59 Canada Geese were back on Heysham skeer this evening!
A heap of Diamond-back Moths around the reserve today and some other stuff found by Janet as per pics below
Two more Shaded Pug found at Middleton this evening
Saturday, 4 June 2016
More diamond backs and the Canada goose mystery continues
Heysham Obs
59 Canada Geese were back on Heysham skeer this evening!
A heap of Diamond-back Moths around the reserve today and some other stuff found by Janet as per pics below
Two more Shaded Pug found at Middleton this evening
59 Canada Geese were back on Heysham skeer this evening!
A heap of Diamond-back Moths around the reserve today and some other stuff found by Janet as per pics below
Two more Shaded Pug found at Middleton this evening
Thursday, 2 June 2016
The diamond-backs arrive
Heysham Obs
They probably arrived yesterday but no reports as yet. At least 6 casually disturbed from grass round the office but none in the trap!
Moth trap
Not helped by the easterly into the window but still held Shaded Pug, a local speciality this far north
They probably arrived yesterday but no reports as yet. At least 6 casually disturbed from grass round the office but none in the trap!
Moth trap
Not helped by the easterly into the window but still held Shaded Pug, a local speciality this far north
Wednesday
Heysham Obs
The first Large Skipper of the year (thanks Janet) and either a very late or a very early Brimstone
The first Large Skipper of the year (thanks Janet) and either a very late or a very early Brimstone
Tuesday
Heysham Obs
Some bad news as regards the extra Mute Swans on Middleton - under investigation
Evening visit to Middleton (Malcolm)
Not a sight nor sound of Cetti's or Grasshopper warblers.4 swallow, 2 swift & 1 house martin feeding.WeBS list:2 mute + 4 cygnet, 8 mallard + 9 chicks, 4 coot + 3 chicks, 2 moorhen, 2 little grebe, 1 little ringed plover.
Moths
Another Ruddy Highflyer in the moth trap
Dragonfly
Female Broad-bodied Chaser on one of the new ponds, Middleton (BBC are not very common here c/p 4-spot Chaser)
Monday, 30 May 2016
Nothing from today
Heysham Obs
No news from today
One of our Grey Wagtails ringed in autumn 2013 is now a nesting female at Botton Mill, upper Hindburndale - further to the east than we expected migrants ringed on an autumnal NW to SE heading to be ending up
No news from today
One of our Grey Wagtails ringed in autumn 2013 is now a nesting female at Botton Mill, upper Hindburndale - further to the east than we expected migrants ringed on an autumnal NW to SE heading to be ending up
Sunday, 29 May 2016
SD36 time
Heysham Obs
A visit to the south harbour wall to see what moths and other beasties were there and also check on the territorial Ringed Plover for work. A ringing session at Middleton NR was very valuable as it enabled the final summer visitor adults (Reed Warbler) to be caught and the 7 included four from previous years. One or two baby Robin and Dunnock also materialised and there were a couple of retrap Cetti's Warblers, neither of which was a female with brood patch
South wall/outfalls
Common Gull - 46 2CY
Med Gull - blackish-headed 2CY
Ringed Plover - heard alarm calling from within PS as a group walked along the seawall to the south
SD36 insects
Mother Shipton - this mirrors Lou Cross's record from the north harbour wall last year - unfortunately it seemed to be just passing through and was lost near the seawall to the south. Its still a dot on the 'white hole'!
Clepsis spectrana - 1
Common Blue - 17ish
Large White - 1
Small White - 1
Lots of solitary bees/wasps - worth a specialist having a look as they are probably all new for 10k square
Office moth trap
Another Eyed Hawk-moth with a late fairly fresh Hebrew Character, a couple of Herald and I think Turnip Moth is new for year
A visit to the south harbour wall to see what moths and other beasties were there and also check on the territorial Ringed Plover for work. A ringing session at Middleton NR was very valuable as it enabled the final summer visitor adults (Reed Warbler) to be caught and the 7 included four from previous years. One or two baby Robin and Dunnock also materialised and there were a couple of retrap Cetti's Warblers, neither of which was a female with brood patch
South wall/outfalls
Common Gull - 46 2CY
Med Gull - blackish-headed 2CY
Ringed Plover - heard alarm calling from within PS as a group walked along the seawall to the south
SD36 insects
Mother Shipton - this mirrors Lou Cross's record from the north harbour wall last year - unfortunately it seemed to be just passing through and was lost near the seawall to the south. Its still a dot on the 'white hole'!
