Heysham Obs
Not quite sure what is going on with the smaller gulls - the outfalls only seem to be attractive intermittently and conversely a lot more are scattered over the mudflats all the way to the Lune Estuary than is usual on an incoming tide (usually a dropping tide feature)
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge mudflats area incoming tide
Med Gull - 3 x ad, 1 x 3CY, all unringed
Kittiwake - ad & 2CY
Curlew - 282 on Red Nab plus another 50 or so on the mudflats
Whimbrel - 7 on Red Nab
No sign of Little Gull
No sign of any small calidrids or Grey Plover along the incoming tideline
Moths
Barred Yellow was nice and a good series of pugs including Slender, Golden Rod and a worn large one which needs checking carefully
Middleton late evening
Swallow - small roost of about 16 adults
Grasshopper Warbler - 3 singing males
Grey Wagtail - very unseasonal bird heard calling in direction of sewage works
The observatory was set up in 1980. It involves ringing,'vis mig' counts (including seabirds) and general monitoring in the Heysham Nature reserve/power stations/harbour area. The statutory moth trap is in place and also a daily log for butterflies, dragonflies etc. We share an office, kindly provided by EDF Energy, with the County Wildlife Trust. This is located next to the Nature Reserve car park. Do call in. Please leave sightings in the letterbox, ESPECIALLY 'fly-by' seabirds.