You wait for ages for a Toadflax Pug.............

A light south wind in the morning, gradually made its way to the west by evening. Heavy overnight rain, but dry during the day with occasional sightings of the sun.

South shore - ebbing tide early afternoon (MD)

Wheatear 4

Rock Pipit 2

Mediterranean gull 4 adult plus 1 x 1st calendar year on beach near wooden jetty.

First calendar year Mediterranean gull, with distinctive tail feathers

Nature Park

Migrant Hawker 2

Common Darter several 

Comma 1

Small White 1

Gatekeeper 1

Common Blue 2

Speckled Wood several 

Meadow Brown several 

This Willow Warbler was having a good bath in the newt pond

Report from Kevin - Local moth

I've been waiting for ages for my annual Toadflax Pug to appear and then three arrived at once! Very similar to the more widespread Foxglove Pug, this tiny local moth is a bit of a Heysham specialty.

Toadflax Pug

Sandwiches on the beach

The early light SE wind gradually moved to SW. overcast all day with just a few glimpses of sunshine.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report from Alan:

Nets set by 06.30 but fewer birds around this morning than perhaps expected. I needed to take down at 10.30.

Two single Grey Wagtails were attracted down by the mp3 but were not trapped. The only other bird flying over was a single Swallow at 09.30.

Ringing:

Reed Warbler 2

Lesser Whitethroat 1

Common Whitethroat 7

Garden Warbler 2

Blackcap 2

Willow Warbler 1

Great Tit 2

Goldfinch 1

South Shore (MD)

I walked along the mud out from the saltmarsh as the neap tide was towards high water. Almost uniquely I was alone, apart from the wildlife, but the birds seemed very flighty. I think the juvenile large gulls flying around erratically were confusing the waders.

Little Egret 7

Red-Breasted Merganser 4 together flying south

Wheatear 2

Linnet 7

Lapwing 14

Ringed Plover 1

Grey Plover 150 minimum

Dunlin 250 minimum

Mainly Grey Plover flying past

Dunlin and Grey Plover 

Bar-Tailed Godwit 8 including 3 in summer plumage 

Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin

Sandwich Tern 4 minimum. There was one family (2 adult and 2 juveniles), but again they were quite flighty and several sightings of individual birds could have been birds from these four. There is no doubting they were a family, any parent could relate to this:

I managed to get a shot with them all in (just)

I just had a short walk along the sea wall in the afternoon, to see if any other ringed Mediterranean gulls were on the beach next to the wooden jetty. But today there were only 2 adults and neither ringed (even though tide, timing and weather seemed the same as yesterday).

However we have received the updated history of yesterday's bird ringed as a nestling in Holland 24/06/10

Since it was seen here last autumn it was seen

27/12/21 reserva natural Estuário do Douro, Canidelo; Vila Nova de Gaia; Porto; ; Portugal 41,08N 8,4W

5 to 23/01/22 Playa San Lorenzo; Gijón; Asturias; Asturias; SPAIN 43,32N 5,39W

This Little Egret (originally incorrectly identified by myself (Malcolm) as  GWE) is feeding just below the sea wall. It catches a crab and then immediately releases it, crabs nip! But it gets a consolation goby.

But, this clip starts with another crab in its bill. It actually leaves the water so as not to risk losing this one. It then returns and catches another Common Goby - easy, albeit small pickings.

Both the crabs were of similar size. The only difference must be that the second crab's exoskeleton was not fully hardened (they are soft when the old one is shed and it goes through increasing stages of hardening before the pincers become totally effective again).

This is the discarded crab, its posture shows that it is confident of its defences

This is the second (not hard enough) crab going down

You don't need to walk miles and carry high quality optics to enjoy the local wildlife, Janet provided this report and pictures from her phone (although Janet does walk many miles with here camera as well).

There is a small Budliea near the co-op and first house on Longlands crescent with 

5 Painted Lady 

1 Small Tortoiseshell 

1 Red Admiral

Very fresh looking Painted Ladies

A better variety

The wind started from the east then swung round to south by lunchtime. Light showers in the morning then more prolonged rain started just after lunch.

Report from Pete:

Sandwich Tern 5 x 1st calendar year resting on shore out from Ocean Edge

Three of the Sandwich Terns - not a great shot, but shows location.

Wheatear 7 quickly moving through Ocean Edge foreshore 

Mediterranean gulls 16 including 2 x 1st calendar year

Shag 1 x 2nd calendar year 

A fall of warblers included 10 Willow Warbler in the brambles by litter bin in Heysham Nature Reserve car park.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

This from Janet

A juvenile Jay was hopping about on the path at Middleton NR, I thought at first it couldn't fly but it did just manage to get onto the branch of a tree.

