Saturday 6 August 2011

Great weather forecasting!

Heysham Obs
Meteorological guru Terry was consulted re-where the rain was going to fall this morning, hopefully down to the nearest millimetre.  The projected track of the thundery plume was spot-on - Terry's advice was that it could turn dodgy, but not before 0900 - a decent time-slot for late summer warbler ringing.  The western fringe of the thundery stuff remained at least a mile to the east of Middleton NR and the open aspect of the site allowed plenty of advance notice if the sky suggested otherwise.  Therefore a bonus (c/f other forecasts); a reasonable catch of Sedge & Willow Warblers, a couple more Grasshopper Warblers (42 for the year so far) plus a few Goldfinch and a couple of Whitethroat

Red Nab
Med Gull - 2 adults and one juvenile but serious disruption by 'bird of prey' microlight which should not have been flying above the power stations

Moths
Crescent was the highlight of an actinic trap catch at Middleton.  4th record for SD45, all in last two years