Saturday 12 September 2009

Some 'extreme' vis mig in clear & sun-glaring conditions

Heysham Obs
A bit frustrating today with a lot of high vis and very glaring sun in the SE quadrant. Better weather tomorrow with easterly drift kicking in and some decent potential for people checking coastal bushes etc.. Please phone/text Jean Roberts, not Pete re-any birding issues this weekend (mobile not working)

Vis
Green Sandpiper - 2 flew from the direction of Middleton sewage works and headed towards OE at c1050hrs
Goose spp (Greylag/Canada-size) - 5S
flava Wagtail - heard but not seen Middleton IE
Common Buzzard - heard to the SE, but not seen, Middleton IE, then 2 to the south as seen from the HNR office at 1040hrs [rare here]
alba Wagtail - 5
Grey Wagtail - about 17 SE (6 ringed)
Meadow Pipit - very difficult to estimate but certainly not huge numbers - 45 over reserve & seemingly slightly more over Middleton IE
Jay - one appeared to be on the move on its own ('resident' family party here)
Linnet - 3
Swallow - 8
Chaffinch - 4
House Martin - 1
Reed Bunting - 1 over HNR, 2 ringed Middleton

Grounded (far too clear & little around e.g. no Goldcrest again)
Chiffchaff - 1+
Robin - 'a few' (3 ringed)
Sedge Warbler - one Middleton IE

Elsewhere
Golden Oriole Witherslack area late morning - seen on at least two occasions