A decent selection in the sunshine

Very light breeze between SE to NE. Sunshine all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing and vis report from John

Grey Wagtail Bonanza

Thirteen were caught this morning. This in not ideal ringing condition, being clear and bright quite early. Also at least another ten were seen.

Other birds were few and far between with only another eight bird caught comprising.

Chiffchaff x 2

Willow Warbler x2

Blackcap x 1

Great Tit x 1

Wren x1

Robin x 1

South shore

Decent coverage today between myself, Janet and Kevin.

Rock Pipits 5 

Meadow Pipit just one south

Wheatear 5

Sandwich Tern 4 together south

Canada goose 6 south

Mute Swan 1 immature turned up just before high water and was feeding in the fresh water from the culvert in the afternoon 

Mediterranean gulls 4 adult 2 juvenile on Red Nab, unfortunately none ringed today - not sure what this juvenile was after, but it needs to hone its skills somewhat!

Janet took a nice selection of pictures, as ever best viewed by opening the images.

Starlings flying from the wooden jetty

Rock Pipit on the sea wall

Little Egret on the shrinking Red Nab

Wheatear near the lighthouse 

Oystercatcher making their way to the feeding grounds

Juvenile Black-Headed gull

Adult Black-Headed gull

At this time of year, most if not all of the above birds can be seen during a walk along the sea wall. On a warm day like today, it is a very pleasant walk with a nice sea breeze.

Insects:

There were butterflies flying east along the sea wall, mainly Small Tortoiseshell but at least one Painted Lady. Also a large dragonfly (probably a female Emperor) came in off over Red Nab.

Around the nature park behind Red Nab were

Red Admiral 4

Comma 1

Large White 3

Small Tortoiseshell 6

Meadow Brown 1

Speckled Wood 3

Dragonflies:

Emperor 2

Migrant Hawker 1

Common Darter 4

 

Pair of Common Darter

A second visit in the afternoon as the tide left the beach looked promising for insects, but surprisingly there were none coming in off near the lighthouse and no butterflies on any of the nearby vegetation. The only factor that perhaps wasn't quite right was that this was the point in the day that the breeze was most northerly. Even so, I would have expected some movement (MD)

Robin 1 near the lighthouse 

Chiffchaff at least 3 - there were three together in the brambles near the waterfall. Also one near the lighthouse, which could have been one of the three.

Kevin managed a shot of one of the waterfall area Chiffchaffs

Tawny Owl - one heard from Kevin's home early this morning. Not often heard away from Heysham Head.

It had been a hot day and these Turnstone took advantage of the calm sea to take a bath.