Redeyed invasion!

Another hot sunny day, with a light breeze that couldn't decide which direction to blow!

Middleton Nature Reserve - Janet

There has been a significant increase in the number of Small Red-eyed damselflies! These were over the main pond at the NW corner.

Not every one of these is a Redeye, but most are!

These were in the SW corner

Small Red-eyed Damselflies 

This male Emperor has just finished eating a Ladybird 

Male Banded Demoiselle near the seat in the car park

A Common Sandpiper flew across the pond

On the south side

Ruddy Darter, at least 2 males in different areas of the pond.

Male Ruddy Darters

Common Darter

Brown Hawker

Bluetail Damselflies

Common Blue

Tatty Green-Veined White

Six-spot Burnet

Hoverfly sp

South shore - Malcolm

09:15 -10:30

I thought this Meadow Pipit by the saltmarsh had caught a grasshopper.
But its antennae are very long, suggesting bush-cricket? Either way I
wouldn't fancy being the youngster that gets this pushed down its throat!

I went out on the shore to watch the tide covering Red Nab. 

There were plenty of gulls awaiting 

At one point all the Curlew left, but the gulls didn't move, it must have just
been time for the Curlew to move on. The arrow points to an Osprey resting 
on the post at the end of No.2 outfall

This is a slightly clearer shot of the Osprey. It was there the whole outing 

Mediterranean gulls 36, including a juvenile 

Juvenile Mediterranean gull

For a change there was no disturbance by the Peregrines. I just had to wait 
till they had to move a little as the tide pushed them higher, to check all their
legs for rings. Fortunately there were three ringed: white, yellow and green

The yellow ringed bird is a returning regular. Ringed as a chick in Germany 
in 2019, it has been seen at Heysham every summer since except 2021. Most
years here was its only sighting but it was seen in Poland just 18 days ago.

The green ringed bird is also a returning bird. Ringed as a chick in France in 2022, it was seen at Heysham last year and then back in France between January - May this year. 

The White ringed bird is new for Heysham, and not the one seen yesterday at the feeding beach. Ringed as a breeding bird in Holland in 2025, it was also seen at Merseyside last year.

One of two Little Egret

All the gulls were still there as I was forced off by the incoming tide.
It was nice to watch them undisturbed for a change.

I returned at 14:30 to walk along the sea wall to watch the feeding beach become exposed. But only two Meds turned up and there were no sandmason worm tubes showing close to the sea wall.

Mediterranean gull on an empty beach

2nd calendar year Shag on the wooden jetty

Rock Pipit having a daintier snack than a bush-cricket

At this time the breeze had shifted to the west and nothing was coming in off the sea. But just as I was getting back to Red Nab it moved to the east again and in the last few hundred metres 3 Red Admirals, a Painted Lady and a Small White came in.

There were lots of Red Admirals in the Nature Park, plus 2 Painted Lady, 2 Peacock, a Brimstone and a Large White.

Also Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood and Small White

Brimstone