18th September

A still morning and clear skies meant that birds were migrating.  These were mainly Chaffinch with 14 trapped.  Other species ringed include 4 great tits, 3 blue tits, and singles of blackcap, greenfinch, chiffchaff and blackbird. Star bird of the day was a juvenile pied flycatcher.

(c) Adrian George

Other birds in the area included a cory's shearwater heading south.  A whinchat and a lapland bunting were at Whitburn Steel.

It was the Great North Run today and the Coastal Conservation Group manned the lighthouse car park and raised a considerable sum that will greatly help towards the various projects that the group are partially funding.

And lastly but not least, a big WELL DONE to everyone that completed the Great North Run!

17th September

All these south westerlies and it continues to be slow going with 2 chaffinch, and singles of blackcap, dunnock, blue tit and great tit.

14th and 16th September

The southwesterly winds continue and only 6 birds ringed with 2 robins and singles of blackcap, whitethroat, chiffchaff and willow warbler.

Only a single wren was ringed on the 16th.

A very quiet week

John was ringing at the Obs for a few hours on a couple of days this week with only a handful of goldcrests and chiffchaffs ringed.  I headed down there myself today hoping to catch one or two birds given the winds were westerly overnight. Ringing all day was slow but we cracked double fingers with the highlight of the day being a juvenile male sparrowhawk being trapped.  Other birds ringed included a blackbird, magpie, chiffchaff, willow warbler, goldcrest, greenfinch, two great tits and two chaffinch, retraps included a robin, chiffchaff, blackcap, willow warbler and goldfinch.

(c) Adrian George

Not surprisingly with all the westerly winds we have been experiencing, an American golden plover was found on Whitburn Steel by Ian Mills.  I did wait until the afternoon to go and twitch the bird, something I  dont often do these days.  It was a good adult but hard to locate in a flock of several hundred Eurasian golden plover.  Thanks Dave F for the loan of your scope.