Grayling, plus some nice Stock footage

Light and variable NW(ish) wind. It clouded over after a clear start, but the sun broke through again by lunchtime.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

A nice shot of a Brown Hawker ovipositoring from Kevin

Brown Hawker

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

Three nets set on the East side this morning from 06.30 to 11.00. It was rather clearer than expected.

The catch was again very low with no Sedge Warblers and low numbers of other species except for 4 Common Whitethroats. Not sure why numbers of juveniles are so low but the site is extremely dry which may have resulted in birds moving elsewhere.

Birds caught:

Wren  1 + 2 retrap

Cetti's Warbler  1juv + 1 retrap

Great Tit  3 juvs

Robin  1 juv

Whitethroat  4 juvs

Dunnock  1 juv

Blackcap  1 juv

Chiffchaff  2 juvs

Long tailed Tit  1 juv

Janet had a walk around but saw nothing new, so took some butterfly shots:

Worn Small Tortoiseshell 

Male Speckled Wood

Small Skipper

Common Blue

Tomorrow should see the start of a few days of east wind, which hopefully will bring in some new and possibly interesting insects.

Imperial Way (road to the Waste Recycling "Park" off the bypass) 

This is the eastern boundary of the recording area, I just checked it out briefly on my way along the bypass (MD)

Swift 6

Swallow 2

Jackdaw 12 - one flock heading north

Blackcap 1 male singing

Chiffchaff 2 males singing

Stock Dove 2 probably 3 possibly more - there is hardly any traffic along this road at weekends and two were feeding on seeds along the kerb of the road. These slightly hazy shots were taken through my car windscreen.

Stock Dove

As was this clip:

After a while they flew off to the pylon to the west of the road (definitely in the recording area not just along the boundary) then flew off towards Middleton. Later a single bird then "another" pair flew east.

2nd sighting of two Stock Doves

South Shore (MD)

Grayling butterfly male seen by Pete. Ocean Edge grassy edge near Red nab working its way south along the edge - unfortunately too quick to get a photograph. This is the first record here for a number of years.

I had an evening stroll along the sea wall (MD)

Mediterranean gull 8 adult 1 juvenile 

Rock Pipits 6, 2 each, foreshore, Red Nab and lighthouse. One chasing the other at the lighthouse.

Finally, Janet sent this shot of recent graffiti on Middleton Nature reserve. Graffiti can never be condoned, but well crafted artwork on a derelict brick building, is less offensive than most (MD)