Cetti's 8 - Yellow-browed 2

Very light breezes varied from NE early on to SE then East later. Sunshine pretty much all day.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Report from Alan:

John and I set nets this morning. It was very clear and calm as it had been most of the night after the strong winds of yesterday through to late evening. The catch was not large but did include 7 Cetti's Warblers (two of which were retraps) and a Yellow-browed Warbler.

Goldcrest 13 + 1 retrap

Cetti's Warbler 5 + 2 retraps

Wren 3 +2 retraps

Chiffchaff 5

Blackcap 1

Robin 3

Yellow-browed Warbler 1

Redwing 1

Overhead were two flocks of Pink-footed Geese moving North - 125 , and one flock of c70 flying South at 11.45

Also were quite a few Corvids on the move with a total of c86 flying South (probably all Carrion Crow) and 10 Jackdaws also South.

Nine Alba wagtails plus three Meadow Pipits also passed through.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Report from Jean and Pete:

There was a little bit of migration visible this morning with the main theme being corvid passage. A few thrushes and finches and other odds and ends were also visible/audible in the clear blue sky:

Carrion Crow 29 (in two main flocks)

Jackdaw 7

Rook 4

Magpie flock of 14 purposefully south

Blackbird 14 continental birds all adult or 1cy male

Redwing 2

Song Thrush 1

Mistle Thrush 1

Greenfinch 4

Bullfinch 3

Chaffinch c15 south

Siskin 1

Linnet 1

Meadow Pipit 5

Skylark minimum 15 south

Pied Wagtail 1

Great White Egret 1 - high south early on

Little Egret 2 similarly, but later

Pink-footed Goose - a flock headed north at 8am then 85 south in two flocks later on

Woodpigeon 22

Ringing comprised a total of 35 birds caught, 29 new and 6 retraps (all fairly recent birds):

Chaffinch  4 new, 2 retraps

Goldcrest 5 new, 2 retraps

Great Tit 1 new, 1 retrap

Blue Tit 3 new

Chiffchaff 2 new

Long-tailed tit 2 new

Robin 1 new

Greenfinch 3 new

Goldfinch 5 new

Wren 2 new

Dunnock 1 retrap

Grounded - Dave Bickerton

Cetti's warbler 1 singing on east side of marsh.

Yellow-browed Warbler 1 calling near dipping pond (also seen/heard later)

South shore (MD)

I checked twice today. Just a short circuit from saltmarsh to Red Nab in the morning 

Linnet 70+

Greenfinch c10

Goldfinch c10

All above feeding on/around saltmarsh 

Wheatear 1 quickly moved through

Stonechat 1 female/immature briefly by saltmarsh, before being moved on by a Robin.

Stonechat 

Reed Bunting 1 near slipway 

Reed Bunting 

Rock Pipit 5

Meadow Pipit 2 south

Skylark 8 south (2, 2, 3, 1)

Jackdaw 53 south, one flock 09:50

Lapwing 60 

Ringed Plover 40

(Both the above counts not estimates)

Grey Wagtail 1 Red Nab

The only insect seen was a single Common Darter in the Nature park.

It was a different story in the late afternoon, the light breeze had been from the east all day and the sun was warm. I went specifically to check if any insects had come in off the sea, there had.

Saltmarsh to end of foreshore 

Small Tortoiseshell 1

Small White 4

Red Nab

Small white 1

Common Darter 6 (all males)

One of six male Common Darters sunning themselves on Red Nab rocks

Sea wall to wooden jetty

Common Darter 4 (2 females)

Aged female Common Dater on sea wall near wooden jetty 

No further butterflies seen, but there were 4 moths, 3 refused to land and were beyond my identification skills. The one that settled was a Silver Y, the other three could have been.

Silver Y - half way along the sea wall

Alan had mentioned a large gathering of Ladybirds at his home this lunchtime, it would seem it wasn't an isolated event. Two were resting on the sea wall, both Harlequin, but totally different variations

Harlequin Ladybird - this is typical of the variation  I  normally see

Another variant of Harlequin Ladybird - can't say I've seen this one before (MD)

There were loads of flies, and presumably other beetles. Needless to say the birds were taking advantage. I was surprised that only one Rock Pipit was feeding on the sloping wall near the lighthouse, but along the main sloping wall the wagtails were busy.

Pied Wagtail 40+

Grey Wagtail 1

These are just a few of the Pied Wagtails 

Shag 1 on wooden jetty

Janet took this shot of one of the Heysham Head Rock Pipits

Rock Pipit

Janet also advises that the Pink-Footed Geese were feeding in the fields just beyond Meldon Road.