The weather today was slightly more typical. But still far from cold.
Stonechat 2cy female quickly through Ocean Edge foreshore in morning.

Three Goldcrest and two unringed Robin on Heysham Nature Reserve, suggest movement.

West of recycling centre road
Buzzard 1
Wood pigeon 79
Raven 1

Dragonfly

Another ridiculously warn sunny February day, eventually led to a brief sighting of a dragonfly, flying low over the pebbles on Half Moon Bay beach at 15:15. The description is compatible with a female Vagrant Emperor (albeit a small one), but unfortunately not conclusive. The insect was only seen for a few seconds before heading off, still low, to north. Efforts to relocate failed and tomorrow's weather does not look promising.

Pale-bellied Brent - 3 + 2 out from children's play area on north side at 10:00. By 15:00, the 3 had moved to the rocks on Half Moon Bay, but the 2 remained on north side.

Rock pipit 1 below high cliffs Heysham Head

Snipe over a 100 flew from rocks in front of old heliport as the tide covered the rocks. All flew onto the heliport grass. Most of the rocks were still uncovered then so it is presumed there were many more.

The flatness of the incoming tide and the slow rising (low neap tide), meant the waders were reluctant to leave the rocks!

Vis trickle

 Nothing new in the low tide channel this am with 224 Eider counted and little else.  Couldn’t see any Brents on the north side but they are easy to miss on skeers!

Female Stonechat southern end of non-op land - late (!) migrant

Single migrant Siskin and Skylark over HNR whilst Meadow Pipit reached the heady height of three

Green Woodpecker around HNR

Just the usual ex hibernating butterflies seen and bees included a queen Tree Bee

Spring has sprung, or so it appears....

A bit murky this am and one or two things might have been missed

Eider - 234
Great-crested Grebe - 5
Red-breasted Merganser - 6
Red-throated Diver - one very distant

Couple of Middleton pics from Janet, the Brimstone and blossom a bit surreal for this time of year and the Pheasant showing the Leighton Moss photographers that we can match anything they can do :-).

Heysham Nature Reserve

Two Brimstone by hut.

One Comma by car park approx. 13.00

One Peacock

Thanks Janet

Also on Middleton Nature Reserve

Tufter 3

Gadwall 10

Teal 2

No sign of Shoveler or Pochard

Little grebe 2

Water Rail 3

Moorhen displaying on main pond

Cetti's warbler 2 singing

Meadow pipit 8

Small Tortoiseshell 4

Comma 1 (particularly bedraggled individual)

Road to Recycling centre

No sign of Raven or Stonechat today, but Buzzard seems to be making itself at home.

Pylongate

It seems like Heysham pylons are prime realestate. Four Raven, a Pergrine and several Carrion crow were competing for ownership today. A Buzzard also looked like it fancied staying. We'll see who wins - there are enough pylons for all!

Low water channels.
Pale- bellied Brent geese. Five together for the first time this year on north side, although seemingly just an association of the two regular small groups of two adult plus the two adult and a juvenile.

Eider 227
Great Crested Grebe 8
Red Breasted Merganser 6
Wigeon 2

2 Brimstone by Heysham Nature Reserve office
Also 2 Small Tortoiseshell there.

Great White Egret crosses border

A Great White Egret was in the field to the west of the recycling centre (09:15), which represents the eastern boundary of the recording area, before heading off SE towards river Lune estuary.

Great White Egret flying out over eastern border of the recording area.

Also from this road to recycling centre (2nd roundabout from western end of Heysham bypass) in three visits today:
Stonechat - two, probably three
Raven - two. On territory?
Buzzard  one.
Meadow pipit 3

Middleton Nature Reserve
Canada goose 1 - on main pond. Not common here

Tufted 5
Gadwall 10
Shoveler 3 (female plus one adult and a 2cy male)
Little grebe 1
Mallard 4
Teal 5
Water Rail 2
No Pochard or Coot seen today

Cetti's warbler 2 singing
Meadow pipit 3

Chiffchaff, and others, return

Very warm today, particularly out of the wind.

Middleton Nature Reserve
Two bird species seen here for the first time this year
Chiffchaff - one feeding in trees at Tim Butler pond
Little grebe - one feeding and trilling on "no swimming" pond
Plus
Coot - one on Tim Butler pond, first since the, almost, over wintering bird abandonded the "no swimming" pond mid January
Also:
Gadwall 12
Tufted 4
Pochard 2
Shoveler 2
Water Rail 1
Common snipe 21

Cetti's warbler singing central marsh
Meadow pipit 4 blogging
A "likely Water pipit" was accidently flushed, hopefully it will be relocated and confirmed tomorrow.

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Pale-bellied Brent - what appears to be the original three (2 adult with a juvenile) on Red Nab late morning. Not seen on north side earlier.

Rock pipit on Ocean Edge salt marsh

No sign of any Stonechat today

Not much close in to skeer channels at low water, early am.
Great Crested Grebe 6
Red Breasted Merganser 2
Eider c150

Mid pm
Pink-footed Goose 80 south (NB north Cumbria and Spurn today hundreds were heading north)

Heysham NR
Raven 1 North

Tank Farm
Green Woodpecker

Butterflies
Three species seen in recording area today
Peacock - on dogwalk
Small tortoiseshell- Heysham Reserve office and in village
Male Brimstone - Royds Avenue