A sprinkling of new species for the autumn

Heysham Obs
A couple of recent moths of interest:

The first is Agonopterix liturosa which is a case of "at last" (to quote Steve Palmer) with respect to Heysham and indeed VC60 this millenium as there is plenty of the larval foodplant, St John's Wort species, here.  The second is Elachista atricomella, perhaps a consequence of the cataract operations as regards actually noticing it.  Thanks to Alan Draper and Janet respectively for the pics 

Office area
Garden Warbler - one ringed (do not breed here) - first of the autumn
Grasshopper Warbler - again singing from the tank farm
Willow Warbler - low single figures of presumed migrants around (2 ringed)
Grey Wagtail - first of the autumn south
Swallow - c20 perhaps southbound migrants

Red Nab/Ocean Edge area incoming tide
Disruption from a gang of surveyors on quad bikes etc. seemed to displace all the Redshank
Med Gull - 2 juvs (unringed), 2 adults, 2 2CY
Little Gull - no sign
Grey Plover - now up to 116
Bar-tailed Godwit - 18
Dunlin - c25 small waders at extreme range seemed to be these
Little Egret - one Red Nab - first of the autumn

Moths
New for the autumn were Orange Swift and Ruby Tiger with the most 'notable' being single Dingy Footman, Dingy Shears and White Satin

Blotchy adult Spotted Redshank almost slips under the radar

Heysham Obs
A quick visit to Ocean Edge/Red Nab at high tide was almost too quick, indeed very much under the label of 'must do better'.  A large Redshank roost on Ocean Edge saltmarsh was 'block-counted', determined to be the largest roost of the autumn so far and therefore deserving a more detailed count.  It was only at this level of scrutiny that the moulting adult Spotted Redshank was located, albeit partially obscured.  Need to spend more time on the other side of the Lune with the experts on picking this species out!

Ocean Edge/Red Nab just before high tide
Oystercatcher - 1,750
Redshank - 465 (only 4 juvs seen)
Spotted Redshank - adult well into winter plumage but still fairly blotchy on the underparts, therefore not standing out as a 'pale' bird - flew south approaching high tide with about 1/4 of Redshank.  Rare here, but second in two years
Little Gull - adult
Med Gull - unringed juvenile on saltmarsh, 2CY on saltmarsh, adult Red Nab

Some interesting ringing recoveries received yesterday
Sedge Warbler
Ringed as juvenile at Middleton NR on 26/6/11
Caught by another ringer at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire on 5/5/12  285km

Lesser Whitethroat
Ringed as juvenile at Middleton NR on 27/7/11
Caught by another ringer at Icklesham, Sussex on the very odd date of 5/6/12  423km

Lesser Redpoll
Ringed as a young male at Heysham on 1/4/12 (tape lured on vis mig)
Caught by another ringer at Bidston, Wirral on 7/4/12  72 km south!

So much for all the spring vis mig seeming to be of birds heading north!

Moths
At last a bit of east in the wind knocking the catch on the head - nothing of real interest with the best being Agapeta hamana

Mega-micro saves the day

Heysham Obs
The Agonopterix in the trap this morning was liturosa, only the second record for VC60 and the second for Lancashire (one in 1986 at Gaitbarrows).  It feeds on St John's Wort of which there is plenty here.   The CES sessions at Heysham and Middleton were only a fraction above watching paint dry in terms of action.  Rachel Carson would have felt at home.  This time last year there were loads of contact-calling young warblers around.  Is this the worst-ever breeding season for 'open'-nesters?  Also where are the tit flocks?  Subsequent to this posting, the Walney Obs one for 31st July makes interesting reading and another stark contrast to 2011 with resepct to warbler breeding success.  See Links

Middleton NR 0545-0930
Teal - early individual central marsh
Swallow - c23 south
Swift - 9 south
Reed Warbler - 2 juvs ringed
Sedge Warbler - ONE juv ringed (similarly Whitethroat and Blackcap)
Grasshopper Warbler - 3, possibly 4 singing males (just about the only small birds making a noise!) and an adult female with brood patch ringed
Willow Warbler - 6 ringed

Ocean Edge/Red Nab incoming tide, then high tide
Med Gull - Juvenile, plus 2 adult and a 2CY
Little Gull - adult
Terns - none seen
Whimbrel - 3
Grey Plover - 75
Bar-tailed Godwit - 17
Redshank - 265
Curlew - 210
Oystercatcher - 1,300
Turnstone - 5
Dunlin - 14
Knot - 5

Moths
A few new autumnal things such as second brood Small Phoenix, Acleris emargana and Least Yellow Underwing but the rarest was Agonopterix liturosa (thanks to Steve Palmer for checking the pic)

