Sunday 17 April 2011

Too Settled?

I didn't think there was any point in trying to speculate why there wasn't much vis this morning and as a consequence why we couldn't 'MP3 lure' birds down to ring. All I will say is that it is probably too settled at the moment and birds are going straight through to their breeding grounds.

Ian and I were at Rossall for 5.30 a.m. and the nets were up and open by 6.00 a.m. Seven birds trapped on the first round bode well for a good morning's ringing, but only a further 3 new birds processed and an 8.30 a.m. finish because of a lack of birds, didn't reflect that first round optimism! Birds ringed were Blackbird, 5 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Linnets and a male Blackcap. We also recaptured a Chiffchaff from Friday (15th), that of course could have been present before this date, and may well be breeding on site. There is just about enough habitat on the southeastern edge of the site to support one pair of Chiffies.

 Lesser Redpoll

Blackcap

The visible migration was very slow this morning and we recorded 38 Lesser Redpolls, 13 Meadow Pipits, 5 Swallows, 5 Woodpigeons, 3 Tree Pipits, 14 Linnets and a Siskin all moving from south to north. The only grounded migrant was the Blackcap that we ringed.

 Linnet

A look at the Heysham Bird Observatory blog showed a similar pattern to us and Phil and Will  ringing at another 'group' site further inland on Rawcliffe Moss had a very similar morning. Looking at the Atlantic charts for the next few days show it to be settled, perhaps too settled!

 Mayflower (I must have been getting desperate!)

4 comments:

Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris said...

You still got much more than me going over - am I going deaf or do they take a different route, not going directly along the coast?

Cheers

D

The Hairy Birder said...

Hello Dave, The Lessers tend to fly sttraight down the middle of the 'Fleetwood Peninsula' and hence straight over the eastern edge of Rossall School where we ring. When you are at the Coastguards Tower at Rossall Point you tend to get slightly less Lessers than you do say in the car park, as the car park is further east and therefore closer to the centre of the peninsula. Cheers, Seumus

Wendy P said...

a rarety turn up on my drive at about 8.30 this evening. A brown scruffy thing not usually seen in these parts, tends to be more on the coast than coastal! It landed and was rather excitable with arms flapping and looking like it might take off again at any moment! I didnt reconise the species at first, however on a seconded glance i realised i have seem him before, it might have been a while but Ian had finally found his way home!!

The Hairy Birder said...

I bet I see him more than you do Wendy!