Heysham Obs
Both CES sites were given their allocated time this morning. That key CES species - Tufted Duck - escaped from the top shelf of a mist net at Middleton (the second duck, following a Mallard, to do so since we started the CES)! Otherwise the highlights were rather modest - a migrant male acredula-type Willow Warbler, with a supercilium an Arctic Warbler would have been proud of, was caught at Middleton where a passage Garden Warbler gave a few bursts of song before moving inland (the only common warbler species which does not breed there)
Just the one singing male Reed Warbler at Middleton (see late entry for yesterday) which was part of a nice array of singing warblers all heard at the same time from the same spot (can the Leighton dawn choruses compete with this?): Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Grasshopper Warbler, Blackcap, the abovementioned passage Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler.........and the habitat looks perfect for a Cetti's in the next year or so!
The most unexpected sighting was a Grey Wagtail which visited the sewage works - not known to breed anywhere nearby and 16 Swallow & 5 House Martin comprised the only northbound vis.
Dragonflies
Azure, Common Blue, Blue-tailed and Large Red damsels. One 4-spotted Chaser on the 'scrape' pond
