Friday 16 September 2011

Pulsating Swallows

Heysham Obs
A bit of a bonus to have anything to say this morning as the weather was far from promising with the approaching front far too north to south in alignment
The office vis mig site, usually chosen for comfort, nearby refreshment and the ability to double-up with mist-netting appeared to be on a major Swallow flightline this morning, with the impression that we were receiving birds which had left various roosts in gangs and continued in a series of clusters on the 'vis'.  The office area is usually pretty poor for hirundine passage with far more of them hugging the coast and also usually later in the morning.  The morning session finished early in order to say farewell to "Hairy Joe" Lambert in Wray church and recall fond memories of yarns which included an encounter with a presumed Eagle Owl whilst "acquiring" sea trout in a most sustainable manner - Joe was a good conservationist - from the Roeburn

Vis mig by the office 0645-0940 (mainly SE)
Meadow Pipit - 84
Chaffinch - 56
alba Wagtail - 4
Goldfinch - 42
Swallow - 466
Reed Bunting - 1
Great-spotted Woodpecker - two individually high to the south
Dunnock - two flew south together
Grey Wagtail - 4
Merlin - female south
Greenfinch - seemed to be some high vis this morning with at least 26 south
Skylark - 2
Siskin - 2
Collared Dove - 3 east
Jackdaw - 2
Grey Heron - one SSE
Rook - 4 (unusual here)

Grounded
There were four Chiffchaff early on but absolutely nothing else e.g. no Goldcrest heard

Inshore
Access to Heysham one outfall a bit difficult due to a crane on the seawall and all that was reported was a single Arctic Tern.  Anyone improve on this please?  Thanks.

Half Moon Bay (evening)
Wheatear - 4


Moths
Black Rustic was new for the year