Saturday 13 September 2008

Lots of coverage, poor return

Heysham Obs
The weather was not very helpful today with the wrong decision made re-ringing at Middleton in a niggling wind instead of the sheltered Heysham NR. Remnants of a north-bound weather front with a westerly airflow inhibited any cross-Bay vis, especially Meadow Pipit which all seem to be going down the east coast!

Middleton IE
Grey Wagtail - about 9 birds seen but only one ringed in windy conditions
Meadow Pipit - 6 SE
Swallow - 24 SE
Tufted Duck - 14
Little Grebe - just one left?
Ringing: 2 Chiffchaff, one Sedge Warbler (first for a bit), one Blackcap, 1 Grey Wagtail, 4 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit

Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls/wooden jetty
Kingfisher - the highlight was the first coastal one of the autumn on Red Nab
Black Tern - negative
Little Gull - one adult & one 2nd W
Med Gull - two adult
Shag - juv on wooden jetty
Sandwich Tern - 5-6 Red Nab
Little Egret - one in OE saltmarsh channel

Moth trap
15 Silver Y and the second ever (and second this year) Spruce Carpet!

Elsewhere
Juv Black-necked Grebe Conder Pool. Otherwise deadish in this area.