Heysham Obs
The only bird observations worth noting (so far?) were:
Med Gull - 1st summer on the outfalls late afternoon - this bird has at least one 2nd W tail feather, therefore two have been around in the last fortnight or so
Grasshopper Warbler - two singing males on the IE this morning
Dragonflies
Dull but humid conditions brought out an almost full quota of 4-spotted Chaser with 22+ on the IE and 8 on the dog-walk pond. Emperor, however, inhibited by the conditions but singles were seen on the dog pond and IE central marsh pond. THREE Black-tailed Skimmer on the model boat pond but conditions not sunny enough for any chance of early Red-veined Darter (assuming they did not all emerge on a 'ticket to nowhere' last autumn after the hot 2006 summer)
Moths
Quality local rarity in the form of Yellow-barred Brindle - only the second or third for the site. More mundane year ticks included Clouded Border and Middle-barred Minor. Three further Shaded Pug were notable and a single Small Clouded Brindle was welcome
Elsewhere
Two near misses for the all-time Heysham Obs list (Spoonbill) were replaced on Bowie's Pool by two others today in the form of two Avocet! It is really about time these species occured within visual range of Heysham. Wood Warbler still at Tower Lodge
