October summary

Heysham Obs
Three key observers unavailable today and the weather in northern England was what was supposed to be in southern Scotland (e.g. A1 awful between Angel o.t.n. and S. Corner early afternoon, never mind the west coast) so ringing was not an option. The only news item so far was a Light Brown Apple Moth and Angle Shades in the moth trap. Am I really going to trail up to North Uist this evening/early morning.......[Mourning Dove at Clachan]

Here is a summary for October:

Systematic observation took place at Heysham Obs on all but two days (4th, when Flamborough was a better option and 11th when the weather was rubbish). This usually involved an attempt to census grounded night migrants (+/- mist netting) and an average of two hours per day counting visible migrants. Also the usual routine checks of the coastal areas counting Mediterranean Gulls, checking for Black Guillemot etc..

The theme of this month was the rapid transit by many of the migrants as periods of clear weather on most nights allowed birds to move on, as did a fair nunmber of clear, calm sunny days. Therefore I would be extremely wary of wording such as Redwing and Fieldfares "arrived at" as opposed to "passed through" when assessing the nature of this month's migration. For example, there were several mornings late in the month with "50+ or 50-60 Blackbird" and it would be easy to dismiss them as being "in residence, having discovered the hawthorn berries". Careful observation, however, especially of those within range of the vis mig site by the office, revealed that there was a continuous 'through-put' of birds with individuals occasionally taking off and flying high inland, others moving, usually in a generally SE direction through the bushes to be replaced by a new gang of berry eaters.....and so on. This period was punctuated by much larger influxes on 21st and 28th which helped to confirm the impressions as four Blackbirds at any one time in a given hawthorn bush suddenly became eight on those two mornings!

Another theme was a few species which are not normally conspicuous on vis mig. In this respect, only the high-flying individuals were logged - some of the other sightings may also have been birds on more than a 'local circuit'. The main species were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Jay and especially Bullfinch. See vis mig list below for actual total.

One species which IS conspicuous on vis and which occurred in good numbers (although nothing like nearby Walney) was Jackdaw - this species does not nest at Heysham and therefore migrants can be easily discerned The other noticeable theme concerned the number of species which were either way above par or conspicuous by their absence - very few species seemed to be occurring in "average" numbers for the 27 year dataset Species conspicuous by their absence on the ground were: Wren (usually a noticeable passage early-mid month), Blackcap (no birds accompanying the thrush passage late in the month) and Goldcrest (just no mornings producing more than 20 individuals - this was most unexpected following a good spring passage and does imply a very poor breeding season) Conspicuous by their absence on vis mig were Redwing and Fieldfare, yet there were plenty flying over more inland sites - this is the way it goes some autumns - the grand total for both species has been beaten by single migratory flock on many occasions in previous Octobers

It was quite a good month for scarce species without coming up with a major rarity: Treecreeper - one on 10th, Yellow-browed Warbler - one ringed on 7th, almost certainly another on 8th (almost certainly not ringed). Suitable conditions for one often produce another with this species - indeed the first record for Heysham involved three individuals. Garden Warbler - late bird on 7th. Black Redstart - one for a couple of hours on 15th. Lesser Whitethroat - latest ever records for here - one ringed on 14th and perhaps the same on 18th - sadly not one of the eastern forms. Common Buzzard - one on 20th . Reed Warbler - late bird on 19th. Firecrest - male with a LTT flock on 18th. Woodcock - migrant on 27th. Ring Ouzel - 1st winter male with migrant Blackbirds on 26th

Vis mig totals for the month saw record numbers of common finch species. Most of these birds were flying S or SW:
Pink-footed Goose 4593
Starling 3019
Chaffinch 2322
Greenfinch 1028
Meadow Pipit 742
Goldfinch 611
Redwing 503
Siskin 497
Jackdaw 452
alba Wagtail 405*
Woodpigeon 190
Fieldfare 164
Skylark 122
Linnet 116
Blackbird 115**
Song Thrush 102**
Mistle Thrush 96
Carrion Crow 87
Brambling 76
Rook 71
Long-tailed Tit 68***
Bullfinch 42
Swallow 36
Grey Wagtail 32
Reed Bunting 31
Collared Dove 29
Coal Tit 29***
Great Spotted Woodp. 13
Jay 12
Crossbill 11
Dunnock 10***
House Martin 7
Kestrel 4***
Whooper Swan 4
Sparrowhawk 4***
Cormorant 4***
Pintail 3
Tree Sparrow 3
House Sparrow 3
Grey Heron 1
Twite 1
Merlin 1
Rock Pipit 1
Green Woodpecker 1
Golden Plover 1

