Saturday 23 June 2012

Painted Lady surprise and a Storm Petrel eventually on the sea

Heysham Obs
Just the one Storm Petrel, typically late afternoon on the dropping tide and coinciding with an earlier distant view of a petrel spp, presumed Storm, off JBP (thanks Stephen & Nick for alerting us).  The only other seabird reported in the Bay was a dm Arctic Skua off JBP

Heysham north wall/outfalls 1145-1600
Storm Petrel - one located just off the wooden jetty at 1540hrs (thanks Nick)
Manx Shearwater - 6 out, then 3 in, the 2+3+1 later on
Gannet - one out + 3 later on
Red-breasted Merganser - pair in
Common Tern - adult outfalls incoming tide only
Arctic Tern - adult with the above outfalls
Tern spp - two distant Common or Arctic out

Insects
A pale primary migrant Painted Lady was seen well near the Obs Tower about midday.  The NMday/night attempt to find micromoths and other dayflyers in windy weather was not altogether very successful but did included one Small China Mark, C. lacunana, Narrow-bordered 5-Spot Burnet, Yellow Shell, E osseana and several Nettle Tap