Hummingbird Hawkmoth number four.......there will have been more!

A variable light, but gusty wing started SSE and ended NW. a heavy shower at lunchtime and an evening thunderstorm.

South shore (MD)

A walk along the wall at lunchtime when the tide was out, hoping to see any insects coming in off. It was overcast (about to rain!) but still warm. The Nature Park was full of Small White and Small Tortoiseshell, as was the scrub between the lighthouse and the waterfall, but there was nothing obviously coming in at that time.

Silver Y were also plentiful, 7 near the lighthouse and this one along the sea wall.

Silver Y moth on the sea wall
They do seem to have been abundant this year, Kevin had another 9 in his trap on Friday

Rock Pipit 1 on Red Nab

Linnet 6 between lighthouse and waterfall 

Female/immature Linnet

Also between the lighthouse and waterfall, this Herring gull was taking apart a crab. It has already despatched the crab and eaten its legs, even so perhaps not a clip for the more sensitive.

Mediterranean gulls  40+ counted by Pete in a quick morning scan 

When I checked they were scattered all over the beaches, just resting not feeding

Two adult and a first summer Mediterranean gull
By this time it was pouring down, which was a shame as the middle bird here has, 
possibly, a three character white darvic ring. If so, it as not been read this year but the
rain made reading it impossible on this visit

It had remained dry all afternoon, but by early evening the skies turned black, it was obviously going to pour down, but I chanced another visit. It was still fine as I reached the saltmarsh 

Wheatear 2 probably 3 near the slipway. Still quite distant and I had about 10 seconds before the heavens opened!

Terrible shots but enough to confirm this quite early movement 
They looked wet, presumably they had been grounded by the incoming storm

By the time I'd stashed my camera, there was no sign of them, I expect they moved onto the saltmarsh. 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 1 seen by Kevin Eaves on the Buddleia in his garden yesterday evening. That's two of the three regular recorders living in the recording area who have seen one in their garden over the last few days. Presumably many other gardens in the area have also been visited.

Kevin had hoped that it would end up in his overnight trap, but it didn't. Still he had bumper night though, this is his tally for last night.

61 Meds and another Hummingbird Hawkmoth

 A light SSE to SE wind, plenty of sunny spells.

South Shore

Shaun did a thorough count of the Mediterranean gulls between Red Nab and the outflows:

61 - 29 adults, 13 2nd summer's and 19 1st summer. Only a white darvic ringed adult and a green darvic ringed 1st summer seen.

I'd checked earlier in the tide (MD).

The tide was well out and the gulls on No.1 outflow were all at the seaward end. This clip is a bit of a jumble, but it does include 8 adult, 1 2nd summer and 9 1st summer Meds.

This is a 2nd summer Mediterranean gull and a Black-Headed gull preening.

Eider 1 - the eclipsed male was in the harbour today

Rock Pipit 4 - 2 on Red Nab including at least 1 immature. 1 near lighthouse and 1 near waterfall.

It was only 10:00 but there was already a trickle of butterflies coming in off the sea. 3 Small White and 2 Small Tortoiseshell came in at the roundhead. 

The Nature park was full of butterflies, partly residents but some will have come in, including the first Painted Lady this year. Unfortunately it continued through so no chance of a decent shot. 

The Buddleia is is full bloom now and attracting/holding many butterflies the full tally this morning was

Painted Lady 1

Red Admiral 7

Peacock 1

Meadow Brown several

Gatekeeper several

Ringlet 4

Small Copper 1

Small White several

Large White 2

Speckled Wood 3

Comma 5 - this one feeding on the Buddleia 

So I returned on the ebbing tide in the evening to see if any other insects had come in, and wasn't disappointed.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 1 - it was feeding on the Buddleia near the small anemometer, but doubt it was the one Kevin got a glimpse of here last week. This one gave the impression that it had just come in and needed to top up its reserves. Fortunately allowing me some excellent views.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

There was nothing coming in off but there were still plenty of butterflies between the lighthouse and waterfall

Small White 14

Small Tortoiseshell 9

One of three Red-legged Shieldbug along sea wall

Black-Tailed Skimmer and Brown Hawker in the Nature Park.

