Sunday, 28th September 2014

The second Cetti's Warbler of the Autumn was trapped and ringed today, and a controlled Meadow Pipit was the first ever controlled at the Observatory.

Cetti's Warbler

Offshore 

24 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 2 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration

53 Pink-footed Geese south, 1 Golden Plover south, 2 Snipe south, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker south-east, 20 Skylarks south, 3 Starlings south, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 18 Alba Wagtails south, 1 Rock Pipit west, 245 Meadow Pipits south, 14 Greenfinches south, 25 Chaffinch south, 12 Linnets south and 4 Reed Buntings south.

Grounded Migrants 

14 Goldcrests, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 22 Blackbirds, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Stonechat and 9 Robins.

Others 

500 Pink-footed Geese, 265 Wigeons, 9 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 3 Water Rails and 6 Black-tailed Godwits.

Ringing

3 Goldcrests, 1 Cettis Warbler, 5 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 5 Blackbirds, 2 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 26 Meadow Pipits, 6 Greenfinches, 4 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinch and 2 Reed Buntings.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Goldcrest

Reed Bunting

Blackcap

Saturday, 27th September 2014

Another decent migration day with a nice selection of species moving south/south-east. Like other parts of the country we are now starting to see Jay`s on the move. Other new birds seen today include a Garganey and the first Jack Snipe and Redwing of the Autumn.

Offshore

59 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 3 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 2 Kittiwakes west, 3 Little Gulls west, 1 Arctic Tern west, 2 Guillemots west and 3 Auk sp. east.

Visible Migration 

116 Pink-footed Geese south, 1 Sparrowhawk south, 13 Jay south, 7 Jackdaws south, 2 Rooks south, 27 Carrion Crows south, 30 Skylarks south/south-east, 2 Sand Martins south, 21 Swallows south, 75 Starlings south, 1 House Sparrow south-east, 4 Tree Sparrows south/south-east, 8 Grey Wagtails south, 51 Alba Wagtails south/south-east, 365 Meadow Pipits south/south-east, 1 Rock Pipit south, 43 Chaffinch south/south-east, 9 Greenfinch south, 29 Goldfinch south/south-east, 107 Linnets south and 16 Reed Buntings south.

 Jay

 Reed Bunting

Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants 

5 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Blackcap, 15 Blackbirds, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing, 1 Stonechat and 1 Wheatear.

 Stonechat

Others

300 Pink-footed Geese, 260 Wigeons, 17 Teal, 3 Pintails, 1 Garganey, 84 Ringed Plovers, 112 Sanderlings, 75 Dunlins, 1 Jack Snipe, 7 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 275 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull, 5 Stock Doves, 1 Kingfisher and 45 Linnets.

 Dunlin

Ringing

3 Blue Tits, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Robin, 1 Meadow Pipit and  1 Chaffinch.

 Chiffchaff

Friday, 26th September 2014

Offshore

2 Teal west, 27 Common Scoters west, 4 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Fulmar west, 8 Gannets west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 1 Great Skua west, 4 Kittiwakes west, 1 Little Gull west and 3 Sandwich Terns west.

Visible Migration:

2 Golden Plovers in off.

Grounded Migrants

2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Wheatear and 2 Grey Wagtails.

Others

275 Wigeons, 9 Teal, 3 Pintails, 93 Ringed Plovers, 200 Knot, 185 Sanderlings, 1 Little Stint, 115 Dunlins, 5 Black-tailed Godwits and 285 Turnstones.

 

 Turnstones

 

 Ringed Plover

Ringing

1 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush,1 Robin and 1 Dunnock.

 

 Robin

 

 Blackbird

Thursday, 25th September 2014

Offshore 

24 Common Scoters west, 2 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Manx Shearwaters west, 6 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns west, 1 Guillemot west and 3 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

1  Grey Wagtail south and 6 Meadow Pipits south.

Grounded Migrants 

3 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Wheatear.

Others:

215 Wigeon, 6 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 17 Grey Plovers, 275 Lapwings, 180 Knot, 11 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Med. Gulls and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing 

1 Goldcrest.

 

 Goldcrest

Wednesday, 24th September 2014

Offshore 

93 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Mergansers west, 4 Red-throated Divers west and 2 Guillemots west.

Visible Migration 

304 Pink-footed Geese south, 3 Golden Plovers south, 1 Grey Wagtail south, 4 Alba Wagtails south and 14 Meadow Pipits south.