* many specifically identified as White
** many more than usual either flying over high or rising out of bushes and heading off general SE high. These were all, of course, presumed to be continental birds
***Only the most obvious "purposeful high-flying birds" included in this category. Cormorant are very rare over this site and all 4 were together and this is the first Pintail record actually over the 'vis' site.

In conclusion, Heysham is not a particularly special location for migrants but it is a good site for combining all aspects of migration (seabirds/vis/ringing/counting grounded birds) and the systematic coverage provides very useful comparative information which can be entered on national or even international visible migration sites and, at the end of the year, it provides consistent annually-comparative data which can be used in county and local bird reports

Thanks to the team for ensuring such good coverage this autumn - pity about the (lack of) Leach's Petrels and other storm-blown seabirds - no storms!

Red-listed football field

Some of the 17000 Knot on the helipad today

Heysham obs and area

Two of our key red-listed species were plastered over Ocean Edge football field today, comprising 72 Linnets and 150 Starling.

Vis
0830-0930
Chaffinch 5 >S
Greenfinch 15 >S
Starling 23 >NE, 27 >SW
Sparrowhawk high >W

Red Nab
Large unringed adult Med Gull, probably the elusive regular wintering bird.

North Wall
adult and second winter Meds (around anglers and the heliport end)

Insects
Feathered Thorn, 2 Angle Shades and Light Brown Apple Moth
The feathery antennae of this Feathered Thorn shows it is a male.
Elsewhere
Great White Egret still at Leighton Moss

End of season............or is it?

Heysham Obs
The radar suggests another pulse of thrushes to come in the next day or so but will the weather synopsis allow a significant landfall in this area? Today had a real 'fag end of the autumn migration season' feel........but we'll see what the next few days brings. Various weather forecasts just checked are somewhat contradictory as might be expected when highs and lows are vying for position and the north-west is in the zone of uncertainty. Looks reasonable for some late season overnight moth trapping!

Vis mig by the office 0830-1100
Greenfinch - indeterminate movement to and from the feeder undoubtedly included some passage birds (see ringing)
Jay - 1SW
Mistle Thrush - 5SW
Great-spotted Woodpecker - 1 high to the W
Redwing - 11SW
Chaffinch - 2S
Meadow Pipit - 3SE
Starling - 5S, then 295 NNW in 14 flocks
Woodpeigeon - flock of 31S
Grey Wagtail - 2S was a surprise & perhaps they were prospective winter residents appearing to be on vis mig when seen

Thanks John for most of this

Ringing
15 lightweight Greenfinch trapped with 13 of them being female, an equal mixture of adult and 1st W. This is typical of captures later in the passage period.

Heliport
'Loads' of Knot!

North harbour wall
22 Wigeon floating in on the sea was unusual. Single adult and 2nd W Med Gulls. 8 each of Goldfinch and Meadow Pipit on the 'mound'.

Insects
Late Red-line Quaker and Pink-barred Sallow in the moth trap along with Angle Shades. 10+ wasps on willows in the mist net ride by the office.

General
The road is VERY dangerous between the traffic lights and the reserve - please stick to 20mph, especially on the blind bend - there are a lot of non-car owners with young families on Ocean Edge. Sympathy and a quick recovery to the people involved in the accident today.....fortunately not involving pedestrians.

Elsewhere
Ad & 2nd W Med Gulls at Bank End. NNEW on the Great White Egret - a BBRC rarity such as this should really be phoned in on a daily basis.......please.

