A dry sunny day with a light west wind.
Heysham Nature Reserve - Kevin
Clouded Yellow 1 on the plateau
Ruddy Darter 1 male on the boardwalk
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| Male Ruddy Darter - on the boardwalk that stretches out over the watercourse and reeds, which is nice easy access |
Heysham skear - Malcolm 10:00 - 11:30
Red-breasted Merganser 2
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| Red-breasted Merganser |
Little Egret 4
Gulls mainly Herring gulls c350 (just one previously seen ringed bird seen)
Common Tern 1 - it was alternating between fishing and resting, until a Juvenile Peregrine arrived and scattered everything.
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| It had a red ring |
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| There was no chance of reading its ring in flight. I had to get close while it was resting |
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| I managed just before the Peregrine arrived. It is one ringed as a chick at the Conder Pool in 2024. It has been seen there several times this summer |
Oystercatcher c1500 (I would have estimated less before the Peregrine concentrated them)
Curlew c50
Redshank 150+
Turnstone c60
It was nice seeing small waders scurrying around the skear again.
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| A nice shot of Heysham Head and a flock of Redshank |
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| Even this close up, you can lose Turnstones against the background |
Middleton Nature Reserve - main pond - Malcolm
A afternoon check of the insects
A Lesser Emperor was glimpsed as it was chased across the pond by an Emperor
Emperor 3 male 1 female
Brown Hawker 1 male
Black-Tailed Skimmer 1 male
Common Darter several males and at least 2 females
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| Black-Tailed Skimmer |
This pair of Common Darters are ovipositing
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| Common Darters |
Small Red-eyed Damselfly at least 4. The water level is up slightly and there isn't as much surface weed.
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| Common Blue and Small Red-Eyed Damselflies |
Butterflies
Red Admiral 1
Painted Lady 4
Several white, both Small White and Green-veined White
Meadow Brown several
Common Blue 2
Speckled Wood several along the track around the pond
This Koi Carp c35cm long emerged from the margins and ploughed through the subsurface weed.
