Another warm sunny day, a little more north to the east wind than yesterday.
Heysham skear (Malcolm) 08:00 - 09:30
Canada goose 1 came in low from the south, settled briefly then continued north.
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| It has a condition known as wry neck. Probably since it was a gosling |
Eider 10
Great Crested Grebe 1
Little Egret 2
Grey Heron 1
Oystercatcher 1,500
Curlew 1
Whimbrel 6
Bar-Tailed Godwit 2 north
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| Bar-Tailed Godwit |
Ringed Plover 3
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| Ringed Plover |
Gulls - at least as many as yesterday (1,200). I couldn't get close to most, but I managed to check c250 without seeing a single ringed bird. Then on my way back one was right in front of me! Unfortunately one that I saw a couple of days ago.
Janet had a good look around today:
Middleton Nature Reserve
southern section:
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| Common Whitethroat |
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| Female Black-Tailed Skimmer |
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| Green-Veined White with a white "petal"? |
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| Red Admiral |
northern section:
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| Mute cygnets all present and correct |
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| Grey Heron chilling out |
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| Common Bluetail Damselfly |
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| Common Blue Damselfly, with breakfast |
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| Small Heath |
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| Rock Pipit at Ocean Edge foreshore |
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| Two Rock Pipits taking food to the nest below Heysham Head |
Heysham Nature Reserve
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| Brown Silver-line |
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| Broad-bodied Chaser |
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| High flying Small Whites |
South sea wall (Malcolm) 15:00 - 16:30
Shelduck 6 - 2 feeding plus 4 south
Swallow 1 north
Linnet 2 on the foreshore, 1 on Red Nab and 2 near the lighthouse.
At first the only butterflies seen along the sea wall were 2 Common Blue
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| Common Blue on the sea wall |
But by the time I reached No.1 outfall I began seeing, first Red Admirals then other species. They were coming in off the sea, but as there was more north in the wind today they only remained along the wall until they found a way through, or over, the perimeter fence to continue into the wind. By the time I got back I had seen
Red Admiral 31.
Painted Lady 4
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| Again, the Painted Ladies were stopping off to fuel up before continuing |
Common Blue 38
Small White 11
Large White 2
There were more Craneflies today, some more identifiable than others
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| Nephrotona submaculosa |
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| Herring Gull nesting on one of the platforms in the harbour |
Insects in the Nature Park:
Small White several
Large White 4
Common Blue 10+
Brimstone 2 males
Large Skipper 1 - first of the year
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| Large Skipper |
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| Female Black-Tailed Skimmer. Not a regular here |
