........., that's how the morning went at the obs today. The forecast last night looked good for some vis, but I wasn't sure whether it would produce any grounded migrants as I thought it would be too clear. However, when I got up at 5.30 a.m. it was raining and I thought we were in with a chance of a grounded migrant or two.
Ian and I met at the coastal park at 6.15 a.m. and had to wait a while for it to stop raining before we expectantly put up the mist nets. As the skies lightened we could see that the bay was locked out with murk and it was difficult to see across to the other side. Throughout the morning it would clear and you'd get a glimpse of Walney Island and then it would close in again, clear and you'd get a glimpse of Heysham and then it would close in again! And that's how it went until we packed up four hours later having only ringed four birds in the form of two Goldcrests, a Robin and a Wren.
Just like the visibility the vis came in spurts and was on the low side. From our vantage point we recorded 14 Alba Wagtails, a Redpoll sp., 26 Goldfinch, six Chaffinch, 14 Carrion Crows, 64 Meadow Pipits, four Grey Wagtails, a Greenfinch and 24 Swallows.
Grounded birds were restricted to the aforementioned Goldcrests, a Jay and a Song Thrush.
We're back into a westerly pattern of weather for the next seven days, so it will have to be eyes seaward!
2 comments:
Very restrained account of this morning's garbage which could so easily have been much better e.g. met office forecast.
The wind at Heysham where it matters (up in the sky) was west to north-west from the word go. The nets just held miniscule numbers of Robins & Wrens and, surprisingly, small movement of Coal Tit. At least you can always catch Meadow Pipit at this time of year if you have a keen trainee ringer as this morning but even they didnt get going until 1000hrs! Would have been better off getting on with some work.
I quite agree Pete!
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