Passing Canadas

The light NE continues, overcast but dry.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from Alan:

The catches can't get much lower!  This morning was overcast with a light NE breeze. Only six birds ringed comprising 2 Chiffchaff, and singles of Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Meadow Pipit and Goldfinch.

I had a quick look around mid morning (MD)

Mute "pair" (the male is starting to distance himself) plus 9 cygnet. Plus 1 adult on "no swimming " pond.

Coot 4

Moorhen 12 including 5 juvenile 

Mallard 9

Gadwall 14 - all on "no swimming" pond.

Little grebe 1 adult  also on "no swimming" pond

Cetti's warbler 2 singing males. One on Tim Butler, which is a known territory, although no singing heard since spring. The other was in the SE corner of the main pond, easily heard from the bottom car park. This is likely to be the bird singing and calling from the car park last week. This area is not an historic territory.

The only dragonflies seen were a couple of Common Darter and an Emperor.

Only two species of butterfly too. Green-Veined White 2 and Speckled Wood 30+. The Speckled wood were more active today than through the warm spell, they seem to appreciate the cooler weather. Both species were quite fresh looking.

Green-Veined White, showing how effective the veins are at breaking up its outline.

Speckled Wood - looking fresh

Red Nab and Foreshore 

Just a quick check on the way back from Middleton 

Rock Pipits 3 on the small beach between Red Nab and the foreshore. Pete advises that any movement at this time of year will just be the local population mixing and matching (more mixing than matching going on yesterday).

Wheatear 8 - at this time of year I find it very difficult to decide what age and even what sex they are. This clip is actually one of yesterday's birds. It very kindly displayed both profiles, but I'm still not confident, so I'll say nothing....((MD)

One thing I have noticed though. In spring, all the birds pass through in silence, but some of the adult retuning birds in autumn produce a click. I've always taken this as a warning call to youngsters, presumably as result recent habit, as they do it when they are alone as well as in groups.

A flock of 37-38 Canada geese came in off the sea and landed on the mud out from the foreshore, they only hung around a few minutes before setting off again to the east.

In contrast to Middleton, the only butterfly in the nature park was a single Meadow Brown