Thursday 7 July 2011

'Back of a lorry' or a great leap westwards?

Heysham Obs
The colonisation of north Lancashire by Ringlet has been accompanied by all sorts of 'intrigue', notably the source of the Gaitbarrows individuals.  Conversely, there have definitely been 'proper ones' marching along the Aire/Wenning gap to places like Thrushgill for the last five years or so

So where does yesterdays sighting of Ringlet by the Middleton model boat pond fit into this?  In this respect, Small Skipper was originally seen next to the Heysham lorry park way (80's/early 90's?? - data not to hand) before any 'corridors' linking the record to other spreading populations.   Hopefully there will be others..............

Ocean Edge/outfalls/Red Nab
Med Gull - 2 adults, one 2CY and the 3CY which appears to have about 5 old black-tipped primaries left to moult
Whimbrel - one

Brian Carlyle

Received the sad news today that Brian died last Saturday.  Brian has helped on several occasions on the reserve, notably conservation work and butterfly transects along the landscape strip.  He also acted as the lichen recorder for North Lancs Naturalists and he will be greatly missed