Clepsis spectrana - 1
Common Blue - 17ish
Large White - 1
Small White - 1
Lots of solitary bees/wasps - worth a specialist having a look as they are probably all new for 10k square
Office moth trap
Another Eyed Hawk-moth with a late fairly fresh Hebrew Character, a couple of Herald and I think Turnip Moth is new for year
Saturday, 28 May 2016
Signal crayfish threat
Heysham Obs
Great - presumably someone using Middleton model boat pond as a "save the tadpoles" dumping ground or a misguided idea of biodiversity has almost certainly introduced signal crayfish. Bring back the terrapins! Lots of tiny immatures found today does not augur well for the future of this pond and its dragonfly population for this highly invasive and difficult to control species
Middleton NR
Cetti's Warbler - two singing, other contact calls
Tufted Duck - two males and a female make a (re?)appearance
Mute Swan plus 4 x cygnets
Little Ringed Plover - 1
Insects
Holly Blue Middleton
Great - presumably someone using Middleton model boat pond as a "save the tadpoles" dumping ground or a misguided idea of biodiversity has almost certainly introduced signal crayfish. Bring back the terrapins! Lots of tiny immatures found today does not augur well for the future of this pond and its dragonfly population for this highly invasive and difficult to control species
Middleton NR
Cetti's Warbler - two singing, other contact calls
Tufted Duck - two males and a female make a (re?)appearance
Mute Swan plus 4 x cygnets
Little Ringed Plover - 1
Insects
Holly Blue Middleton
Friday 27th May
Heysham Obs
Not a lot happened today with no definite migrants caught by the office (2 x Whitethroat, 1 x Sedge Warbler possibly/probably local breeding birds)
Middleton (thanks Malcolm)
The good news is that the male gadwall has returned to the "no swimming" pond as well - hopefully his mate is on nest. Mallard on model boat pond has 6 chicks. Also: 1 little grebe 1 grey heron 1 singing Cetti's - western marsh, 2 grasshopper 4 reed warbler singing + 1 seen only + ww, both whitethroats, blackcap & (only) 1 sedge. 1 little ringed plover. Not really much change.
Eyed Hawk-moth new for the year
Not a lot happened today with no definite migrants caught by the office (2 x Whitethroat, 1 x Sedge Warbler possibly/probably local breeding birds)
Middleton (thanks Malcolm)
The good news is that the male gadwall has returned to the "no swimming" pond as well - hopefully his mate is on nest. Mallard on model boat pond has 6 chicks. Also: 1 little grebe 1 grey heron 1 singing Cetti's - western marsh, 2 grasshopper 4 reed warbler singing + 1 seen only + ww, both whitethroats, blackcap & (only) 1 sedge. 1 little ringed plover. Not really much change.
Eyed Hawk-moth new for the year
Thursday, 26 May 2016
Barn Owl continues to quarter the area
Heysham Obs
Middleton Wednesday evening (thanks Jamie)
Grasshopper Warbler - four singing males
Barn Owl - one hunting pre-dusk
Moths Wednesday night
True Lover's Knot a major surprise so early, Shears and Purple Bar notable
Outfalls
Common Gull - 43 2CY
Little Egret - 2
Middleton Wednesday evening (thanks Jamie)
Grasshopper Warbler - four singing males
Barn Owl - one hunting pre-dusk
Moths Wednesday night
True Lover's Knot a major surprise so early, Shears and Purple Bar notable
Outfalls
Common Gull - 43 2CY
Little Egret - 2
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