A little bit of morning movement

Very light and variable east breeze till lunchtime then mainly from the south. It became very hot by the afternoon 

First, a selection of shots from Alan Wilson taken on Middleton Nature Reserve this week:

Typical scenes on the main pond

Shaded Broad-Bar moth

Black-tailed Skimmer

Common Blue Damselfly

I just did a couple of checks along the south sea wall, mainly to set the baseline for resident insects, before (hopefully) the east wind and sun bring in any migrants. (MD)

First check was late morning, the air was almost still with just a few breaths from SE, by the time I'd reached the lighthouse area it had moved round to south. The only insects were a few feeding bees, 5 Meadow Brown and one "white" came in off. (There were even less in the evening check).

Linnet 27 feeding around the saltmarsh, 2 near lighthouse 

Rock Pipit 6 - three on the foreshore, 1 on Red Nab, 2 near the lighthouse. These were the breeding female plus one of the birds with a bad foot. This clip was in the late afternoon, it was hot, you can see it panting, then it appears to be eating aphids off a Mayweed. Even with its restricted mobility, it is more than capable of finding sizeable insects. I can only think it was taking the aphids for their high moisture content rather than nutrition (the clip begins with a young Pied Wagtail in the background).

Blue Tit 1 flew from north landed on harbour wall briefly before continuing south

Willow Warbler 1 adult came from somewhere rested on Power Station perimeter fence before flying into the Power Station

Goldfinch 3 flew south past the roundhead

The above three records in the morning and these species have not bred here.

Common Sandpiper 2 together in the harbour wharf (seen earlier morning by Jonathan)

Redshank 15

Mediterranean gulls 18 adult 1 juvenile 

This Painted lady in the Nature Park was so worn that you could see through its wings.

Worn and faded Painted Lady

This isn't really a record just an observation of behaviour. It rained overnight and presumably this Garden Snail wandered over the wall from the Power Station side (it definitely didn't fly here). The sun was hot today and it had spent the day in the shade under the lip of the wall. But now the sun was getting lower and the snail finds itself on the terminator of the shade. It will have to move higher or be cooked in its shell (the concrete on the exposed wall was so hot that the only walkers with a dog were having to carry it). I was tempted to move it, but might have done more harm than good.

Garden Snail on the shade terminal on the sea wall

Grayling, plus some nice Stock footage

Light and variable NW(ish) wind. It clouded over after a clear start, but the sun broke through again by lunchtime.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

A nice shot of a Brown Hawker ovipositoring from Kevin

Brown Hawker

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

Three nets set on the East side this morning from 06.30 to 11.00. It was rather clearer than expected.

The catch was again very low with no Sedge Warblers and low numbers of other species except for 4 Common Whitethroats. Not sure why numbers of juveniles are so low but the site is extremely dry which may have resulted in birds moving elsewhere.

Birds caught:

Wren  1 + 2 retrap

Cetti's Warbler  1juv + 1 retrap

Great Tit  3 juvs

Robin  1 juv

Whitethroat  4 juvs

Dunnock  1 juv

Blackcap  1 juv

Chiffchaff  2 juvs

Long tailed Tit  1 juv

Janet had a walk around but saw nothing new, so took some butterfly shots:

Worn Small Tortoiseshell 

Male Speckled Wood

Small Skipper

Common Blue

Tomorrow should see the start of a few days of east wind, which hopefully will bring in some new and possibly interesting insects.

Imperial Way (road to the Waste Recycling "Park" off the bypass) 

This is the eastern boundary of the recording area, I just checked it out briefly on my way along the bypass (MD)

Swift 6

Swallow 2

Jackdaw 12 - one flock heading north

Blackcap 1 male singing

Chiffchaff 2 males singing

Stock Dove 2 probably 3 possibly more - there is hardly any traffic along this road at weekends and two were feeding on seeds along the kerb of the road. These slightly hazy shots were taken through my car windscreen.

