At last, after the privations of August we managed to get some ringing in, combining this with some watching visible migration. Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park was the venue for this morning because it offers a coastal ringing site adjacent the River Wyre and for “vis mig” it is comparatively near the Rossall Point landfall if a little south east of it.
An 0615 start in time to set nets for first light then is not too arduous, it’s the mid summer 4am starts that are the ringer’s assassin.
As expected Meadow Pipits were the first to move soon after dawn then continued to arrive in fours and fives so that by the end of the session c1030 we totalled c100 passing overhead and continuing south. Also over were 20 “Alba” wagtails, 15 Grey Wagtails, 20ish Linnet and up to 10 Goldfinch. Three Snipe and over 50 Lapwing were on the “tyre” pool, the Lapwing leaving soon after the first walkers of the day arrived.
Catching wise was steady with obvious migrants in the shape of 5 Dunnocks, 6 Reed Buntings, 6 Meadow Pipits and a fairly late in the season Reed Warbler. Local titmice bulked out the field sheet.
Pink-footed Geese continue to arrive. This morning we counted 150 not long after first light, quite distant but travelling south west. Later in the morning whilst having an outdoor lunch (wow, it must have warmed up lately) I counted 45 more travelling west towards the River Wyre.
Pictures from today are Reed Warbler (2), Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit, top to bottom.
An 0615 start in time to set nets for first light then is not too arduous, it’s the mid summer 4am starts that are the ringer’s assassin.
As expected Meadow Pipits were the first to move soon after dawn then continued to arrive in fours and fives so that by the end of the session c1030 we totalled c100 passing overhead and continuing south. Also over were 20 “Alba” wagtails, 15 Grey Wagtails, 20ish Linnet and up to 10 Goldfinch. Three Snipe and over 50 Lapwing were on the “tyre” pool, the Lapwing leaving soon after the first walkers of the day arrived.
Catching wise was steady with obvious migrants in the shape of 5 Dunnocks, 6 Reed Buntings, 6 Meadow Pipits and a fairly late in the season Reed Warbler. Local titmice bulked out the field sheet.
Pink-footed Geese continue to arrive. This morning we counted 150 not long after first light, quite distant but travelling south west. Later in the morning whilst having an outdoor lunch (wow, it must have warmed up lately) I counted 45 more travelling west towards the River Wyre.
Pictures from today are Reed Warbler (2), Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit, top to bottom.