Swallow 2 south.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

I did a more thorough check this afternoon but the only additional stuff from yesterday was 

Little grebe 2

Stock Dove 1

There was a steady drift of Swallows south. 19 seen before the anting started.

Swift 1 south 4 feeding

House Martin 1 feeding.

The anting started about 16:00. Mainly gulls but Swallow and Swift also involved.

Gulls anting high up

After the anting some of the gulls settled on the main pond, for a wash and a drink. These included 2 adult and 2 first summer Mediterranean gulls - One of the adult and both 1st summer are in this clip

This is the other adult with a Black-Headed gull

Quite a lot going on again.......but it's the same lot!

A heavy shower at 08:00. After that dry and later, sunshine.

South shore (MD)

I went along the wall late morning to watch the tide cover the beach next to the wooden jetty.

Mediterranean gulls 14 was the most seen at one time, comprising 6 adult and 2 first summer on the beach next to the jetty, plus another 6 first summer on seaward end of No.1 outflow. Meds spotted on the other beaches and No.2 outflow, but could have been duplicates.

Two adult Mediterranean gulls, the lower one a new bird with a white darvic ring.
Details awaited 

A second quick check of the saltmarsh area at high water:

Eider 1 male in eclipse, again feeding directly above the gully (not the main creek) across the saltmarsh. It clearly has come here specifically to feed, it's not going to do that for crabs which are much more abundant further south. So, it's either a vegetarian option or it was after the Harbour Ragworms.

Male Eider in eclipse 

Lapwing 4

Rock Pipits 3 - including at least 1 juvenile 

Common Whitethroat 1

Linnet 6 - it's easy pickings for seed eaters on the saltmarsh. I'm surprised there aren't more taking advantage.

Lion's mane jellyfish are on this side too. This one was along the waterline. Even at this size their tentacles can extend a few metres. Avoid paddling nearby.

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Just a check of the two main ponds

Mute swan pair, but only 8 cygnets could be seen. The last time I recorded 9 was 12/06, but I have counted 9 since then, I walked the circumference of the pond, there was no sign, dead or alive, of the missing cygnet.

Diminished Mute family

Gadwall  - in contrast seemed to have gained a chick. Only one brood on show again but now 6 young, rather that the earlier counts of 5. These are on the "no swimming" pond.

Mallard 25, mainly immature 

Coot 9 adults 1 large and 3 medium sized young.

Moorhen 4

Little Grebe 1

Swift 1

Swallow 2

Both feeding above the main pond

Chiffchaff and Blackcaps were the only warblers singing

Butterflies 

Gatekeeper are now outnumbering the Ringlet.

Meadow Brown

Small Skipper

Speckled Wood 

Small and Large White

Dragonflies 

Emperor male and female

Brown Hawker 1

Broad-bodied Chaser 1 male

Black-Tailed Skimmer 5 male

Common Darter 1 male plus 3 female/immature 

Male Black-Tailed Skimmer

Quite a lot going on

The west wind continues to ease, another dry day, but mainly overcast in the morning.

Heysham skear (MD)

We are back to spring tides 1.1m at low water.

Great Crested Grebe 5 

Shelduck 1 north

Eider 3 female

Female Eider

Little Egret 4

Oystercatcher c60

Curlew 40+

Redshank 1

Turnstone 1

Summer plumage Turnstone resting on one of the north side Honeycomb worm reefs

Lion's mane jellyfish. I saw three, almost certainly more around. These do grow large, but today's were only cereal dish sized. They do pack a sting though and their tentacles are long.

Lion's mane jellyfish 

The green marker post didn't survive the recent rough weather

South shore (MD)

I had a walk along just after high water.

Eider 1 male in eclipse

Quite a striking male Eider in eclipse 

It was feeding over the saltmarsh, the only thing I can think of there, apart from the odd crab, would be the Harbour ragworm (Creeper) which live in the mud in the gullies and come out to feed when the tide is in.

Common Sandpiper 1 also on the saltmarsh 

Common Sandpiper

This set of spring tides has at least partially refilled the pool near the sea wall.
First time in seven weeks since it held water.