Stock Dove

As was this clip:

After a while they flew off to the pylon to the west of the road (definitely in the recording area not just along the boundary) then flew off towards Middleton. Later a single bird then "another" pair flew east.

2nd sighting of two Stock Doves

South Shore (MD)

Grayling butterfly male seen by Pete. Ocean Edge grassy edge near Red nab working its way south along the edge - unfortunately too quick to get a photograph. This is the first record here for a number of years.

I had an evening stroll along the sea wall (MD)

Mediterranean gull 8 adult 1 juvenile 

Rock Pipits 6, 2 each, foreshore, Red Nab and lighthouse. One chasing the other at the lighthouse.

Finally, Janet sent this shot of recent graffiti on Middleton Nature reserve. Graffiti can never be condoned, but well crafted artwork on a derelict brick building, is less offensive than most (MD)

Mainly Meds

West to WNW fresh wind, overcast with a few showers for most of the day, but the sun broke through early evening 

South Shore

Pete managed a brief check:

Mediterranean gull - At least 54 Red nab/Heysham outfalls in quick scope sweep from Ocean edge foreshore - could have missed some eg 2cy (5 juvs)

I just had a walk along the sea wall early evening. Not so many Meds around but this juvenile was feeding on No.2 outflow.

Juvenile Mediterranean gull

Juvenile Black-Headed gull

The wall was noisy today, a number of the large gull young are now fledged. Adults were defending them from all intruders (me and a Peregrine). Plus many youngsters begging to be fed. 

Newly fledged Lesser Black-Backed gull walking along the sea wall

In contrast, the lighthouse Rock Pipit was waiting for something (anything!) to beg. She offered me a nice selection of beetles.

Rock Pipit missing feeding the chicks which now seem to have moved on with Mum

There were two more Rock Pipits on Red Nab and one of those flew into the Power Station grounds with a bill full of food, so perhaps they have a second brood too.

Little Egret 3

Redshank 25 in one flock

Curlew seemed to be in constant passage north, as were the Oystercatchers

Shag a 2nd calendar year flew into the harbour and started feeding. It didn't bother with the waterfall, even though the gulls there were catching Sandeels. It dived a couple of times near the platforms before moving around in front of new customs building, and out of sight.

2nd calendar year Shag 

Sandeel bonanza

Quite a fresh WNW wind, some cloud, but plenty of sunshine 

South shore (MD)

A morning check on the rising tide

Rock Pipits 2 arguing on Red Nab. The helper bird near lighthouse with a bill full of food, but no mouths to feed. Presumably a non breeding female, she seems obsessed with feeding the young (I didn't dare yawn!). Hopefully, she'll have her own young to feed next year. 

Mediterranean gulls 19 minimum - there were 5 adult on the beach next to the wooden jetty, but only resting not feeding. 3 juvenile feeding on the seaward end of No.1 outflow. There were 15 adult and a 3rd calendar year on Red Nab, possibly including the 5 from the beach.

Turnstone 1

Redshank 30+ ended up on the wooden jetty. Nice to have them back shouting at you. These three seem to have forgotten that the sea rises!

There were probably about 30 gulls feeding on each outflow, pretty typical. Then very quickly there were hundreds! This is No.2 outflow. No.1 was the same.

Janet said there were high numbers yesterday too and sent this shot. This Black-Headed gull looks to have a small Whitebait (you'll probably need to open the shot to see detail).

Black-Headed Gull feeding on the outflows 

But it wasn't Whitebait today that got them all feeding, it was Sandeels. 

Black-Headed gull with a large Sandeel

A large shoal must have been in the harbour and many drawn through. There were so many that it took quite a while before this Black-Headed Gull was challenged for its bigger than average prize. Normally any gull with a fish is immediately harassed by the other gulls.

There must be a lot of sandeels this year, the Rock Pipits were even feeding small ones to the chicks, presumably gathered from the waterfall area. Let's hope they stay around Sandeels are ideal for terns, and the smaller diving birds.

