More Med Gulls

Heysham Obs
A bit more of Red Nab visible during a brief gull check this pm, but it was the very uneven outer part and gulls were difficult to observe


c600 in total with a few Meds scattered around:


5 Ad
1 Ad/3cy (wingtips not visible)
3 3CY
4 2CY (minimum!)


Yellow, green and white darvics seen at long range - no details - someone with a zoom, time and good eyesight gratefully received

Little Ringed Plover lift off

Heysham Obs
The Little Ringed Plover nesting in glass-strewn rubble in the corner of Middleton Industrial estate (out side the reserve boundary) relocated their three chicks to the model boat pond today - presumably they can fly!

Four Meds at high tide included 2P96 and a 3CY with a green ring on it - perhaps one of the returning German birds?  Hopefully someone will get a reading

A ringing session at Middleton was pretty good, given the breeze probably reduced the catch by 10-15 birds.  10 each of new Sedge W and Whitethroat and a good variety including some old ringed Sedge and Reed Warbler as well as a Willow Warbler in rather early advanced moult (e.g. tailless!)

A couple of decent moths in an actinic on Middleton:

Not 100% sure of the first (conterminella?) but the second is the first Blue-bordered Carpet for SD45E.  Thanks Justine

Juvenile Reed Warbler in early dispersal

Heysham Obs
Still at least one Burnet Companion around today - please stay alive until Friday morning!  Please support National Moth Nights (see Butterfly conservation website) - I'm happy to pass any casual kitchen window records on (PMrsh123@aol.com).  No Meds seen in quick HT check

A bit of office ringing produced a surprise in the form of a juvenile Reed Warbler - almost a km away from breeding habitat with no obvious 'straight' corridor.  Such records are usually August or later!

The moth trap produced Coleophora trifolii

Returning birds

Heysham Obs

A check of the tide again a bit late saw four Meds on the remaining rocks - 2 Ads and 2 2CY.  One of the ads was first seen yesterday and proved to be the returning 2P96 (thanks Pete) along with 5 other Meds

A bit of multi-tasking this evening - late working/moth traps and a mist net or two to see what Swallows were roosting at Middleton.  The Swallow roost was interesting if that is ever a word you can use in this context.  13/18 caught were adults and two of these already possessed rings - ringed as a juvenile and adult in July last year here.  I cannot recall ever having retrapped a swallow from one year to the next    

Finally word from Justine indicated that two Little Ringed Plover chicks were still alive and healthy amongst the piles of broken glass on Middleton 'mound area'

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