Another hot sunny day, with a light breeze that couldn't decide which direction to blow!
Middleton Nature Reserve - Janet
There has been a significant increase in the number of Small Red-eyed damselflies! These were over the main pond at the NW corner.
Not every one of these is a Redeye, but most are!
These were in the SW corner
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| Small Red-eyed Damselflies |
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| This male Emperor has just finished eating a Ladybird |
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| Male Banded Demoiselle near the seat in the car park |
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| A Common Sandpiper flew across the pond |
On the south side
Ruddy Darter, at least 2 males in different areas of the pond.
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| Male Ruddy Darters |
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| Common Darter |
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| Brown Hawker |
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| Bluetail Damselflies |
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| Common Blue |
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| Tatty Green-Veined White |
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| Six-spot Burnet |
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| Hoverfly sp |
South shore - Malcolm
09:15 -10:30
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I thought this Meadow Pipit by the saltmarsh had caught a grasshopper.
But its antennae are very long, suggesting bush-cricket? Either way I
wouldn't fancy being the youngster that gets this pushed down its throat! |
I went out on the shore to watch the tide covering Red Nab.
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| There were plenty of gulls awaiting |
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At one point all the Curlew left, but the gulls didn't move, it must have just
been time for the Curlew to move on. The arrow points to an Osprey resting
on the post at the end of No.2 outfall |
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| This is a slightly clearer shot of the Osprey. It was there the whole outing |
Mediterranean gulls 36, including a juvenile
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| Juvenile Mediterranean gull |
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For a change there was no disturbance by the Peregrines. I just had to wait
till they had to move a little as the tide pushed them higher, to check all their
legs for rings. Fortunately there were three ringed: white, yellow and green |
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The yellow ringed bird is a returning regular. Ringed as a chick in Germany
in 2019, it has been seen at Heysham every summer since except 2021. Most
years here was its only sighting but it was seen in Poland just 18 days ago. |
The green ringed bird is also a returning bird. Ringed as a chick in France in 2022, it was seen at Heysham last year and then back in France between January - May this year.
The White ringed bird is new for Heysham, and not the one seen yesterday at the feeding beach. Ringed as a breeding bird in Holland in 2025, it was also seen at Merseyside last year.
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| One of two Little Egret |
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All the gulls were still there as I was forced off by the incoming tide.
It was nice to watch them undisturbed for a change. |
I returned at 14:30 to walk along the sea wall to watch the feeding beach become exposed. But only two Meds turned up and there were no sandmason worm tubes showing close to the sea wall.
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| Mediterranean gull on an empty beach |
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| 2nd calendar year Shag on the wooden jetty |
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| Rock Pipit having a daintier snack than a bush-cricket |
At this time the breeze had shifted to the west and nothing was coming in off the sea. But just as I was getting back to Red Nab it moved to the east again and in the last few hundred metres 3 Red Admirals, a Painted Lady and a Small White came in.
There were lots of Red Admirals in the Nature Park, plus 2 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock, a Brimstone and a Large White.
Also Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small White
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| Brimstone |