A few more waders

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab brief visit 0730hrs
Bar-tailed Godwit - 15
Grey Plover - 49
Redshank - 233
Turnstone - 7
Curlew - 156
Whimbrel - 1
Med Gull - 2 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer

Moths
Star of the show was Elachista atricomella - dont think I've noticed it before but there are a dozen or so previous records.  Otherwise just over 100 moths with a Dingy Footman, Golden-rod Pug, Barred Straw and Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet the most "notable" for here

Common Tern makes a rare appearance

Heysham Obs
Very quick check on the morning tide (no time for proper seawatching) off Ocean Edge area saw:

Common Tern - adult Red Nab
Little Gull - adult summer Red Nab
NO Meds!

Moths
Dingy Shears the most notable with Six-striped Rustic new for the year and Straw Underwing still over 50!

Moths and gulls plus a tern and Manx

Heysham Obs
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge 0745-0815
Unfortunately the big gull flock was sent in the direction of Pott's Corner by a dog and 2CY Meds may have been missed

Med Gull - 2 x ad & 1 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer Red Nab
Sandwich tern - adult Red Nab
Whimbrel - one
Curlew - 187
Grey Plover - 44
Redshank - 210
Manx Shearwater - one distantly offshore flying out

Moths
Another rather large 220+ catch with minor highlights including singles of White Satin, Double Dart, Dingy Footman, Garden Carpet (!), 3 Blackneck, but more especially the occurrence of both Small Fan-foot and The Fan-foot on the same night - neither regular here

The last of the overnight moth madness?

Heysham Obs
Its been a moth week when, despite traps being emptied and checked from the early hours, the identification and documentation has seriously 'crept' into work time!

Moths
Despite the rather late check at 0830hrs (in sunny conditions), with the predictable downturn in flighty geometrids which had presumably made their escape in the earlier morning sun, the trap was still heaving.  After an hour of checking and chucking out, 62 Straw Underwing topped the bill which was again devoid of real 'show-stoppers', but did include Grass Emerald making a welcome first appearance, Dun-bar also new of the year and one or two relatively scarce species in the form of Dingy Shears, Dingy Footman and Blackneck

Outfalls/Red Nab
Very heat-hazy afternoon check with the tide not really far enough in

Little Gull - adult easy to find with its conspicuously black head
Med Gull - 1 x 2CY and 2 x Ad in the heathaze, could have been more
No terns seen

More time-consuming moths

Heysham Obs
Another decent moth catch with no real surprises.  New for the year were Udea lutealis, Southern Wainscot and Cloaked Minor and I think LBB Yellow U/W.  Of interest for here were Plain Golden Y, Slender Pug, Agapeta zoegana (with hamana for comparison), Agonopterix nervosa, Blackneck, Dingy Footman (3), Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, a latish Double Dart and just 58 Straw Underwing

Outfalls/Red Nab late afternoon
Redshank - 235
Turnstone - 4
Oystercatcher - 1,140
Med Gull - 2 x ad, 1 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer
Sandwich Tern - 3 adults early afternoon, then just one adult
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 44

Autumnal stirrings

Heysham Obs
A decent incoming tide this afternoon although potentially the best bird, a 'miniature redshank' (with Redshank) was flushed by a bait-digger whilst still a distant complete silhouette, towering high and up and away

Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Little Gull - adult summer
Sandwich Tern - 4 ad, 6 juv
Med Gull - adult and 2 2CY
Oystercatcher - c970
Curlew - 135
Dunlin - 6
Redshank- 40+

Moths
Nothing startling such as the Bedstraw Hawk Moth sat on a moorland trap I ran last night.  Best was Pinion-streaked Snout and others included 5 Dingy Footman, Chinese Character, Slender Pug, Golden-rod Pug, Marbled Beauty and just 38 Straw Underwing

Where-ever there is clover you can often find this moth in the daytime and it also visits the moth trap, although is one of the first to shoot out of the window at the slightest disturbance.  Shaded broad Bar.  Thanks Janet

Warm drizzly moth-fest

Heysham Obs
After turfing loads out of traps at or near home for the last month or so, it was rather ironic that the 'rarest' moth at Heysham this morning was Plain Golden Y.  A large catch included 4 each of White Satin and Dingy Footman, 2 Dingy Shears, Golden rod Pug, Latticed heath, 5 x Blackneck, what is now known as Acrobasis advenella, a massive 53 Straw Underwing (a strangely localised species and this single-night total is guaranteed to be a much larger than in the rest of VC60 combined for the whole year) and just 5 Large Yellow Underwing, a species which has been held well in check so far this year

Not a lot else happening so far!