New moth for the reserve

Heysham Obs
Pale Prominent was new for the Heysham office toilet trap today, although there have been two records on nearby Middleton NR.

At least one adult Little Ringed Plover and at least one well-grown chick seen today at Middleton

First Tufted Duck for a while on the ponds there

Nutmega

Heysham Obs
Nutmeg was new for the north harbour wall 10km square (SD36) - quite scarce these days and perhaps surprisingly so was Turnip moth

Decent haul in the Heysham NR office toilet trap with Shaded Pug the usual highlight at this time of year

At least one adult Little Ringed Plover Middleton

Midsummery bits and a few migrants

Heysham Obs

The CESes confirmed that there are a few baby Robins around and a couple of unringed adult male Willow Warblers were presumably on the move.  No sign of any young Sedge Warbler, but the adults were still in situ.  Described as 'slow'!

The butterfly census was all about variety and local quality, not quantity.  A worn pale Painted lady and similar Red Admiral were holding territory on Heysham NR as was a male Holly Blue (scarce here).  Three male Brimstone were still trundling around but no other ex-hibernators seen.   Two Burnet Companion and a single Mother Shipton were seen - below par for the ground covered. 

As promised some of Janet's recent pics - thanks Janet:

Little Grebe are pretty scarce these days and this male may be the only bird on site this breeding season



    

Mothfestish

Heysham Obs
The office trap done good this morning, but only in the context of what has been a very poor year.  Other than a very odd noctuid which might be an aberrant Mottled Rustic (check tomorrow), new for the year included Treble Bar, Double Dart and a definite Mottled Rustic.

Problems with computer, Janet - sorry will upload your pics from work tomorrow and add any sightings from the NLWG event today

Please note that there is a Butterfly Conservation visit to Heysham and Middleton next Saturday with an okay forecast in the context of this year.  Meet Heysham NR car park 0930hrs

Saturday 13th June

Heysham obs
Saturday
Two sandwich tern off the Heysham skeers per Malcolm

Shaded pug in moth trap

Friday
Male and teneral black-tailed skimmers Middleton model boat pond also sev large skipper and little ringed plovers seem to have fledged.

Thursday
Shaded pug in trap first decent catch for a bit also including ruddy highflyer - third of the year at this known site

Pics later from Janet . Thanks

SD36 strikes again

Heysham Obs
The bit of land in SD36 often produces surprises - one of which is that it can be very good for moths
Lou Cross located the first ever Mother Shipton for there this lunchtime and another was seen on Middleton looking rather tatty (see below)

Malcolm recorded the Little Ringed Plover party this afternoon along with a party of 10 Long-tailed Tit juveniles and taking Crane Fly identification beyond the daddy long legs level for the first time on this site - latin name for a black and yellow striped thing tomorrow

Earlier in the day, low-key midsummer ringing in the form of the Middleton CES took place - thanks John - and was quite productive for this time of year, including a juvenile Reed Warbler

Thanks for these Janet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Insects

Heysham Obs
About 5 Burnet Companion seen on Heysham NR, including one in SD45E

Mainly insects including hints of migration

Heysham Obs

Silver Y
Worn pale examples on the north harbour wall in Sd36V and next to the office

Butterfly transect
Included up to 5 Burnet Companion and a few lingering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell and one Brimstone

A Red Admiral was reported by a visitor

Middleton NR
Emperor dragonfly new for the year

Off-duty LRP Middleton

 

 

Moth trap

Buff Tip and Shoulder-striped Wainscot new for the year



Little ringed plovers successful

Heysham obs

Five little ringed plover chicks this evening on Middleton along with 120 mullein moth larvae. House Martin down to low single figures.

Turnip moth new for the year hnr trap

Saturday 6th June - belated House Martin movement

Heysham Obs
Sorry this is late as quite an interesting day - albeit one species

House Martin
14 north from NHW 1200-1230hrs
11 feeding over model boat pond at 9:30 swelled to 50+
by 12:15, then 47 and dwindling as the weather cleared 1245
Middleton NR
Mute Swan - pair on Tim Butler pond have 1 chick. Other pair failed on Fence
pond. They did mate again but since then I have only seen 1 bird, hopefully they
have another nest. 6 2cy on model boat pond.
9 mallard
1 gadwall (m)
3 moorhen
1 heron
1 little ringed plover
Outfalls
Kittiwake - 1 adult on no2
Seawatch 1200-1230
See above
Swallow - 3 north
Manx Shearwater - 1+5+1 - all but the first very distant and all out