Thursday 11 July 2019

Thursday

Middleton Nature Reserve
Red-veined darter - 3 males on eastern and southern banks of main pond (15:00)
Little grebe 1 juv still on "no swimming" pond.

Plus these excellent pictures of Swift and Ringlet by Janet



Wednesday

Again only records from Heysham skeer early afternoon
Great-crested grebe 2 - there appears to have been a constant presence here all summer.
Eider 10

Tuesday

Only records from Heysham skeer in morning
Whimbrel 1
Red-breasted merganser 1 male

Monday

Only sporadic coverage this week. The Red-veined darters are still around the main (model boat) pond at Middleton, but temperature needs to be 18C plus for a realistic chance (MD).

Red-veined darter - minimum 4 male (per Maurice Wilby)

No swimming pond (just west of main pond).
Gadwall 11 plus 1 female with 7 young chicks.
Little grrebe - juv fending for itself but unable to dive for long. There has been no previous evidence of breeding here this year.

Harbour area - evening
Mediterranean gull - 1 x 3cy in harbour mouth
Rock pipits - adult(s) feeding at least one newly fledged juv
Redshank - flock of 21 resting near No.1 outflow

And, just for a bit of variety, a leaf-cutter bee (Patchwork? MD). On Middleton NR.