South shore (MD)

I left it till lunchtime as I wanted to watch the beach next to jetty become exposed.

Wheatear 1 almost certainly additional to Pete's, this one too, quickly moving through

Rock Pipit 1

Willow warbler 2 and Common Whitethroat 1 seen in Nature Park

Common Sandpiper 1 flew out of the harbour then along north wall.

Mediterranean gulls

Even though it was 12:30 and 4 hours after high tide, the beach by the jetty was just becoming exposed for the first time in daylight today. There were 10 adult Meds waiting on the rocks at the edge of the beach, eventually there were 12 adult, 1 x 2nd calendar year and 1 x 1st calendar year. I say "eventually" it was only 12:45 but the rain had started lashing down.

2nd calendar year Mediterranean gull now in 2nd winter plumage 

These are some of the Meds and a few Black Headed-gulls just below the sea wall

The water only moves very slowly on these neap tides, the gulls were catching plenty of Sandmason worms, but only when there was some water covering them. There were three ringed birds today, two just metal (one below and one above the knee). The third was a white darvic, a regular visitor, originally ringed in Holland in 2010. This is the first occasion it has been seen here this year, let's hope it has been seen elsewhere since its last visit. Here it is catching a worm and avoiding Oystercatchers.

Just a footnote from yesterday - it sounds like the Alder Leaf beetle has transformed its status from extinction to "pest" - see Rob's comment on yesterday's post.

A lazy sort of day

Much lighter west wind today, high cloud with sunshine increasing during the day

South shore (MD)

Morning on ebbing tide

Linnet 6 on saltmarsh 

Rock Pipits 3

Mediterranean gulls 4 adult plus a 1st calendar year. The very low neap tide still hadn't exposed the beach next to the jetty, but there was one adult waiting on rocks and the 1cy and an adult on sea out from the harbour. Two more adults were making their way there from Red Nab as I walked back.

First calendar year Mediterranean gull out from Harbour 

This adult Mediterranean gull has a very pale mask.

Little Egret 3 on Red Nab

A second quick check in the evening towards high water found the small mullet were back in the channel below the sea wall.

This channel is formed by the freshwater stream that runs through then around Red Nab. This shot shows the filling channel, as it winds around Red Nab.

Little Egret - four feeding along this channel plus another two along the channel forming along the old water pipeline.

Little Egret, looking particularly splendid 

Nature Park

Common Darter 1

Migrant Hawker 2

The only butterflies seen were Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood.

I wasn't planning on posting this, I only asked Kevin and Alison for identification for my own interest. But  the answer was more generally interesting (well, at least I think so MD). It's an Alder Leaf Beetle

Alder Leaf beetle (7mm length) below an Alder near the small anemometer 

According to Wikipedia, as recently as 2004 this species was thought extinct in the UK. Then after a sighting in Manchester it has been spreading around the NW. I knew that I hadn't seen one before when I saw it, but there are literally thousands of UK beetles that I've not seen!

Plenty of wind, but not much water!

Strong SW wind, mainly overcast, with some sunny spells. It stayed dry till late evening, then the heavens opened.

Just my stuff so far (MD)

South shore 

Two visits, mid morning (low water) and late afternoon (towards high water)

Mediterranean gull 7 adult on the beach near wooden jetty in morning, a 1st calendar year on No.2 outflow in the afternoon

Adult Mediterranean gulls - this shot showing moult progress

1st calendar year Mediterranean gull with Black-Headed gulls
This shot was actually from yesterday but same location as today's bird

The young gulls are stripping the barnacles off the platform supports in the harbour, presumably more for their grit than the scant protein content. This one is a Herring gull.

This young Lesser Black-Backed gull as found an apple, don't know what happened, but the apple appeared to have scared it off! Don't think it will be taking on an apple again!

Sorry about the jerky nature of this clip, but it was wild on the sea wall.

