Early morning ringing

Rather unexpected to find Chiffchaff the highest ringing total of the warblers so early in the autumn.  10 were ringed, followed by 9 Whitethroat and low single figures of other species

Cetti’s Warbler - a recently fledged juvenile in the central marsh at Middleton was the most interesting individual capture

Tree sparrow - one plus at least two south over Heyshsm and at least two with a gang of House Sparrow on heyshsm heliport site

Dark Spinach in moth trap at Middleton

Yellow Wagtail

Middleton NR early session
Nothing better early on than a single Garden Warbler and an early (or secretively breeding) Water Rail - also present, but not logged on 26/7.  Surely single secretive breeding pair at this irregular known site, albeit with no evidence of success. 

Yellow Wagtail - one south at 1133hrs
Swallow - at least 80 south/feeding for a short time (25 ringed)
Sand Martin - 1 south
House Martin - 2 south
Not a great deal of obvious landbird migration for an easterly with a bit of cloud cover but still a respectable trickle of warblers ringed, a majority (11) being Whitethroat, as usual in early August

Red veined Darter.  At least five males and a female abs almost certainly another pair in cop but the latter not seen quite well enough to eliminate Common Darter (thanks Janice)

Harbour lighthouse area (SD35Z) MD
ESE breeze again brought insects in off at low water.
Butterflies:
Only Painted Lady and Small White were seen coming in, at a rate around one a minute. But there was an increase of Common blue on the scrub to 5, plus a Peacock and, first here this year, Gatekeeper.
Moths:
Silver Y - 4
Dragonflies:
Unfortunately the tide was rising before the time likely for dragonflies to arrive. But one flew overhead at 11:20 (tide was already up to outflows), almost certainly a darter with red abdomen.

Wheatear - 1 female type
Grey Seal - 1 male

Friday

Middleton Nature Reserve

Red-veined Darter - 4 male on main pond. This one has either come a long way, or been here a long while, or both!

Gadwall c20 adult, or almost adult size birds on "no swimming" pond

Thursday

Red- Veined Darter - still one on dog walk pond (this is the small pond on the walk between Red Nab and the Reserve).

Wednesday - provisional

Red-veined Darter - another 'new' site
Three males on the bare eastern edge of the 'dog walk pond' (one previous here - years ago)

Humming-bird Hawk-moth - one on nature park buddliea

Mediterranean gulls - good numbers on Red Nab early in rising tide, including two ringed birds read by Pete Crooks.  Later in the tide, about 40 scattered around along the still exposed mud south of Ocean Edge but no compact gull roost due to dog
Little Gull - ad summer
Sandwich Tern - 2
Whimbrel - at least 4

Common Sandpiper 1 - Ocean Edge foreshore

Other returning waders on Red Nab and salt marsh
Ringed Plover 5
Dunlin 1
Lapwing 9
Whimbrel 1
Redshank c200

Picture below showing some of yesterday's Painted Lady "topping up" after coming in off sea near lighthouse. There were c20 on this knapweed. I can find 16 in this frame.

Med record

Med Gull - 57 on the first two scans of the high tide roost on the sands off Ocean Edge
Joined by two juvs after five minutes.  An additional five older age birds on Red Nab.  Harbour area not checked
Little Gull - ad summer with the above

Early morning ringing sessions with a close watch of the rain alarm saw a trickle rather than a fall but MP3s could not be used at Middleton due to CES

Tree sparrow - flock of three Bt office early on

More tomorrow from Malcolm and Janet

Insects on the move again

From Andrew Cornell - Thanks
Red- Veined Darters - 3 on dog walk pond
Hummingbird Hawk Moth - 1 near weather station eastern end of nature park.
Painted Lady - 70+  around this area.


Also:
Red-veined Darter - 4 male western side of main pond at Middleton
Painted Lady - 38 between waterfall and roundhead.
                         140 Heysham NR transect (per SR)
Rock Pipit 1 - near lighthouse

Sunday bits

Mediterranean gulls - 4 on beach out from Ocean Edge salt marsh. At least 5 on Red Nab

Rock Pipit - 1 Red Nab

Sandwich Tern - at leat one (heard only) out from Sat marsh

Saturday Meds

Mediterranean gulls - 21 on beach between wooden jetty and No.1 outflow, 4 hr ebb

Friday - RVDs

Middleton Nature Reserve
Main pond
A check at 11:30 found at least 3 male Red-Veined Darter. A later check at 13:30 located 5.
This despite less than ideal conditions, it was warm enough, but quite a strong westery breeze. All the sighting were on the western side of pond, including the peninsula.
This is a significant increase on the single insect seen on two days earlier in the week, when conditions were more favourable. The implication is that a number of insects from yesterday's migration, found their way to the reserve (see yesterday's post).

Cetti's warbler - a previously ringed adult female was the best of the morning ringing session.

Southern movement
Swallow 18 - one flock
Swift 1
Lesser Redpoll 1 - very unseasonable