Two Gannets, a Silver Y and a Med Gull

...........just about sums up the morning.  The Gannets were just before the IOM ferry - sub-ad and 2CY, the Silver Y was in the moth trap (along with a most unremarkable collection) and the 1st summer moulting to second winter Med was on the mud by the outfalls and seen on one leg at least to be unringed

Later in the afternoon Red Nab held:
Arctic Tern - adult - first for ages!
Kittiwake - 2CY

Small China Mark moth in the wetland area at Heysham NR today - the most regular of this group of moths at Heysham.  Thanks Janet

Decent moth catch and a Med Gull

Heysham Obs
Outfalls/Red Nab
An early morning check on the dropping tide saw the distinctive 1st summer moulting to 2nd W Med Gull flying around Heysham 2 outfall

Moths
The first Blackneck of the year and singles of Broad-barred White and Double Dart highlighted.  Others included Eucosma campoliliana and the first Clay of the year

At least one is surviving

Heysham Obs
The gloom and doom over wetland birds and breeding success was contradicted in one instance by Janet's pic taken today:

Confession time: forgot to check the gulls on the outfalls, and this after mentioning the rejuvenation of Heysham One outfall - not good enough!

Insects
Once you can find them, Four-spotted Chasers are quite obliging as the weather has semi-torpified them of late.  Still have not seen an Emperor this year or indeed Black-tailed Skimmer which should be showing anytime now in a 'normal' year

The moth trap was quite productive but no show-stoppers, other than perhaps a late Shaded Pug.  Smoky Wainscot made its first appearance of the year and I think Buff Arches and Peach Blossom were also new for the year.  Should be even better tonight - at the moment it looks the first decent 'summer moth night' and the chance of the biggest haul in a local trap since March, or was it February at Millhouses!!

Thanks to Janet for today's pics (both taken today)

Early migrants or wanderers

Yellow Shell at Middleton this morning. Thanks Janet

Heysham Obs

Pretty decent early morning conditions allowed both the Heysham and Middleton CES to progress.  I havn't the capture details to hand but Middleton suggested an extremely poor first breeding attempt for 'wetland species' which presumably found it a little too wet.  No Common Whitethroat or Reed Bunting were caught and just the one juvenile Sedge Warbler!  An apparently aimlessly wandering, intermittently singing, Grasshopper Warbler was eventually caught and represented the only encounter with this species.  This time last year saw good numbers of juveniles of all four of these species.   Miscellany included lots of young Wrens in the Heysham nets, a Blue Tit caught at Middleton which was ringed as a 2012 nestling on nearby Heysham Nature Reserve and further evidence that Reed Warblers are present in record numbers this year at Middleton, albeit only adults as yet.  Miscellaneous sightings included the following rather unseasonal observations:

Lesser Redpoll - one south over HNR at 1130hrs
Siskin - three separate well-spaced birds south over Middleton
Rook - two adults north over both Heysham and Middleton, harassed by the local Carrion Crows
Teal - one Middleton  

Moth Catches Still in Low Numbers

Heysham


Moths
Low numbers of a dozen common species in the Hut Trap last night including Bright line Brown Eye and Light Arches.

ajd

Another Storm Petrel report

Heysham Obs
Early morning check of the outfalls area revealed that Heysham One was looking rather 'tasty' with more birds feeding on it than at any other time this year.  No Storm Petrel, however, pulled in by the 'chum' in the calm conditions.  As a fresh west-north-westerly kicked in, one was reported, however, feeding around the red buoy/off the end of the outfalls just before midday and the onset of the incoming tide dispersing the 'food' (unknown birder - info via angler)

Storm Petrel - "birder getting quite excited watching a Storm petrel" off the end of the wooden jetty just before midday (per angler)
Kittiwake - 2CY outfalls early morning
Med Gull - 1st summer moulting to 2nd winter Heysham 2 outfall on incoming tide
Lapwing - four OE saltmarsh the first 'returning birds'
no other waders apart from 368 Oystercatcher Red Nab

National moth night final catch
Better than last night which didn't take much doing!  New species for the three NMN nights & two NMN days were: Double-striped Pug, Brown Silver Line and a Cnephasia & Marbled Minor agg which will be specifically identified eventually.  Why didn't they include Sunday day searches?

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

Spectacularly unsuitable conditions for a moth event

Heysham Obs
.........but last night in the context of this summer was pretty good with a nice calm cloudy spell, albeit with a shortage of millibars (pressure about 995?).  Therefore National Moth "Night" was retrieved........ including a moorland trap successfully set near Cross of Greet!  Single Small Elephant Hawk-moths in two of the traps were nice as was a latish Light Knot Grass and five Clouded Magpie.  I don't think there will be much happening tonight or Saturday night.  A shame.

At Heysham, the usual suspects were accompanied by Agapeta zoegana and Double Dart, the latter usually pretty regular here, but this isnt a 'regular' summer

Bird-wise, an attempt at seawatching was interrupted by zero visibility and the following were seen in about an hour
1 Manx Shearwater
1 Fulmar
1 Common Tern - I think only the second of the year!

Unseasonal Common Sandpiper

Heysham Obs
Moths were again dire with the diminutive Middle-barred Minor, I think, the only one new for the year.  It is a poor do when you can remember species and numbers, without having to write anything down, in midsummer!

Ocean Edge/Red Nab area
Black-headed Gull - 75
Oystercatcher - 171
Grey Plover - just 7 today
Common Sandpiper - 1 - most unusual this early (or late?) but a lot must surely have been flooded out this year or anticipating being flooded out tomorrow

National Moth Washout Friday afternoon/evening

There is a National Moth related event organised for Friday afternoon and evening based at Heysham NR and Middleton.  When you have dodgy weather for these sort of events, it is best if it goes the whole hog and becomes completely impossible!  This is the case here and there is absolutely no point in turning up with horizontal rain and gale force winds forecasted.  See e.g. the XC weather link.  Someone will be here from 1500hrs just to make sure in case anyone turns up.  If you are aware of anyone who expressed a wish to go, especially someone who might be turning up in the late evening for the light trapping section, please could you direct them to this posting.  Thanks and apologies