Another example of the 10 metre tide and solitary Sanderling

Heysham Obs
Landbirds were at a premium today in a stiff westerly wind and the bushes were conspicuously devoid of Blackbird with no more than 10 around the office/visible tank farm. A few bits on the coast but little time to seawatch.

Vis from the office 0830-1015
Thanks for persevering John

Greenfinch - 36SW
Chaffinch - 4SW
Jay - 1SW
Starling - 184NW, 77N and 12SW - none of these sightings suggested dispersing roosting birds

Two Raven passed through as is becoming a virtually daily event

Seawatching
15 minutes from Ocean Edge foreshore near HT revealed a flock of 16 Kittiwake and 2 Razorbill flying 'out'

Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Highlighted by a Sanderling accompanying 11 Ringed plover and 5 Dunlin. 41 Linnet were also on the upper tideline (the only tideline!)

Wooden jetty/north harbour wall
You are hardly worthy of a caravan and some tarot cards by predicting a juvenile Shag on the wooden jetty during westerly winds and indeed one obliged today along with what I think is a record 58 Cormorant. Just one 2nd W Med Gull was noted today but no bread used.

Heliport
A flock of 17,500 Knot was estimated from all different angles & came to roughly the same number! This roost does considerably vary in numbers each day

Insects/mammals
Angle Shades in the moth trap and yet anoth in a good recent run of daytime fox records by the Obs Tower.

Elsewhere
Great White Egret seen from the Griesdale Hide, Leighton Moss this afternoon. Three Scaup (eclipse ad drake and two adult female) on Glasson basin/marina. "Stubble burning" at Cockersands revealed just 35 Skylark, 2 Reed Bunting, 2 Stonechat.

Yet more Blackbirds

Heysham Obs
Office-bound from dawn during quite atrocious conditions which cleared to reveal significant numbers of Blackbird and some finch vis mig. There was a lull in the wind as the weather cleared and a single mist net was set at the feeder & a small amount of vis undertaken.

Vis mig from the office 1115-1145
Chaffinch - 4 SW
Greenfinch - 28 SW +/- landing by the feeder to join other birds
Goldfinch - 26 S
Siskin - 2S

Grounded by the office
An absolute minimum of 48 Blackbird were seen in the bushes around the car park area, including 35 in one 'sweep'. A further c25 were estimated on the visible part of the 'tank farm'. This was the largest number of Blackbird I have seen this autumn and its a pity a full census could not be carried out as it would surely have beaten the previous highest of c150. These dispersed rapidly during the clear weather in late morning and the dog invasion

Ringing
The mist net round was just that as the wind increased whilst extracting the catch, which included 7 new Greenfinch.

Ocean Edge saltmarsh
The 10 metre tide watch flushed 6 Snipe and one Jack Snipe. Kingfisher in the area (as is usual these days)

North harbour wall
3 x 2nd W and one x adult Med Gulls were present early afternoon but no wind-blown Shag despite a high count of 44 Cormorant on the wooden jetty. No sign of the Black Guillemot as is usual in the afternoon

Miscellany
The star bird of the day was an eastbound Greylag over Ocean Edge

Insects
The rain cleared to leave sunshine and high temperatures for this time of year. Apart from an increase in wasp numbers after they appeared to have died off during last week's frosts, sightings included a 'large bluish dragonfly' on the reserve which was surely Migrant Hawker along with at least 9 Common Darter on Middleton IE. A Red Admiral was by the office late morning. The moth trap contained a late Silver Y and Feathered Thorn

Elsewhere
Great White Egret (and 8 Little Egret) still roosting on the island at the northern end of Leighton Moss this evening. Two Jack Snipe predictably flushed by the tide on Glasson Marsh along with 7 Twite and 2 Rock Pipit agg. Male and female Scaup on Glasson Marina and two distant Scaup off north Morecambe

Woodcock bonus

Heysham Obs
Thanks John & Malcolm for sussing out that the early morning conditions could produce another dose of migration - it did! Highlighted by a Woodcock flushed from bracken below tank farm at 1115hrs - first of the autumn. Tomorrow will hopefully see some attention switched to the sea for the first time in ages. At the very least, some of the large Razorbill passage along the Cumbrian/Lancs open sea coasts might divert in.

