13th March 2012 – overcast/calm
Offshore
Calm seas revealed just small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds included the first 2 Chiffchaff of the year amongst a sprinkling of Goldcrest.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 80 Meadow Pipit, 4 Siskin and 2 Pied Wagtail moved through.
Miscellaneous
A few Little Egret continue to roam along the eastern shore.
Moths
After 73 nights continuous operation the moth traps finally yielded the first attractions of the year in the form of 3 Mottled Grey and a Common Quaker.
Twite and Short-eared Owl
12th March 2012 – overcast W1
Offshore
Calm seas revealed just small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds included 5 Goldcrest, 4 Blackbird and a Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 30 Meadow Pipit and a single Pied Wagtail moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wintering wildfowl and waders have decreased rapidly over the last few weeks but highlights of the monthly WeBS count involved: 3400 Eider, 2960 Oystercatcher, 1020 Redshank, 550 Knot, 530 Turnstone, 450 Dunlin, 438 Curlew, 270 Grey Plover, 205 Teal, 191 Shelduck, 153 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 150 Cormorant, 147 Wigeon, 56 Mallard, 45 Snipe, 22 Purple Sandpiper, 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Goldeneye, 6 Shoveler and 2 Pintail.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl and 60 Twite were recorded.
Offshore
Calm seas revealed just small numbers of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser.
Grounded Migrants
Newly grounded birds included 5 Goldcrest, 4 Blackbird and a Fieldfare.
Diurnal Migration
A total of 30 Meadow Pipit and a single Pied Wagtail moved through.
Wildfowl and Waders
Wintering wildfowl and waders have decreased rapidly over the last few weeks but highlights of the monthly WeBS count involved: 3400 Eider, 2960 Oystercatcher, 1020 Redshank, 550 Knot, 530 Turnstone, 450 Dunlin, 438 Curlew, 270 Grey Plover, 205 Teal, 191 Shelduck, 153 pale-bellied Brent Goose, 150 Cormorant, 147 Wigeon, 56 Mallard, 45 Snipe, 22 Purple Sandpiper, 17 Red-breasted Merganser, 13 Goldeneye, 6 Shoveler and 2 Pintail.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl and 60 Twite were recorded.
Siskin start to move through
11th March 2012 – overcast drizzle at times NW1
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced 5 Shag and small numbers Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A Goldcrest was amongst a small fall of Blackbirds.
Diurnal Migration
A Siskin was amongst a small passage of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup were again in residence and the drake Gadwall remains. Waders included 7 Greenshank and 4 Black-tailed Godwit
Ringing
One of the pale-bellied Brent Goose was found to be colour-ringed, initial investigations suggest that it was originally ringed in Iceland.
Offshore
A quick check over the sea early morning produced 5 Shag and small numbers Red-throated Diver and Common Scoter.
Grounded Migrants
A Goldcrest was amongst a small fall of Blackbirds.
Diurnal Migration
A Siskin was amongst a small passage of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup were again in residence and the drake Gadwall remains. Waders included 7 Greenshank and 4 Black-tailed Godwit
Ringing
One of the pale-bellied Brent Goose was found to be colour-ringed, initial investigations suggest that it was originally ringed in Iceland.
Water Pipit reappears
10th March 2012 – sunny spells W3/4
Rarities
The Water Pipit again appeared in the flooded horse paddocks and fields near Biggar as the high spring tides flooded the salt marshes.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup were still in residence, the Brent Goose flock held 135 pale-bellied birds and a drake Gadwall was newly arrived. Waders included 10 Purple Sandpiper and 5 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 16 Rock Pipit were also logged.
Rarities
The Water Pipit again appeared in the flooded horse paddocks and fields near Biggar as the high spring tides flooded the salt marshes.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and female Scaup were still in residence, the Brent Goose flock held 135 pale-bellied birds and a drake Gadwall was newly arrived. Waders included 10 Purple Sandpiper and 5 Greenshank.
Miscellaneous
At least 16 Rock Pipit were also logged.
Long-tailed Duck and Short-eared Owl
6th March 2012 – sunny spells ESE1/2
Grounded Migrants
A single Goldcrest was logged.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and Scaup still remain and 30 pale-beelied Brent Geese were seen.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl attracted the attentions of the wintering Kestrel.
Grounded Migrants
A single Goldcrest was logged.
Diurnal Migration
The trickle of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continues.
Wildfowl and Waders
The Long-tailed Duck and Scaup still remain and 30 pale-beelied Brent Geese were seen.
Miscellaneous
A Short-eared Owl attracted the attentions of the wintering Kestrel.
Just bits and pieces
5th March 2012 – sunny spells NW4
Offshore
A small movement was noted offshore with 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Kittiwake, 4 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver and single Guillemot and Common Scoter seen early morning.
Grounded Migrants
Three Goldcrest were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and 2 Jackdaw were on the move.
Miscellaneous
Two Little Owl and several Little Egret were recorded.
Offshore
A small movement was noted offshore with 16 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Kittiwake, 4 Razorbill, 3 Red-throated Diver and single Guillemot and Common Scoter seen early morning.
Grounded Migrants
Three Goldcrest were seen.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and 2 Jackdaw were on the move.
Miscellaneous
Two Little Owl and several Little Egret were recorded.
Further Goldcrest incursion
3rd March 2012 – rain at times S4/5
Grounded Migrants
A total of 9 Goldcrest were grounded along with small numbers of Greenfinch and Chaffinch.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck remain amongst 20 Goldeneye. Two Greenshank were logged.
