The weather clobbers the more exposed roof-nesting seagulls

Heysham Obs
Better timing for the incoming tide Red Nab check.  Gulls at all angles with some half-hidden behind rocks in the light winds and took five sweeps to be as certain as possible there were:

Red Nab/outfalls
Med Gull - 4 x 2CY, the new bird being large with a black 'dollop' of a mask, and a small adult.  None ringed
Kittiwake - 2CY
Black-headed Gull - 270 (five juvs - first I've noticed this year here)
Common Gull - 19
Common Sandpiper - 1
Grey Plover = 16 along tideline south of Ocean Edge


Gull nest/brood count on 12/6/12
Fisher's Roof north side:
Herring Gull - 6 on nests;
Lessers - 15 on nests plus 3 broods of 2 juvs, and 3 broods of 1 juv
Great BB Gull - 1 brood of 2 juvs
Gull nest/brood count on 2/7/12
Fisher's Roof north side:
Herring Gull - 1 on nest plus 1 brood of 2 juvs ;
Lessers 1 on nest plus 2 broods of 3 juvs and 1 brood of 2 juvs.
Fisher's Roof south side:
Herring Gulls - 2 broods of 1juv, 1 brood of 2 juvs, 1 brood of 3 juvs;
Lessers - 2 broods of 2 juvs
Centrica:
Herring Gull - 1 on nest plus 1 brood of 1 juv;
Lessers 1 brood of 2 juvs
? Roof (flat-roofed building at port):
Herring Gull - 1 brood of 1 juv, 1 brood of 2 juvs
Middleton/Heysham Business Park:
Herring Gull - 2 broods of 1 juv;
Lessers - 3 broods of  3 juvs, 13 broods of  2 juvs and  9 broods of 1 juv
Ocean Edge Caravan site - to be added

Moths
A really good catch at last with the highlight being a Shark, a formerly regular species around here but scarce these days.  Rarer still here was Currant Pug and 'firsts of the year' included Wormwood Pug and Large Fruit Tree Tortrix

A significant influx of Silver Y in this rather muggy weather at the moment and (top) a rather "in between seasons" Treble Bar - usually double-brooded in spring/autumn - presumably a late emergence in the poor weather.  Thanks Janet

Bit of a shortage of Ragwort this year and getting hammered by Cinnabar caterpillar.  Quite a lot of moth larvae use ragwort e.g. Eucosma campoliliana as well as it being a useful nectar source for all sorts of insects.  Thanks Janet