Vis. from by the office 0815 - 1145 hrs. All SW unless stated.
Starling 23
Greenfinch 35
Fieldfare 46 + 42 over Middleton IE
Chaffinch 142
Jackdaw 1
Goldfinch 21
Mistle thrush 6
Redwing 7 + 4 over Midd. IE
alba wagtail 4 SE
Song thrush 1SW + 1 S
Grey wagtail 1 E
Meadow pipit 2
Linnet 16 SE

Grounded/off-passage
Visible from the office during the morning: 2-3 Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk & 2 Great spotted woodpecker.

Approximately 50-60 Blackbird were located on BE properties with observations by the office suggesting some movement through the bushes in a generally southerly direction, but no birds "taking off" and flying inland as is the case during clearer conditions

North harbour wall
One 2nd W Med near the heliport

Middleton IE
Goldeneye 2 f/imm - first of autumn
Snipe 25
Jack Snipe 1

Elsewhere
Nothing on the pager/LDBWS website other than a 1st W Spotted Redshank at Sunderland - ominous silence from Leighton Moss with respect to Great White Egret etc this last few days. Is it still hanging in there for the "winter" atlas starting on 1st Nov?

Ring Ouzel accompanies further Blackbird influx

Heysham Obs
Contributed nothing today as Alan, Andrew, John and John had more faith and covered the site in cloudy conditions and a SSSE wind.

Grounded
A further Blackbird influx, giving a minimum of about 60-70 for BE properties (early afternoon count) with the cloud cover (& food!) appearing to keep most of them in situ. They were accompanied by a noisy 1st W (probably male) Ring Ouzel which was heard but not seen on the tank farm before eventually giving good views as it flew low over towards the golf course via the office area at 1110hrs. Not much evidence of other thrush species. 8 unringed Long-tailed Tit were caught (7 in one flock). The lack of Goldcrest this month has already been mentioned, but perhaps more unexpected was the total non-event replacing the usual marked passage of Wren, especially surprising given the number of mornings mist nets have been in operation. Two unringed Goldcrest and a single unringed Wren this morning therefore worthy of mention!

Vis from by the office 0900-1100
Starling - 20S
Mistle Thrush - 11S
Collared Dove - 2SW
Goldfinch - 9E, 4SW
Chaffinch - 18SW
Redwing - 1SW
Coal Tit - 2S
Greenfinch - 6SW
Linnet - 1S

Red Nab/Ocean Edge area
Kingfisher
44 Wigeon

North harbour wall
Single figures of Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Pied Wagtail grounded. 2 x 2nd W and adult Med Gulls coming to bread

Elsewhere
15 Twite at Cockersands yesterday. 10+ Brambling by Tower Lodge, Trough of Bowland

Autumn nearly over for landbird passage?

Heysham Obs
The cloud cover grounded a small number of thrushes, mainly Blackbird along with a single rather 'grey and white' Chiffchaff which was giving collybita-like calls. Yet again, Goldcrests failed to materialise in any numbers in what looked pretty good conditions. Have they just passed us by or was the northern breeding season so bad? Previous poor autumn have followed high winter mortality and poor/non-existent spring passage. Not so this year.

North harbour wall area
Four Med Gulls still with two of the 2nd W birds being mainly high tide visitors these days. The adult, and especially the remaining 2nd W, can be found at most stages of the tide. No sign of the Black Guillemot today. 14 Goldfinches and 5 Linnets feeding on the thistles on the mound, 5 Meadow Pipits and 5 Pied Wagtails also on the mound.

Red Nab/Ocean Edge
A low tide visit saw a Kingfisher in the main saltmarsh channel at Ocean Edge

Middleton IE
Male Stonechat, 6 Reed Bunting, 2 Water Rail (at least), a funny call (WR could not be ruled out) and c35 Blackbird in the western and central marshes

Vis mig from by the office
Chaffinch 72,
Brambling 2
Greenfinch 64
Goldfinch 16
Siskin 11
Fieldfare 3
Redwing 9
Blackbird 10
Song Thrush 1
alba Wagtail 20
Grey Wagtail 1
Meadow Pipit 7
Reed Bunting 3
Starling 28
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 1

Ringing
4 Chaffinch and 1 Greenfinch up to 11am but things picked up a little after that - details to be posted later.

