Heysham Obs
Red Nab/Ocean Edge
More people on quad bikes surveying and disturbing birds on the incoming tide.
Med Gull - 4 juvs (all unringed), one adult, three 2CY (one metal-ringed on right leg) Red Nab
Little Gull - adult Red Nab, now showing white forehead
Oystercatcher - 2,650
Whimbrel - 2
Curlew - only 15 (flushed?)
No Redshank - all flushed prior to my arrival
Similarly no other visible wader spp along the tideline
Office area 1415-1515
Grasshopper Warbler - still singing very distantly in tank farm
Swift - 77 south in one hour, including gang of 17
House Martin - at least 3 seemed to be moving south
Swallow - mainly if not exclusively 'blogging'
Moths
A Twin-spot Carpet was a long-expected addition to the moth list this morning. This species is scarce on the coast in this area (and perhaps confused occasionally with Barred Rivulet, a species which has surprisingly not kicked off its 2012 account yet here). A nice catch dominated by weak-flying species after a calm rather clear night which knocked the noctuids on the head (e.g. only 12 Straw Underwing). Other species included Caloptilia stigmatella, Ebulea crocealis, White Satin, Chinese Character, 3 Dingy Footman, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet and Bee Moth. The latter has been in good numbers at various trap sites this year
