South Side Story

The hot sun continues. Light east wind all day.

Morning report from Pete:

Heysham high neap tide

2cy shag wooden jetty

42 Sanderling and 4 Dunlin on sandy ‘spit’ off south end Ocean Edge

2 guillemot

2 Common scoter

6 Canada geese 

in 30 minute seawatch 

I had a walk along the south sea wall just after lunch (MD)

Curlew 25

Whimbrel 2

A flock of small waders flew in and settled along the waterline of the beach between the wooden jetty and No.1 outflow. Turned out to be 

Dunlin 1

Sanderling 132

Mainly Sanderling coming in to land

They quickly spread along the waterline feeding, but think I managed to squeeze in 130 of them into this clip.

This is a more relaxed clip of some of them.

Rock Pipits - lighthouse pair still feeding chicks in nest.

Heysham Skear - low water 16:15 (MD)

So, 174 Sanderling seen on the south side (presuming no overlap between mine and Pete's sightings). I was expecting a bonanza on the skear. Typically, it wasn't to be. Just....

Sanderling 11 (2, 8 and 1)

Slightly better views than of the south side birds though - 5 of the group of 8

Curlew 19

Turnstone 1

Summer plumage Turnstone

Redshank 1 (first seen for a few weeks)

Summer plumage Redshank

Kevin Eaves sent this shot from the sea wall yesterday 

The bug goes by the wonderful name of Denticulate Leatherbug.
 It's at the northern end of its range in Heysham and will undoubtedly be a new
addition to the, mainly sea covered, tetrad that includes the harbour mouth.

This moth was from his overnight trap.

This moth is a Scorched Wing. Although not particularly rare, it is one of my favourite
moths due to the exquisite wing markings which provide great camouflage.

Kevin Singleton took this clip at his daughter's house on Tranmere Crescent this morning

Very bold behaviour in daylight!