Evening at Middleton

Heysham Obs

Grasshopper Warbler - four singing males
Swallow - c100 in roost which took place very early as a dark cloud appeared

Moth trap fairly full but nothing better than Dingy Footman and an unfamiliar small brown micro which will be checked out.  Watch this space.

Med check

Heysham Obs
The final National Moth Night night was a dreadful cold affair after a roller-coaster with the previous two nights - these two were brilliant providing you did exactly what you were asked to do and set a trap in sheltered woodland.  Even managed a bit of sheet and lighting near my house (one hour, 30 spp, including a local mega - Dingy Shell) on the Friday night until the rain started to seep through the dense canopy.  A real shame for any event organisation and therein lies the problem.  Do you put all your eggs in one basket and tie yourself to an event or do you (perhaps selfishly) stay flexible and therefore able to play the weather conditions as best possible?    I always remember a similarly freezing cold night in upper Roeburndale at the end of May which produced lots of enthusiastic kids and parents, who assumed a "nice day" would mean a good night for moths.  Result: a few early midges and Daddy Long Legs, one geometer flying past and NO other moths before boredom quickly set in.

The Heysham toilet trap held Wormwood Pug this morning which added a new species to the list for the three nights in this area. 

Outfalls/Red Nab
Med Gull - 4 ads (including 2P96), one 3CY, 4 2CY and another birder reported a green-ringed bird which was additional

The first of the national moth nights

Heysham Obs
Two traps were in operation, the usual 24/7 toilet trap at Heysham NR and an actinic in a sheltered spot on Middleton - both checked by Alan as I had 5 other traps to check/collect!

Middleton produced some of the goods, although lack of Silver Hook a little disappointing.  It is a very good site for Double Dart and the local reeds produced Silky and Southern Wainscot plus the habitat in general favoured Scoparia subfusca, Eudonia pallida and what appears to be another Agonopterix conterminella

No birding today!

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?)