It was generally fair till about 09:30 (Alan was unlucky getting a shower at Middleton) after that the rain started and never really stopped. Wind from the west.
A ringing session this morning was interrupted by a fairly heavy rain shower between 06.40 and about 07.30, during which time the nets were were closed to avoid catching birds in the wet conditions. After Monday's poor catch of 3 juvenile Robins, one juvenile Willow Warbler, a retrapped Chiffchaff and one unringed Grasshopper Warbler, this morning was only a little better.
Sedge Warbler - 1 juv +1 retrap
Reed Warbler - 2 + 2 retraps
Reed Bunting - 1 adult + 1 juvenile
Dunnock - 1 juvenile
It would seem that either the warbler species have yet to fledge their young in any numbers or it has been a poor breeding season. Hopefully things will improve and dispersing young will be trapped in good numbers in the next few weeks.
I checked Ocean Edge towards high water (MD). I was a bit late and the tide had already covered the mud. The only "records" were:
Pied Wagtail family of 6 on the saltmarsh.
The Sea Slaters, at least, were grateful for the rain, the rocks were covered in them!
Nothing else for today so filling in with a few pictures that didn't make the cut yesterday. These were on Middleton Nature Reserve.
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| Male Four-spotted Chaser |
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| Male Black-tailed Skimmer |
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| Female Emperor ovipositoring |
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| Female Common Blue |
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| This Large Skipper was Ocean Edge foreshore The hooks on its antennae can be seen. |
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| Kevin took this shot of a Small Skipper on Heysham Nature Reserve |
