A good day, but hot work!

A hot (29.7°C) sunny day. The light SE breeze held till mid afternoon then shifted to west.

Imperial Rd

Mark Jones checked at 08:00

Male stonechat briefly, near the bush to the left of the elderberry, seemed quite static on a post, also Cetti’s, sedge warbler, common whitethroat, Reed bunting, great spotted woodpecker, song thrush, wren and numerous swallows.

I checked at 15:45 (Malcolm). The same mix of birds as Mark, but the male Stonechat was finally joined by at least two juveniles.

Male and juvenile Stonechat 

I had despaired of ever seeing the young! Hopefully they will be 
more prominent for a while. And where is Mum?

Heysham Nature Reserve (Mark Jones)

Azure Blues

Ringlet

Speckled Wood

Song Thrush with food

Also, heard a little grebe in the reedbeds with moorhen, Reed bunting, sedge warbler, chifchaff, blackcap, long tailed tits (party of 20) common whitethroat, Jay causing havoc, carrion crow feeding youngster in a small conifer, song thrush feeding young.

Roe Deer droppings, looks like they have been eating cherries.
What a great starting opportunity for the cherry seeds.

South shore (Malcolm) 13:30 - 15:00

The east breeze was still blowing and there were quite a lot of butterflies in the Nature Park

Red Admiral 4

Red Admiral 

Painter Lady 2

Large White 1

Small White 3

Ringlet 4

So I was anticipating a number coming in off the sea as I walked along the sea wall. And there was a number, just not the number that I was expecting.....2....Red Admirals.

There must have been more coming in earlier as there were still plenty in the scrub between the lighthouse and waterfall, and quite a variety.

Red Admiral 4

Painted Lady 2

Painted Lady

Meadow Brown 1

Large White 1

Small White 6

Small White

Small Tortoiseshell 2

Silver Y 1

Not easy seeing the Silver Y on this dead leaf

There were more resident Six-spot Burnet, at least 80 (assuming they were all six-spot)

On the return along the sea wall a further 3 Red Admirals came in off.

Mediterranean gull 1 third calendar year, preening on the shore between the outfalls.

Mediterranean gull, top centre. With Black-Headed gulls

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Janet checked this morning 

If you look closely, this Common Whitethroat has a rat-tailed maggot

Emperor, also Black-Tailed Skimmers seen

Ringlet

Meadow Brown 

Six-spot Burnet

Mallard and Heron resting on the eastern bank

I checked the main pond at 15:15 (Malcolm)

Red-veined Dater 1 male. Originally flying over the main pond before settling were the Mute Swans rest on the western bank. Janet had checked this area this morning and didn't see it. Almost certainly recently arrived 

Red-veined Darter male

Also 1 Emperor, 5 Black-tailed Skimmers and a Common Darter.

Cetti's warbler 2, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap 2, and Reed warbler 2 singing

Stock Dove 1