Saturday 20 August 2011

China Marks, a Rusty Dot and reasonable coastal fare

Heysham Obs
A wander round the reserve to check for wasps nests prior to a moth trapping event this week (I've lost my best overnight moth trapping site at Millhouses due to excessive numbers of wasps from a nearby nest) included a quick look along the boardwalk.  The horsetails were full of fluttering white moths - a mass emergence of Small China Mark

Ocean Edge/Red Nab late incoming tide
Med Gull - slightly awkward viewing angle of the sleeping gulls saw 2 x 1CY, 1 x 3CY and 2 x adult, but it took four sweeps to pick them all up!
Little Gull - 2CY & Ad
Sandwich Tern - increase to 13
Common Gull - 2 adults
Redshank - 475
Whimbrel - 1
Knot - 6

Tideline off the old Pontins site
Grey Plover - 81, including several in full-summer plumage
Bar-tailed Godwit - 185, including 3 in full summer plumage

Moths
A migrant Rusty Dot Pearl was a bit of a surprise amongst the small catch of dross.  A worn Straw Underwing was late