Heysham Obs
Weather: clear, calm to start with then light southerly and a few clouds building up. c16C
Middleton NR
More Willow Warblers, Sedge Warbler, Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and Whitethroat were ringed at Middleton NR again but fewer than yesterday (only 21 birds in 4.5 hours with 6 nets). The clear night was probably to blame!
Diurnal migration was happening but not much went through 07:00-11:30:
Swallow - 30
Swift - 13
Sand Martin - 1
House Martin - 1
Heysham NR vis 1335-1415
Swift - 74
Swallow - 10
House Martin - 1
Short circuit round reserve yielded:
Reed Warbler - 1 singing (in reedbed, funnily enough)
Chiffhaff - 1 calling from alder copse
Sparrowhawk - 3 juvs calling and flying about
Butterflies:
Small Copper - 1
Red Admiral - 1
Common Blue - 4 male, 2 female
Small White - 2
Dragonflies:
Brown Hawker in car park
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.