Heysham Obs
No moths and no birds other than 6 distant Gannets on an early-morning seawatch (thanks Jean, Pete, John). A great day for going straight from home to the day's fieldwork without wondering what you were missing
Just prior to typing this, the highlight for the day was marble-sized hailstones for about 1 minute at High Tatham. I have never known a spring like this for persistently polar weather - I have not set a moth trap (other than checking the 'constant-effort' trap at Heysham) for over a month during which time there have been no night temperatures above 8C!
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.