Juvenile Sedge Warblers

Middleton
18 captures this morning included three juvenile Grasshopper Warblers and two juvenile Sedge Warblers.  Further very recently fledged Sedge Warblers were observed flying in the western marsh area.  Small family groups of Reed Bunting also seen, with just one youngster trapped.

One ad med gull at red nab near high tide

ajd

The same Meds in quick check

Heysham Obs
Red Nab incoming tide
Med Gull - 2 Ad, 3 3 CY and 2 2CY but several gulls had flown towards Middleton before I could check them

Two baby Coal Tit ringed by office - these are the second and third this week - origin?

The migrant Rusty Dot Pearl was in the moth trap (quite an influx see e.g. Portland Bird Observatory site)

Thursday 26th June

Heysham Obs
Med Gull - 9 (2 x ad, 3 x 3CY, 4 x 2CY) Red Nab during brief check
Oystercatcher - almost fledged, but still 'fluffy') juvenile accompanied by adult Red Nab!!!! (from Middleton saltmarsh?)

No Juvenile Sedge Warblers Yet

Middleton NR
A ringing session this morning resulted in a decent catch of 64 birds of which over two thirds were juveniles, although a notable exception were Sedge Warblers.  Of the eleven Sedge Warblers trapped, seven were retraps and all were adults.  Initially this seemed unusual.  However, on looking at records from previous years, todays date may be a little early for fledged juveniles to be foraging, even given the good weather conditions during the nesting period this year.

Red Nab
Very brief visit
Med Gull - 2 x Ad, 4 x 3CY, 4 x 2CY - no rings seen but birds more bunched up and only about half had both legs visible, but fortunately all the wing-tips on the "ads" were!

ajd

Med fest starts

Heysham Obs
There are going to be a lot of Med Gulls in the next few weeks.  Many will be bearing rings with some returning birds.  Please could you let me know if you have read any and sent them off, otherwise please pass to me (PMrsh123@aol.com) and I'll inform you of the details.  Thanks

Red Nab incoming tide
Med Gull - 4 x Ad, 2 x 3CY, 3 x 2CY - one of adults legs not visible but all the rest seemed to be unringed - unusual

More gulls on the sands towards Middleton were too far away

Early morning at Middleton

Heysham Obs
The only tangible sighting of interest was a Green Woodpecker which crossed the site about 0700hrs, calling twice before heading inland


The CES ringing included good numbers of young Blackcap for here (7 ringed) and a few phylloscs but disappointingly low numbers of Sedge Warbler with only one juvenile seen/caught


Two Grasshopper Warbler were reeling but nowhere near the ringing area


Moths
A Toadflax Pug was early for this species at this regular site

Sunday 22nd June: Swallow roost kicks off

Heysham Obs
An evening visit to Middleton revealed up to 30-40 Swallows roosting in the main reed bed and the pair of Little Ringed Plover still looking after at least one young.  A brief glimpse of a large owl spp in flight suggested Tawny

Saturday 21st June: Gulls building up

Heysham Obs
Red Nab
Med Gull - 4 unringed 2CY
Common Gull - 62CY
Curlew - 59
Little Egret - 1
First juv Black-headed Gull

Lesser Whitethroat singing Ocean Edge entrance (been quiet recently)

Mullein

Caterpillars are out in force at the Middleton site

Mullein

Small Tortoishell



Peacock

Mullein caterpillar twitch

Heysham obs
At least one and prob two typically mobile hummingbird hawk moth at the mullein larvae site at the Middleton bottle dump. Still 15 larvae

Also breeding pr little ringed plover