Minibeast from the east

Heysham Obs
What started as a routine count of Red Nab from 0645 onwards changed tack slightly as a small wader flew over my head i.e. from inland and spiralled down to join five Dunlin on the remaining bit of mudflat - a juvenile Little Stint and an incentive to update the Patchwork challenge

Red Nab 0645-1045
Sandwich Tern - one adult
Little Gull - usual moulting adult
Med Gull - 4 x 2CY, 2 x 1CY, 2 x Ad
Little Stint - one juvenile as above
Gannet - two adults far offshore but not really seawatching

Quick coastal check

Heysham obs

A second brood holly blue in the north east corner was an unusual record from here - most of the sparse sightings are spring brood

The outfalls held the moulting adult little gull but nothing else of note other than a couple of Meds (ad and 2cy) but way before high tide and gulls were strewn all over the mudflats

Migratory bits and bobs

Heysham obs
An early morning ringing session next to the office saw five willow warbler, two garden warbler, two Whitethroat, and the first grey wagtail in the nets this autumn

The moulting adult little gull was on the outfalls late afternoon with five adult and one 2cy med gull on red nab

The evening saw about 130 swallow in the roost of which a high proportion (55) were ringed.  A water rail squealed from the western marsh reed bed

Butterflies
24 common blue by office, painted lady Middleton and five peacock and brimstone on the office buddleia

Sunday

Heysham Obs
Wheatear - three Half Moon Bay, one Ocean Ede

Moths
Included two Agriphila latistria

Saturday

Heysham Obs

Middleton NR
150 Swallow in the overnight roost plus  56 south in two main gangs
Raven - one flew over - scarce this year

Tidal vigil

Heysham obs
The tidal vigil mainly concentrated on red nab but checks were also made along the tide line towards Potts  corner. No disturbance down there this time.

Outfalls to Potts corner
Sanderling - one with Dunlin
Dunlin - 168
Grey plover - 230
Common sandpiper - 1
Med gull - 5 adult, 4 1cy. No 2cy

A quiet rather wet day

Thanks Janet

Middleton NR pre-dog
Warer Rail - 1
Teal - 5

Toadflax pug new for the year

Heysham obs
The most sensational news was a white-letter hairstreak photographed below the classroom nectaring on water mint last Sunday afternoon about 4pm. More details tomorrow

A pre high tide check of red nab and ocean edge produced:

Greenshank - one juv
Med gull - just two adult
Little egret - 1
Oystercatcher - 2100
Curlew - 278
Redshank - 156

Moths
Toadflax pug highlighted a nice mixed catch which also included 3 white-line dart and ypsophola scabrella

More wader coverage

Heysham Obs
Had to google this site in order to access from this computer and it was preceded by a heading advert for "Date-a-twitcher.com".  I've no idea whether this is a virus, spoof or serious and not really interested.............but some of you might be!

Red Nab/Ocean Edge 1.75hrs pre-high tide
Once again absolutely no disturbance of the intertidal area around and on Red Nab during at least the incoming tide
Sandwich Tern - 2 adults on mudflats with BHG just south of OE slipway
Med Gull - 4 x adult, 3 x 2CY and just the one juv all on Red Nab
Curlew - 360 Red Nab
Redshank - 142 Red Nab, then dribbled towards OE saltmarsh
Oystercatcher - 1950 Red Nab, c1700 on mudflats in scattered groups
Grey Plover - 121 tideline off Ocean Edge nearly all in full summer - nice!
Little Gull - moulting ad Red Nab, now 5 old primaries

Moths
A candidate for Cnephasia conspersana.  We'll see

Good coverage

Heysham obs

Red nab area two hours pre HT
Grey plover - 89
Med gull - 10 (5 x ad, 3 x 1CY, 2 x 2CY)
Little Gull - adult
Oystercatcher - 2200
Curlew - 340

Dragonflies
Common Hawker - males dog walk pond and community woodland pond
Southern Hawker - male near bridge between Central and western marshes
Black tailed Skimmer - one male still on the go
Brown Hawker - 3 ovipositing females together Middleton and about 10 others seen Middleton and Heysham NR

Butterflies
Two different Painted Lady visited the office buddleia as did a Brimstone.  Thanks for the pics Janet