Another good moth migrant

NW to west light wind a hazy start, but full sun by late morning and the rest of the day.

South shore

The lighthouse Rock Pipits still feeding the young birds. Janet took this shot this morning. This is the non breeding bird that has helped feed the young, presumably one of last year's brood.

Rock Pipit

Mediterranean gulls 11 - they were leaving Red Nab much earlier in the tide today, they soon learn when the tides are high enough to flush them. 7 adult, 1 x 3rd calendar year, 0 x 2nd calendar year and 3 juvenile. One of the adult had a white darvic ring on the left leg. But was a little too far out. After this clip it sat down and didn't move again till it flew off. At least it is still in the area.

Adult and juvenile Mediterranean gull

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a stroll around in the afternoon didn't locate anything new.

Stock Dove two seen twice

Cetti's warbler male singing from "no swimming" pond

This Lesser Whitethroat was making contact calls with at least two, presumably young birds.

This Emperor was ovipositoring, not sure what the foot tapping signifies. 

This from Kevin Eaves:

I was pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful Four-spotted Footman on the outside of my Heysham trap this morning. It's mainly a Southern European species, though they do breed in Southern and South-Western counties of the UK. It's thought that individuals that occur this far north are migrants.

Four-spotted Footman

An eclectic mix

A light SW wind. Overcast with light showers in the morning, but the sun came out mid afternoon.

Middleton Nature Reserve (Janet)

Male Blackcap - in punk mode

Green-veined White

Gatekeeper 

Female Black-Tailed Skimmer

Red Nab/Saltmarsh - high water 10:40 (MD)

Eider 1 female

Redshank 2

Mediterranean gull 23 - 19 adult, 1 x 3rd calendar year, 2 x 2nd calendar year, 1 juvenile. No darvic rings seen.

Juvenile Med directly behind the flying Med

Rock Pipit 2 - one each Red Nab and foreshore 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 1 on shingles north of the slipway  - it managed to avoid being photographed today.

Just out of the recording area - Heysham Moss Nature Reserve (MD)

A very pleasant early evening stroll around.

Surprisingly few birds:

Blackcap 

Chiffchaff 

Wren 

Carrion Crow 

Magpie

Butterflies:

Whites several - all looked to be Small White

Meadow Brown everywhere 

Ringlet a few quite worn 

Small Skipper

Small Tortoiseshell 2

Dragonflies - this is what I went to check

Emperor 3

Four-Spotted Chaser 15+ these were the dominant dragonflies around the pools. Each pool had at least two, many ovipositoring 

Common Darter only 2 seen

Black Darter 16+ These were the most numerous dragonflies, but many away from the pools. Unlike last year when I visited a little later, there were almost as many female as males (9 and 7)

Male Black Darter

Female Black Darter

The peat bogs were alive with insects. Every pool had it's own tribe of flies. I don't think these have a common name, but they should, they certainly are common. If you know please advise.

This comment from Barry Dyson (thanks) - The flies are one of the long-legged flies and as far as I can see are Poecilobothrus nobilitatus.

Those flies were big enough, but these were huge

A "Flesh" Fly

This looks like a Hoverfly, but I can't find it (MD)
Again if anyone knows please advise.

A good day for insects, although perhaps not for ants.

The light breeze started from the east but had swung round to south by midday, then SW. Hot sun after the mist cleared, but becoming overcast and very "heavy" by evening.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

The sky was clear and with a bright moon at midnight last night, it was with little optimism that my small moth trap was set at Middleton. On arrival at 06.00 the sky was completely overcast with low cloud/mist that obscured the upper parts of the power stations and wind generators - not sure what time in the night this formed. A catch of 20 moths resulted but with nothing unusual.