Rock Pipits 6

It was more sheltered in the Nature Park and there were still a few insects about

Migrant Hawker 1

Common Darter 1

Peacock 1

Large White 1

several each

Meadow Brown

Gatekeeper 

Common Blue 

Speckled Wood 

Record breaking moth

A fresh west wind overcast but plenty of sunny spells

Wheatear 1 female on Near Naze yesterday - ref Howard 

South shore - today

I was busy today and thought this morning's visit towards low water would be my only opportunity (MD)

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab

Peregrine Falcon 2. One, presumably a juvenile was practicing its stoops on the gulls

Peregrine practicing its stoop

Mediterranean gulls 8 adult plus 1 x 1st calendar year on the beach next to the wooden jetty, most on the waterline, later 1 x 1cy on No.2 outflow

Little Egret 5 

These three Little Egrets seemed to be catching lots of shrimps in the almost empty channel below the sea wall at No.2

This Migrant Hawker was below the small anemometer 

Mature male Migrant Hawker

Finally this report from Kevin of his excellent sighting along the sea wall last month. This is a brilliant spot, I can barely see the moth in Kevin's picture, let alone spot it on the wall. You will probably have to open Kevin's picture to be able to see it. 

Marbled Green moth  

A belated record from July 26th. Belated because I was waiting for verification as it's only the third record for Lancashire, and the only one North of the Ribble.

It was resting on the South harbour arm and I only spotted it because I was scanning along the wall at a low angle in order to see any insects standing out above the surface. Even knowing exactly where it was it took a while to locate because of the excellent camouflage. The caterpillars feed on lichen and the adults rest on lichen covered walls, rendering them virtually invisible to the prying eyes of hungry birds.

Marbled Green moth

Oh dear.....not a GWE after all!

Generally a south fresh wind, a bit of SSE in the morning then SW after lunch. Overcast all day and it always looked like it was going to pour down, but we got away with light showers.

Heysham skear - low water 11:00 (MD)

It didn't feel promising and didn't surprise!

Great Crested Grebe 3

Apart from the grebes the only other diving bird on the sea were the Cormorants, but there were more than normal, at least 25.

Little Egret 5

Waders: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone plus one each

Ringed Plover

Knot  - no sign of any summer plumage 

South shore rising tide early afternoon (MD)

Mediterranean gulls - at least 6 adult with the gull roost on Red Nab, almost certainly more

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab

The tide was starting to fill the channel along No.2 outflow. Three Cormorants were fishing in the shallow margins of the channel. They were after the small Grey Mullet that come in early to feed on the algae that forms on the mud on warm days. There were lots of Mullet, but didn't see the cormorants catch any, they are probably too nimble in such shallow water.

This is what the Mullet are after, even on a relatively cool and sunless day, there was a substantial coating of algae along the channel edge below the sea wall.

Algae along the channel edge below the sea wall

I decided to time the rest of my walk so that the Mullet would be arriving here on my return. I was planning to take a clip of them feeding. When I got back (2.5 hours before high water) the channels were just filling and the Mullet had started feeding here. The cormorants had gone, probably gave up, but two Egrets were feeding. 

One Little Egret plus what this post (or rather me, Malcolm) originally identified as a Great White Egret, but study of later images has confirmed that it is actually just a very large Little Egret - apologies for any confusion.

This shot does show how much larger it appears to be

Little and large Little Egrets

The Mullet were difficult to see, as the incoming water was clouded and the surface rippled by the wind. This is the same area as the photograph above, you will have to take my word that they are Grey Mullet, but there is no doubt the shallow channel is full of them.

Looks like the Black Darter didn't fly away

A fresh NE breeze till evening, then shifted to NW. Cloudy with sunny spells 

South shore (MD)

A check in the morning at low water

Wheatear 3 (1 + 2 along foreshore)

Male Wheatear, still looking striking 

Linnet 3 following the 2 Wheatear along foreshore and kidding themselves that they were "seeing them off".

Rock Pipit 2 (a brief evening check found 7 squabbling along Red Nab)

Mediterranean gulls 13 resting on the waterline on beach next to wooden jetty. All adult or 3rd calendar year 

The only insect I saw come in off the sea was a Small Tortoiseshell 

Nature Park 

Not so many large butterflies on the Buddleia but still a reasonable variety around

Meadow Brown 

Gatekeeper

Red Admiral 

Common Blue

Small White 

Speckled Wood

Small Tortoiseshell 

Migrant Hawker 5 all flying around below the small anemometer 

(An evening check found none)

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I just paid a short visit mainly to check for the Purple Hairstreak (no sign) and to complete a thorough check of the area where the Black Darter was yesterday. And I found at least one today.

This is the area where the Black Darter(s) were seen yesterday and today
To the left of the trees on the left is the low meadow and to the right of the picture 
is the Tim Butler pond

A female Black Darter was located on two occasions in this area, both times I managed not to disturb it, but they were probably the same insect and likely the same as yesterday as all were of a similar aged colouration. I have not pre sized these shots so you'll need to open them to see the detail clearly.

