A light SSE to SE wind, plenty of sunny spells.
South Shore
Shaun did a thorough count of the Mediterranean gulls between Red Nab and the outflows:
61 - 29 adults, 13 2nd summer's and 19 1st summer. Only a white darvic ringed adult and a green darvic ringed 1st summer seen.
I'd checked earlier in the tide (MD).
The tide was well out and the gulls on No.1 outflow were all at the seaward end. This clip is a bit of a jumble, but it does include 8 adult, 1 2nd summer and 9 1st summer Meds.
Eider 1 - the eclipsed male was in the harbour today
Rock Pipit 4 - 2 on Red Nab including at least 1 immature. 1 near lighthouse and 1 near waterfall.
It was only 10:00 but there was already a trickle of butterflies coming in off the sea. 3 Small White and 2 Small Tortoiseshell came in at the roundhead.
The Nature park was full of butterflies, partly residents but some will have come in, including the first Painted Lady this year. Unfortunately it continued through so no chance of a decent shot.
The Buddleia is is full bloom now and attracting/holding many butterflies the full tally this morning was
Painted Lady 1
Red Admiral 7
Peacock 1
Meadow Brown several
Gatekeeper several
Ringlet 4
Small Copper 1
Small White several
Large White 2
Speckled Wood 3
Comma 5 - this one feeding on the Buddleia
So I returned on the ebbing tide in the evening to see if any other insects had come in, and wasn't disappointed.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth 1 - it was feeding on the Buddleia near the small anemometer, but doubt it was the one Kevin got a glimpse of here last week. This one gave the impression that it had just come in and needed to top up its reserves. Fortunately allowing me some excellent views.
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| Hummingbird Hawkmoth |
There was nothing coming in off but there were still plenty of butterflies between the lighthouse and waterfall
Small White 14
Small Tortoiseshell 9
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| One of three Red-legged Shieldbug along sea wall |
Black-Tailed Skimmer and Brown Hawker in the Nature Park.
Swallow 2 south.
Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)
I did a more thorough check this afternoon but the only additional stuff from yesterday was
Little grebe 2
Stock Dove 1
There was a steady drift of Swallows south. 19 seen before the anting started.
Swift 1 south 4 feeding
House Martin 1 feeding.
The anting started about 16:00. Mainly gulls but Swallow and Swift also involved.
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| Gulls anting high up |
After the anting some of the gulls settled on the main pond, for a wash and a drink. These included 2 adult and 2 first summer Mediterranean gulls - One of the adult and both 1st summer are in this clip
This is the other adult with a Black-Headed gull