 Pink-footed Geese

Grounded Migrants 

2 Goldcrests, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Wheatears.

 Wheatear

Others 

220 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 78 Sanderlings, 60 Dunlins, 13 Black-tailed Godwits, 600 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls, 4 Stock Doves and 1 Kingfisher.

 Dunlins and Sanderlings

Tuesday, 23rd September 2014

Offshore
5 Shelducks east, 2 Pintails west, 11 Eiders, 112 Common Scoters west, 5 Red-throated Divers west, 2 Gannets west, 4 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Guillemot west.

Visible Migration:
3 Grey Wagtails south, 4 Alba Wagtails south, 27 Meadow Pipits south and 1 Reed Bunting south.

Grounded Migrants 
6 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrushes, 5 Robins and 1 Wheatear.

Others 
300 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 36 Grey Plovers, 250 Knot, 1 Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 255 Turnstones, 1 Med. Gull and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing
1 Great Tit, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Robins and 1 Reed Bunting.

Blackcap

Little Grebe

 Great Crested Grebe

Monday, 22nd September 2014

Offshore

3 Shelducks west, 1 Teal west, 128 Common Scoters west, 1 Goosander east, 6 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Razorbill and 2 Auk sp. west.

Visible Migration

215 Pink-footed Geese south, 1 Merlin in off, 5 Golden Plovers south, 1 Rook south, 7 Skylarks south, 7 Grey Wagtails south, 13 Alba Wagtails south, 144 Meadow Pipits south, 16 Chaffinch south, 52 Linnets south and 3 Reed Buntings south.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Meadow Pipit

Grounded Migrants

11 Goldcrests, 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Song Thrushes, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Wheatears.

Others

170 Pink-footed Geese, 160 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 1 Garganey, 1 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Med. Gulls and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing

1 Blue Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Chiffchaffs, 1 Robin, 1 Blackbird, 4 Chaffinch and 1Goldfinch.

 

 Chiffchaff

 

 

 Long-tailed Tit

Sunday, 21st September 2014

Today was a good visible migration morning with a light northerly wind and clear skies; this produced a nice selection of species moving south. New in today was a Garganey and yesterday`s Cetti's Warbler was heard.

Offshore

3 Shelducks east, 33 Common Scoters west, 3 Red-throated Divers west, 1 Great Crested Grebe west, 3 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Guillemot west.

Visible Migration 

1,058 Pink-footed Geese south, 2 Sparrowhawks south, 2 Buzzards south, 6 Collared Doves south, 11 Jackdaws south, 24 Carrion Crows south, 1 Magpie south, 23 Skylarks south, 87 Swallows south, 12 Tree Sparrows south, 8 Grey Wagtails south, 34 Alba Wagtails south, 1 Tree Pipit south, 527 Meadow Pipits south, 1 Rock Pipit south, 51 Chaffinch south, 7Greenfinch south, 42 Goldfinch south, 7 Linnets south and 8 Reed Buntings south.

 

 Pink-footed Geese

Buzzard

Grounded Migrants 

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 10 Goldcrests, 1 Coal Tit, 8 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Song Thrushes, 10 Robins, 5 Wheatears and 4 Grey Wagtails.

 

 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Others 

170 Wigeon, 11 Teal, 1 Garganey, 3 Goosanders, 1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 56 Ringed Plovers, 78 Sanderlings, 55 Dunlins, 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Greenshank, 215 Turnstones, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Ringing

1 Woodpigeon, 26 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Blue Tits, 3 Great Tits, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Wrens, 4 Robins, 2 Dunnocks, 1 Blackbird, 7 Chaffinch and 6 Greenfinches.

 

 Chaffinch

 

 Woodpigeon

Saturday, 20th September 2014

There was another arrival of migrants today with the continuing easterly airflow and murky conditions, the highlight being the third Cettis Warbler trapped and ringed this year. There was a push of Meadow Pipits moving south mid morning just before a light rain shower arrived.

Offshore

2 Teal west, 25 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver east, 3 Sandwich Terns west and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration

1 Snipe east, 1 Skylark south, 2 Swallows south, 3 Grey Wagtails south, 26 Alba Wagtails south, 809 Meadow Pipits south, 2 Goldfinches south and 8 Reed Buntings south.