First sighting 

Second sighting 

She wasn't flying away here, she just had a flutter around and landed
back in the same spot. Fortunately I had already set the focus.

Incidentally, there were a couple of areas of flattened grass in the same area, where Roe Deer have spent the night. One particularly large one was below the largest tree on the left, in the picture above.

Area below the largest tree, flattened by resting Roe Deer (plural)

Other Dragonflies, just Emperor and Common Darter

Butterflies as the Nature Park but also, Brimstone 1, Large White 1, Painted Lady 1.

Wildfowl as yesterday plus 1 Coot

Goldfinch 57 adult and juveniles, flew from this tree, in the old horse paddock. They didn't seem to be feeding, just preening. Not a great clip (need more practice with my new camera!), and I've had to mute it as a jack hammer was in the background.

Another Clouded Yellow

WNW light wind, overcast in the morning, but plenty of sunshine by the afternoon.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Clouded Yellow 1 male around the office area before moving towards the None operational land - ref Pete.

South shore

Mediterranean gull 18 - 17 on Red Nab (ref Pete) plus one on beach near wooden jetty.

Adult Mediterranean gull on shore next to wooden jetty

Wheatear 1 on foreshore 

Linnet 9 

Rock Pipits 2

Nature Park butterflies (quite good considering it was still overcast)

Gate Keeper

Meadow Brown

Speckled Wood

Common Blue

Red Admiral 3

Painted Lady 2

Peacock 1

Large White 1

Small White 2

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Mute Swan pair + 7 cygnets 

Moorhen 3

Mallard 2 female, 1 with 2 large young, 6 male in eclipse 

Gadwall 1 female (on Tim Butler - possibly more, as many areas of this pond are out of sight)

Heron 1

Water Rail 1 squealing

Little grebe 1 summer plumage bird on Tim Butler (Mallard in background)

Swallow just one having a quick drink from main pond

Butterflies nothing that wasn't seen earlier in the Nature Park

Dragonflies 

Emperor 5 (2 female)

Black-Tailed Skimmer 1 male, and 1 old female

Very mature female Black-Tailed Skimmer

Common Darter - common 

Black Darter 1 aged female. Despite the well established colony not far away at Heysham Moss Nature Reserve, they are barely annual at Middleton. It appeared to be in passage, as when it took off from here it lifted vertically till out of sight.

Mature female Black Darter

First Grey Wagtails of the autumn join the colour ringing scheme

Heavy overnight rain, but only the occasional light shower during the day. Variable light wind, mainly from west, overcast, but still very warm.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report from Alan:

I thought I could be dodging showers this morning but none arrived apart from a few spots that hardly amounted to rain. The Grey Wagtail autumn season has started with the first two caught and colour ringed on the earliest date so far. I was alerted to set for the species by Jean's report of two passing over yesterday morning.

There were a few passage warblers around too but not in great numbers - no Tree Pipits in the very overcast conditions and no Hirundines whatsoever. A Sparrowhawk was patrolling around the mist net area which prompted a rather early end to the session as most of the birds had sensibly melted away.

Grey Wagtail 2 (see Grey Wagtail ringing scheme details on sidebar)

Cetti's Warbler 1 retrap

Sedge Warbler 1

Lesser Whitethroat 2

Common Whitethroat 4

Blackcap 1

Chiffchaff 3

Willow Warbler 2 + 1 retrap

Great Tit 1

Bullfinch 1 + 1 retrap

Heysham skear - low water (MD)

Eider 14

Great Crested Grebe 9

Shag 1 (presumably the regular 2nd calendar year) feeding near green marker post

Sandwich Tern 2 together in through the low water channel

Little Egret 14

Heron 2 - this one has a small flatfish 

Grey Heron with a small flatfish

It didn't last long

Waders: Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Ringed Plover 12, Dunlin 2

The tide was out quite a distance and the reef which formed over winter was largely exposed. Any submerged feature like this will always attract feeding creatures - great and small.

The long thin finger mid picture is the reef which formed last winter

South shore early evening dropping tide (MD)

Swallow 5 together came in over Red Nab

Rock Pipits 7 - the swarms of Kelp flies were not present today, but clearly there were still lots on the sloping wall, both the Pied Wagtails and the Pipits were helping themselves. This is one of the Pipits with a missing foot and currently moulting, even so it seemed to be easily finding plenty to eat, but it backed away as another group of 3 Pipits past by. It was clearly more wary of them than it was of me (which pleases me greatly!)

Common Sandpiper 3 - there was one on Red Nab and two together came from the north side and rested on No.1 outflow - just a couple of half hearted bobs today.