Heysham Obs
Wasted time watching flocks of giant poodles and other inbred 'pedigree' mutts being misidentified (on two occasions) as the noticeably absent Audouin's Gull. I suspect someone was taking the micky and taking great delight in watching ornithological stampedes with scopes flailing in all directions. It only takes one loud incomprehensible shout (in this case two)! The grotty Lincolnshire coast throws into sharp perspective the recent improvements at Morecambe - it is now a relatively high class resort with Colin Crompton's bus shelter morgues long gone.
Prior to that a bit of coverage:
Middleton IE
Whitethroat: Whilst scanning the skies for hirundines a passerine was picked up about twice the height of an electricity pylon. It descended in four "leaf-falling" stages and landed on a bramble bush revealing itself as a Whitethroat. After leaping about for 5 seconds, it flew inland. This was preceded by two together moving rapidly inland at low level
Swift: 1+3 south
Swallow: c60 south, including loose flock of 40
Grey Wagtail: 2 south
Kingfisher: 1
Grasshopper Warbler: two recently fledged young were ringed - a surprise
Little Grebe: 4 very small young - late broods are regular here
The only phyllosc was a single Chiffchaff (c/f Willow Warblers reported elsewhere)
Moths
Convolvulus Hawk-moth and Gem in Morecambe in the last 24 hours. Add the Cosmopolitan and this represents three rare migrant moths in a very small area. I wonder if the very severe thunderstorm the evening before the Cosmopolitan was trapped was responsible for "downing" these high-flying migrants in a very localised area? There has been no general influx of scarce migrants anywhere near this latitude to relate these observations to. The first Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing of the year was in the hut trap
Elsewhere
Two Yellow Wagtail at Bank End. Moulting Little Tern reported Morecambe Stone Jetty
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