Saturday 24 August 2013

North-westerly negatives

Heysham Obs
No reports of the Bonaparte's Gull today as far as I am aware and it certainly did not partake in the usual high tide sequence involving bathing and roosting on Red Nab before being forced off by the tide

Red Nab area lunchtime
Med Gull - at least 14 but only one juv seen.  This has happened before when the wind has gone round to the north-west - is this because it stifles a procession of different birds moving through or were they all round the harbour mouth which wasn't checked?  6 2CY, 2 3CY (one with metal ring below knee), 4 adult, one juv
Little Gull - one 'immature'.  Didn't see it very well (or at all in flight) to note the moult sequence, but presumably 3CY getting rid of the final age-specific outer primaries, not advanced 2CY.  No sign of the usual moulting adult.
Whimbrel - at least one
Bar-tailed Godwit - juvenile - early?

Office nets
A trickle of warblers during the morning with 6 Whitethroat and two Willow Warbler ringed.  Good year for Whitethroat with over 120 ringed so far

Moths
Silver Y invasion with 40 in the trap.  No show-stoppers with the 'usual' agriphila latistria perhaps the best