Moths Purple Patch

Heysham
The eighth CES visit was made today after early rain and rather stronger wind than was comfortable for mist nets.
There were few birds around and fledged young were conspicuous by their absence - for instance, no juvenile Blackbirds have yet been caught this year.

Five juvenile Greenfinches caught at the feeders by the Hut.

Moths
A decent catch of of 48 species although no great numbers of any one species (the species total being maximised by very early check on the trap).

Another Blackneck caught, together with Light Arches, Chinese Character, White Satin, Latticed Heath and Purple Thorn (only the second record at this site).

ajd

Red-veined Darter weather

Heysham Obs
Dragonflies Middleton model boat pond
A short look late morning as the wind was slowly increasing produced:
Red-veined darter - probably just the one very mobile male seen on and off around the spit, including good views at rest at the swan loafing area
Black-tailed Skimmer - c8
Common Darter - c15, including one "reddish" imm male
Emperor - female
Emerald Damselfly - first records this year?

Birds
Med Gull:  low tide check produced 7:   metal-ringed adult, metal-ringed 3CY, 3 unringed adult, 2 unringed 2CY.  6 of these were together between the wooden jetty and Heysham one outfall

Middleton CES in sunny but fairly calm conditions re-emphasised that Whitethroat and Reed Warbler have so far seem to have had appalling breeding success (just one juv Whitethroat and no juv Reed Warbler caught), Sedge Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat pretty poor (just 4 juv Sedge caught at this peak(ish) time) but Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff not too bad.  Thanks to Alan and John for doing this.

Moths
Moth trap highlight was a single Gothic and a bit of a surprise was a late flush of newly-emerged Buff Ermine - this has been a feature of this weather-disrupted summer

The dotted highlight

Heysham Obs

Office moth trap
Scraping the barrel a bit when the new for the year highlight is that scourge of chrysanthemums, the Dot Moth - well away from its 'natural' environment.  Other notables included late Broad-barred White and Eyed Hawk-moth.  Others included three Silver Y, Agapeta zoegana, Bee Moth and Dingy Footman with Straw Underwing once again in pole position (17)

Birds during a quick pre-high tide check from Ocean Edge comprised:
Med Gull - adult
Redshank - 130

Decent numbers of Gatekeeper around at the moment desperately trying to find some warmth:

Thanks Janet

Early spartan WeBS

Heysham Obs
A rather early WeBS count revealed that there was not a lot around at high tide!  The exception was the reasonable numbers of Redshank which included 80 roosting on Ocean Edge saltmarsh.  Four Turnstone were roosting on the wooden jetty, otherwise most of the rest was Oystercatcher-fest (520 on Red Nab) and large gull species, some of which were finishing off their nesting season

A single Meadow Brown was seen in SD36V by the north harbour wall mound.  "The wildlife of SD36V" would surely make a best-seller.

The moth trap held Short-cloaked Moth, Grey Pug, Iron Prominent, Dingy Footman, Blackneck, Double Dart, another Barred Red and several Straw Underwing

Red themed waders and moth

Red Nab

500 Oystercatchers at high tide, 167 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, no Curlew
c200 Black-headed Gulls, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (30 others sitting on the grass at Ocean Edge).

Moths
Barred Red was a good record.

Moths and a few birds

Heysham Obs
A bit of a one-eyed posting courtesy of a right eye cataract op this morning.  An overnight sheet and light session below the classroom was highlighted by the fourth VC60 record of Hedya salicella, a variation on the bird dropping theme.  Also notable was a minimum of eight Blackneck

The office trap produced a further three Blackneck, single Dingy Footman and Map-winged Swift of note

Outfalls/Red Nab area
Many of the gulls had moved south out of viewing range (per Jean)
Med Gull - 2CY
Curlew - 90

This singing male Wren takes a short break - thanks Janet

Help gratefully received for coverage e.g. high tide or pre-high tide around the outfalls/Red Nab or counting the moths - I cannot drive until next Tuesday and John G is unavailable for a bit.  Thanks.  Pete

Routine in the routine rain

Heysham Obs
A quick pre-work check and therefore no time to wait for the "trickle of Manx" as suggested by the weather

Red Nab/Ocean Edge area high tide
Kittiwake - 2CY
Med Gull - just 2 adults
Redshank - 237 (mostly adults)
Curlew - 133 (mostly moulting adults or 2CY)
Whimbrel - 2
Grey Plover - 14
Oystercatcher - 266
No terns

Moths
Mediocre catch enlivened by a Drinker

High fives for Blackneck

Heysham Obs
When the spread of this species reached the north of Lancashire, it seemed like Heysham might become a hotspot due to the proliferation of Tufted Vetch.  This has happened this year and there were 5 individuals this morning after what was not a particularly good moth night

Ocean Edge/outfalls/Ocean Edge foreshore at high tide
Med Gull - 3 ads and one 2CY in amongst reduced numbers on Red Nab (disturbed prior to arrival?)
Grey Plover - 36
Dunlin - 8
Redshank - 157
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2
Knot - 2

Moths
5 Blackneck notable and new for the year were Dingy Shears, Pale Mottled Willow and Common (uncommon here) Wainscot.  There were also 2 Double Dart and 4 Straw Underwing

Another half decent insect event

Heysham Obs
As last Saturday, the weather was again kind to an insect event, this time butterflies, especially looking at the forecast for the rest of the week

Birds
Ringing at Middleton and Heysham again revealed a dearth of young birds, although 10 Sedge Warblers were caught in a prolonged session at Middleton.  Just the one Grasshopper Warbler materialised in the nets although Janet was able to photograph a singing male on nearby Heysham Moss.  Thanks Janet.

Outfalls
Med Gull - single adult on the dropping tide (thanks Geoff and Chris)

Insects
No sign of Red-veined Darter at Middleton as far as I am aware in marginal temperatures and a niggling wind by the time the sun appeared

Gatekeeper - first of the year on the reserve
Burnet Companion - surely the last of the year?
Ebulea (or now Anania) crocealis found at Middleton (thanks Geoff)
Currant Pug the star of the moth trap

Decent overnight moth catch and early influx of Redshank

Heysham Obs
Apparently an early influx of Redshank has been noted at other sites and this was certainly the case just after the tide off Ocean Edge

Outfalls/Red Nab and area
Redshank - 185, equally distributed on the newly-uncovered mudflats either side of the old water pipeline
Black-tailed Godwit - one with the above
Curlew - 130 scattered around
Med Gull - too late to 'do' the gulls - they were scattered far and wide but two adults were seen.  It is always best to 'do' the gulls on the incoming tide - about 3 hrs before high tide - not on the dropping tide

Moths
New for the year included Yellow Tail, Wormwood Pug, Dingy Footman, Garden Tiger (not annual these days) and notable were Straw Underwing, Double Dart and Agonopterix nervosa