Insects
Two new species for the year in the moth trap in the form of Red (typo, not an id error, Autumn Green has never occurred at Heysham) Green Carpet (rare here) and Feathered Thorn. Mottled Umber was also new for at least the autumn but there may have been one in January - will check

Elsewhere
Nothing of interest as yet from this area

High speed migrants

Heysham Obs
This was an odd morning. There is obviously a long history of clear mornings producing migrants very first thing but they soon melt away and you are left with nothing. Not, however, usually as quick as this morning which for 20 minutes or so looked as though it was going to be quite productive! The guillotine fell at 0900hrs and very little stirred thereafter other than the 25 or so off-passage Blackbird and a handful of Redwing and Song Thrush.

Vis mig from the office
Quite a bit was missed very first thing.

Total 349 birds, 19 species in 2hrs 15 mins (0745-1000):
Woodpigeon 12,
Skylark 7,
Meadow Pipit 1,
Grey Wagtail 1,
alba Wagtail 9,
Blackbird 35,
Fieldfare 18,
Redwing 33,
Mistle Thrush 6,
Carrion Crow 5,
Starling 25,
Chaffinch 58,
Brambling 16,
Greenfinch 71,
Goldfinch 20,
Siskin 22,
Redpoll 4,
Bullfinch 5,
Reed Bunting 1.

Most birds S but Carrion Crow, Starling, Mistle Thrush flew E.

Grounded
14 Goldcrest accompanied a very early morning Long-tailed Tit flock and a further 4-5 were seen. Approximately 50 'new' Blackbird which either disappeared south past the office or rose up and flew inland/SE - this left c25 off-passage birds noted during the afternoon. All Redwing have been added to the vis total other than c10 on the 'tank farm' and low single figures on the reserve in the afternoon

Ringing
Pretty dire.
New birds: 1 Redwing, 2 Blackbirds
Retraps: 1 Goldcrest, 1 Bullfinch

Harbour area/north wall
Low single figures of off-passage Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Pied Wagtail but no sign of any Twite. Black Guillemot showing very well in the early morning, including landing on the wooden jetty but was not to be found in the afternoon. Ad and 2 x 2nd W Med Gulls on the railings in the morning, "two Med Gulls" reported in the afternoon

Red Nab/Ocean Edge foreshore
Ad Med Gull on Red Nab, also 57 Wigeon and 375 Shelduck in the area. At least 40 Linnet on the edge of Ocean Edge saltmarsh but no Twite could be discerned with them

Insects
One Red Admiral in rapid transit and a Peacock, which should be hibernating, seen around the office. No sign of the Small Copper after a cold night. Just two Common Darter & no Migrant Hawker in a lunchtime walk in sunny conditions

Elsewhere
Excellent posting on a female Bittern eating a rat the front of Leighton Moss lower hide on the LDBWS site. Great White Egret seen this morning on the Allen/EM Pools

Autumn hawkbit sustains Small Copper

Heysham Obs

The highlights of today were a very late Small Copper and a reasonably late Swallow.

Vis
224 birds, 15 species in 2 hrs (0730-0930):
Woodpigeon 2
Swallow 1
alba Wagtail 4
Redwing 4
Jackdaw 1
Carrion Crow 15
Starling 65
Chaffinch 43
Brambling 2
Greenfinch 42
Goldfinch 28
Siskin 10
Linnet 5
Bullfinch 1
Reed Bunting 1

Grounded
c50 Blackbirds and a few Redwing.

Ringing
New birds: 5 Chaffinch, 2Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blackbird, 1 Wren
Retraps: Long-tailed Tit, 2 Robins, Blackbird, Great Tit, Greenfinch.

North Harbour area
Black Guillemot, 2 2nd winter and 1 adult Med Gull but no sign of yesterday's 1st winter Med Gull.

Elsewhere
Great White Egret at Leighton Moss, Marsh Harrier in the Pilling area, 2 Scaup at Teal Bay