Grounded Migrants
A total of 9 Goldcrest were grounded along with small numbers of Greenfinch and Chaffinch.
Diurnal Migration
Small numbers of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail continue to move through.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck remain amongst 20 Goldeneye. Two Greenshank were logged.
Early Goldcrest incursion
2nd March 2012 – overcast and misty start then sunny SE1
Grounded Migrants
At least 10 Goldcrest were grounded by the early morning conditions along with small numbers of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail are now on the move back north.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck and the flock of 35 Barnacle Geese are all still in residence.
Miscellaneous
Several Little Egret continue to show well along the eastern shore and a Peregrine was logged.
Grounded Migrants
At least 10 Goldcrest were grounded by the early morning conditions along with small numbers of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Reed Bunting.
Diurnal Migration
A few Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail are now on the move back north.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck and the flock of 35 Barnacle Geese are all still in residence.
Miscellaneous
Several Little Egret continue to show well along the eastern shore and a Peregrine was logged.
Spring just round the corner?
29th February 2012 – overcast S1
Offshore
A group of 8 Shag were seen along with small numbers of Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A trickle of movement has been noticeable in the last few days with small numbers of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Chaffinch logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck and the flock of 35 Barnacle Geese are all still in residence. At least 4 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
Single Short-eared Owl and Little Owl were logged.
Ringing
Foreign recoveries are few and far between so a Willow Warbler controlled at South Walney on 25th April 2010 that had previously been ringed at Polderweg, Vlieland, THE NETHERLANDS (544km E) on 27th August 2008 is especially pleasing.
A couple of Sedge Warbler returns have recently been received. A young bird ringed at South Walney on 18th August 2011 was controlled at Lytchett Bay, Devon (375km SSE) on 24th August 2011 - just six days later. While an adult controlled at South Walney on 23rd April 2011 had previously been ringed at South Milton Ley, Devon (421km S) on 9th August 2010.
A Great Black-backed Gull ringed as a chick at South Walney on 17th June 1988 was found dead at Cockerham Sands, Lancashire (25km ESE) on 15th July 2010 - 22 years and 28 days after ringing and becomes the oldest Great Black-backed Gull to be ringed by the observatory. The pattern of occurrence of recoveries for this species suggests that few venture far from their natal colony.
One of the staple species caught on the island; a couple more interesting Greenfinch recoveries have been received. A young female ringed at South Walney on 1st October 2011 was found dead at Southport, Merseyside (45km SSE) on 25th October 2011 and a male ringed at South Walney on 2nd October 2011 was controlled at Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancashire on 22nd October 2011.
A trio of interesting Goldfinch returns have been received. A male controlled at South Walney on 25th March 2011 had previously been ringed at Rawcliffe, Lancashire (29km SE) on 10th November 2010, while two young birds trapped and ringed at South Walney during autumn passage on 16th October 2010 were controlled at Baldwins Hill, East Grinstead, Surrey (397km SE) on 21st February 2011 and at Calf of Man, Isle of Man (105km W) on 28th March 2011 respectively.
A Canada Goose controlled at South Walney on 21st September 2010 had previously been ringed at Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria (40km NNE) on 27th September 2009, perhaps it had heard of the proposed cull to take place on Windermere.
Offshore
A group of 8 Shag were seen along with small numbers of Common Scoter, Red-throated Diver and Razorbill.
Grounded Migrants
A trickle of movement has been noticeable in the last few days with small numbers of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Greenfinch and Chaffinch logged.
Wildfowl and Waders
The female Scaup and Long-tailed Duck and the flock of 35 Barnacle Geese are all still in residence. At least 4 Greenshank were seen.
Miscellaneous
Single Short-eared Owl and Little Owl were logged.
Ringing
Foreign recoveries are few and far between so a Willow Warbler controlled at South Walney on 25th April 2010 that had previously been ringed at Polderweg, Vlieland, THE NETHERLANDS (544km E) on 27th August 2008 is especially pleasing.
A couple of Sedge Warbler returns have recently been received. A young bird ringed at South Walney on 18th August 2011 was controlled at Lytchett Bay, Devon (375km SSE) on 24th August 2011 - just six days later. While an adult controlled at South Walney on 23rd April 2011 had previously been ringed at South Milton Ley, Devon (421km S) on 9th August 2010.
A Great Black-backed Gull ringed as a chick at South Walney on 17th June 1988 was found dead at Cockerham Sands, Lancashire (25km ESE) on 15th July 2010 - 22 years and 28 days after ringing and becomes the oldest Great Black-backed Gull to be ringed by the observatory. The pattern of occurrence of recoveries for this species suggests that few venture far from their natal colony.
One of the staple species caught on the island; a couple more interesting Greenfinch recoveries have been received. A young female ringed at South Walney on 1st October 2011 was found dead at Southport, Merseyside (45km SSE) on 25th October 2011 and a male ringed at South Walney on 2nd October 2011 was controlled at Over Kellet, Carnforth, Lancashire on 22nd October 2011.
A trio of interesting Goldfinch returns have been received. A male controlled at South Walney on 25th March 2011 had previously been ringed at Rawcliffe, Lancashire (29km SE) on 10th November 2010, while two young birds trapped and ringed at South Walney during autumn passage on 16th October 2010 were controlled at Baldwins Hill, East Grinstead, Surrey (397km SE) on 21st February 2011 and at Calf of Man, Isle of Man (105km W) on 28th March 2011 respectively.
A Canada Goose controlled at South Walney on 21st September 2010 had previously been ringed at Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria (40km NNE) on 27th September 2009, perhaps it had heard of the proposed cull to take place on Windermere.
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