The large gulls young are starting to fledge.

Juvenile Lesser Black-Backed gull

Mediterranean gull 3 - 1 adult plus 2 first summer, but high water is the worst time to check for them

Rock Pipit 6 - individuals on Red Nab and Lighthouse area, which chased off another. An adult with two juvenile on foreshore.

One of the foreshore juvenile Rock Pipits

Cormorant number continue to increase. 32 today on the wooden jetty. These are six coming in.

Shag 1 immature on wooden jetty

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

It was warm in the afternoon so I just did a quick check of the dragonflies around the main pond. Not a lot:

Black-tailed Skimmer 3 adult 1 female

Broad-bodied Chaser 2 male

Common Darter 1 male 2 immature/female

Another Hummingbird Hawkmoth

The west wind continues, but not so strong now. Another dry day with plenty of sunshine.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Janet had a bit of an insect day.

Newly emerged Burnet moth

Yellow Shell moth

Small Skipper

Scorpion Fly

Not just insects though, all the above would make a welcome meal for this spider.

Labyrinth Spider - Agelena labyrinthica

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - this was Janet as well but not in the reserve, it passed through her garden this afternoon. Too quick for Janet to grab her camera.

South shore (MD)

I didn't have much time today, just two very brief visits

Mediterranean gulls 17 was the most accounted for at one time. 7 adult, 1 second summer and 9 first summer. Seen on saltmarsh, Red Nab, outflows and on the afternoon ebbing tide on the sea out from the harbour mouth.

First summer Mediterranean gull flushed from the saltmarsh by the rising tide.

These are the raft of gulls out from the Harbour mouth, including at least 3 adult and 5 first summer Mediterranean gulls.

This is the history of the Mediterranean gull read on Saturday, ringed in Holland as a nestling in 2019, it is quite well travelled, but this year marks it's first sightings in the UK.

Rock pipit 5. 2 near lighthouse, 1 on Red Nab and at least 2 on foreshore, 1 feeding at leat one juvenile.

Rock Pipit with a Sea Slater for (one of)  its fledglings

Common Whitethroat 4 around the saltmarsh edge, including at least two juvenile. I think this one thought I was coming in to feed it.

Common Whitethroat 

At least some of the south side Rock Pipits have been successful

The west wind eased a little, light rain (although it didn't feel "light" in the wind) in the morning, long sunny spells after lunch.

South Shore (MD, JP, KE)

Rock Pipit 7 minimum. There was one standing guard over the lighthouse nesting area. Another halfway between the lighthouse and the waterfall with a bill full of grasshoppers.

This one clearly has large youngsters to feed somewhere 

There were another 5 between Red Nab and the foreshore slipway. One was definitely feeding at least one youngster, probably two.

This is the one collecting food for its fledged youngsters 

This one narrowly escaped being swept off this rubble

Linnet 14 between the lighthouse and saltmarsh 

Linnet on Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 26 - a morning count on the rising tide totalled 8 adult, 17 first summer and 1 second summer. But many were feeding on both outflows all day. This is one of the adults 

When I checked in the morning, it rained throughout my walk, resulting in me being the only person about. It just shows what a difference the lack of disturbance makes. This group of gulls, including an adult and a first summer Mediterranean gull were resting on what was left of Red Nab, directly below the sea wall, panning out reveals the location and a line of plastic flotsam!

Common Tern 2 probably 3

In the morning there were two on No.2 outflow and one seen on No.1, but possibly one had temporarily moved across. In the afternoon single birds were seen on both outflows.

Kevin's shots of this afternoon's Common Tern on No.1 outflow

It was a bit duller when I took this clip in the morning

You don't really associate Greenfinches with crashing waves! This male was taking advantage of the natural content of the flotsam.

Nature Park

Janet took these shots of some of the butterflies

Worn Ringlet

Male Gatekeeper

Comma - the tiny white "question mark" on its underwing is 
the "comma" that its name refers to.

Red Admiral 

Meadow Brown

Small White

Finally this classic moth from Kevin's trap

Garden Tiger