After a break of over two weeks, a couple of nets were set this morning:

Cettis Warbler 1 retrap

Wren 1 juv

Sedge Warbler 4 (2 juv) + 1 retrap

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Whitethroat 2 juv

Blackcap 4 (3 juv)

Chiffchaff 3 (2 juv) +1 retrap

Blue Tit 1 juv

Great Tit 1

Janet had a look in the morning:

Common Darter

Emperor

Think this is one of the "Glass Snails" 
Obviously a quite an acrobatic one! (MD)

By the evening it was overcast and very heavy, gulls were catching flying ants all over the recording area, so I paid a quick visit to the main pond (MD)

Mediterranean gull 1 adult had a post anting drink on the main pond before setting off again. There were hundreds of gulls feeding but quite high, almost certainly more Meds with them.

Double figures of Swallow and Swift with at lest two House Martins feeding above the gulls.

A flock of 42 Jackdaw rested briefly on a pylon, before all but, the more typical, 5 flew off. I presume that they had also been anting.

Warblers heard singing from the bottom car park

Cetti's warbler ("no swimming" pond male)

Blackcap 

Chiffchaff 

Sedge warbler 

Stock Dove 1

South shore (MD)

Unfortunately I was busy till after lunch, the east wind had stopped, although when I set of at 12:30 at least it wasn't from the west. Not for the first time this year I arrived at the lighthouse area just in time to witness the end of whatever insect migration there may have been.

Meadow Brown 12+ probably most if not all residents 

Gatekeeper 2

Small White 1

Small Tortoiseshell 1 seen coming in off the sea

Painted Lady 1 seen coming in off the sea, plus this worn one filling up after, presumably, a long flight.

Mediterranean gull 2 adult flew from the north, but none were feeding on the beach next to the wooden jetty 

Rock Pipit 6 - one on Red Nab plus at the lighthouse, 2 adult (neither the ringed male who seems to have taken a back seat role in the fledging of this second brood) each with a juvenile in tow, and I strongly suspect one adult had two young in tow. In this clip the adult will not feed the chick when it knows it is being watched. So it drops down to the ledge below the wall and the juvenile follows.

But in this clip, I am much further away and the adult would normally feed the chick, but it again drops down to the ledge. This time the juvenile just watches on. The adult returns empty billed so presumably it fed a second juvenile. Meanwhile the second adult with another juvenile were on the wooden jetty rocks.

This was a bit unusual, this Cormorant appears to eat a piece of this wrack. Wrack is full of minerals so possibly required occasionally, or perhaps it's just like a dog eating grass to help it digest a meal.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

I just went to check the Oak trees in the NW corner of the high plateau and it proved fruitful (MD)

Purple Hairstreak 1 male at least - I had to watch for several minutes before one was flitting high in the highest oak tree. I saw one on four occasions before a "family" of Long-Tailed Tits arrived, after which there were no more sightings. Not easy to get a picture of, as they are small, move quickly and the trees are tall, this was the best I managed!

Male Purple Hairstreak high in the oak tree

The flying season covers this and next month, worth checking on any warm sunny day. The picture below is the Oak tree it was in today. They mainly feed in Oak trees and the only Oak stand is in the corner of the copse on the NW corner of the high plateau (there is a small oak tree in a metal protective cage close by).

Family is in inverted commas for the Long-Tailed Tits, as perhaps there was more than one family involved. This young bird does not appear to be able to feed itself yet (it barely looks capable of leaving the nest!).

Meanwhile this juvenile is independent and appears to be providing the Oak tree an aphid clearing service.

Kevin Eaves checked the Oak trees later in the afternoon, no sign of the Hairstreak but he did spot a 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - he managed this "fly by" shot, but not only does it serve as record shot, it also shows that this moth is different to the worn one that has been on the saltmarsh for a few weeks.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 

Two more shots from Kevin

The offshore wind farm in disarray, reflecting today's light and variable breeze

Today was one of the few days each year when Snowdonia is
clearly visible from the south wall roundhead