Wednesday 9 July 2008

More Grasshopper Warblers

Heysham Obs
Coastal areas late afternoon
Rock bottom with the only semblance of a justifiable mention being an unpopular Grey Heron 'in-off' at Red Nab. NO gulls/terns/waders/Black Guillemot worthy of mention!

Middleton IE
Grasshopper Warbler - Two juveniles ringed in western marsh (& retrap adult female) & juvenile ringed in central marsh
Sedge Warbler - 6 new juveniles ringed
Whitethroat - just one juv ringed - where are they?
Grey Wagtail - one, possibly two, south [c/f one over Stone jetty]
Sand Martin - 1

Insects
Black-tailed Skimmer is definitely breeding in the central marsh at Middleton with 3 males and an ovipositing female. Also 4 at the usual model boat pond site but no darters in deteriorating weather. Hawker spp, probably Common on the Nature Park pond. Another Garden Tiger in the moth trap along with the increasingly local Double Dart (3) and the first Straw Underwing (2) & Common Rustic (1) of the year. White Satin and Grass Rivulet were also notable - they are not annual.

Elsewhere
Red Kite over High Bentham c1450hrs. Hobby sat in dead tree lower end of Leighton Moss this morning