Tuesday 28 August 2007

Good numbers of birds ringed

Heysham Obs
Outfalls area
Ringing apart, just the one set of observations has been forwarded (thanks Shaun) comprising:

Med Gull: minimum of 4 juvs but all at long range on the seaward end of Hey One outfall, 2 adult and 2 2nd W (presumably, but not necessarily including the north harbour wall birds)
Little Gull: adult
Kittiwake: 2 adults

Middleton IE
A ringing session this morning was 'autumnally productive' with warblers a little thin on the ground in the 68 new birds caught and 10 unringed Reed Bunting and 21 Goldfinch had a very 'September' feel about them. Warblers ringed comprised: 5 Willow warbler, 3 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap and single Sedge Warbler and Chiffchaff. This is our main ringing site, other than the CES, during the 'summer months' - perhaps we ought to carry on a little longer! No obvious visible passage with just 2 Swallow caught

Insects
A disappointing moth catch did include the belated first Gold Spot of the year. A single Clouded Yellow was again seen on the 'dog track' between the reserve and Ocean Edge on 26th. No news either way (=NNEW of previous postings c/f request for clarification!) today

Elsewhere
Great White Egret, at least 25 Little Egret and 3 Spoonbill targeting the small flatfish bonanza on the Allen/EM Pools. Also Curlew Sandpiper (age??) and Green Sandpiper there. 3 Spotted Redshank Conder Pool and a 2nd W Med Gull on the Lune estuary. Unringed adult Med Gull at the Stone Jetty and Begian-ringed adult Med at Morecambe Broadway. No Yellow Wagtail at the Melling maize field this evening but 4 were seen there on 26th (at least three of which were juvs)