Grounded Migrants:

15 Goldcrests, 1 Cettis Warbler, 11 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Reed Warblers, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 8 Wrens, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 20 Robins, 4 Dunnocks, 3 Whinchats, 2 Stonechats, 18 Wheatears, 9 Pied Wagtails and 1 Rock Pipit.

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Wheatear

Rock Pipit

Stonechat and Whinchat

Others 

1 Little Egret, 1 Peregrine, 27 Grey Plovers, 75 Knot, 7 Black-tailed Godwits and 1 Med.Gull.

Ringing

1 Goldcrest, 4 Great Tits, 1 Cettis Warbler, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler, 4 Wrens, 1 Dunnock, 3 Robins, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Greenfinch and 1 Reed Bunting.

 

 Cetti's Warbler

Meadow Pipit

Friday, 19th September 2014

Offshore

4 Shelducks east, 59 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 1 Gannet west, 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Guillemot west and 1 Razorbill.

Visible Migration 

9 Skylarks south, 7 Swallows south, 8 Grey Wagtails south, 21 Alba Wagtails south, 489 Meadow Pipits south, 6 Chaffinch south and 3 Reed Buntings south.

Grounded Migrants 

5 Goldcrests, 4 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and 4 Wheatears.

 

 Spotted Flycatcher

Wheatear

Others

234 Wigeon, 1 Pintail, 1 Little Egret, 365 Lapwings, 23 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Spotted Redshank, 800 Redshanks and  1 Med. Gull.

Ringing

2 Blue Tits, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Meadow Pipit and 4 Chaffinch.

 

 Meadow Pipit

Reed Warbler

Red Admiral and Comma

Thursday, 18th September 2014

Looking at the weather forecast earlier in the week today was going to be the best birding day and it didn`t disappoint. Light south-easterly winds and a bank of low murky cloud appeared overnight and dropped a nice selection of migrants around the Obs. By mid morning the cloud started to break and a large push of visible migrants started to come in off the sea and head south/south-east.

 

The star bird was a bit of a shock and was found first thing, a cracking juvenile Montagu's Harrier was flushed from an area of long grass in the old I.C.I site. It flew round in a large circle gaining height, giving great views before heading east towards the river.This is only the second record for the Observatory following a similar record in 1971! Andrew Cadman flushed a juvenile out of rough grass at the old Rossall School farm on the 10th September 1971.

Offshore

23 Shelducks east, 7 Eiders, 22 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Red-throated Diver west and 2 Sandwich Terns.

Visible Migration 

1 Greenshank west, 4 Skylarks south, 3 Sand Martins south/south-east, 1,036 Swallows south/south-east, 38 House Martins south-east, 9 Grey Wagtails south, 54 Alba Wagtails south/south-east, 1,017 Meadow Pipits south/south-east, 11 Chaffinch south-east, 1 Greenfinch south, 4 Goldfinch south, 8 Linnets south and 5 Reed Buntings south.

 

 Meadow Pipits

Grounded Migrants:

1 juvenile Montagu's Harrier, 12 Goldcrests, 20 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Song Thrushes, 15 Robins, 4 Whinchats, 1 Stonechat, 40 Wheatears and 18 Pied Wagtails.

 

 Willow Warbler

Spotted Flycatcher

Wheatear

Whinchat

Stonechat

Others 

53 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Little Egret, 1 Golden Plover, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Med. Gulls and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Great Tit and 1 Chaffinch.

 

 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Wednesday, 17th September 2014

Offshore 

21 Common Scoters west, 1 Red-throated Diver west, 1 Gannet west, 2 Sandwich Terns and 1 Guillemot east.

Visible Migration:

17 Pink-footed Geese south, 37 Swallows south, 4 House Martins south-east, 8 Grey Wagtails south, 21 Alba Wagtails south, 1 Rock Pipit west, 411 Meadow Pipits south, 12 Chaffinch south, 6 Goldfinch south and 1 Reed Bunting south.

Grounded Migrants 

3 Goldcrests, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Song Thrush, 10 Robins and 3 Wheatears.

 

 Robin

Others:

125 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 2 Pintails, 1 Little Egret, 53 Ringed Plovers, 82 Sanderlings, 64 Dunlins, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 700 Redshanks, 2 Med. Gulls and 1 Kingfisher.

Ringing

1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wren, 2 Robins, 1 Dunnock, 3 Meadow Pipits, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Greenfinch  and 2 Goldfinch.

 

 Blackcap

 

 Small Tortoiseshell