Nearly 200 Meds!

Another hot sunny day with a light variable breeze

South shore

Shaun Coyle made a thorough check of the gulls and insects:

Heysham Red Nab. 1030-12:00:
Mediterranean Gull 190. 3 juvs, at least 30 2cy, the rest 3cy/adults. 

Nature Park:
Red Admiral 29.
Painted Lady 13.
Peacock 16.
Comma 3.
Large White 2.
Small White 8.
Meadow Brown 8.
Gatekeeper 36.
Speckled Wood 5.
Common Blue 3.
Small Skipper 1.
Also, 2 Hummingbird Hawkmoths.
Emperor Dragonfly 2.

I checked the gulls from the shore (Malcolm) once again there was no disturbance by Peregrines.

I could only find six ringed Mediterranean gulls. Just two new ones for this year, but one was the red ringed bird I caught a glimpse of yesterday 

We have seen this one before, it was here last August when we also had a 
high number of Meds. Ringed in Poland 2024. Hopefully it has been seen
since leaving us last year.

These are just some of the gulls on Red Nab

I walked back through the Nature Park with Shaun. This is his second Hummingbird Hawkmoth. In the same location as seen yesterday and the portion of the wing missing showing it to be the same insect.

Yesterday I incorrectly said it was feeding on tiny flowers. Maurice Pons has correctly pointed out that; "this is a female landing on a non flowering Lady,s Bedstraw for a split second to lay an egg. A sight rarely recorded." It was doing the same today. An area to watch for caterpillars later on.

c30m west of the small anemometer, along the back track from the anemometer, 
to where the track opens to a clearing with the large Buddleia stand beyond 

Swifts 8 south over Heysham as I headed home

Middleton Nature Reserve - Shaun

Lots of Small red-eyed damselflies on Main Pond and also on the No Swimming Pond (lots of Blue-tailed/Common Blues too)

Male Red-veined Darter on the No Swimming Pond with about 5 Common Darters. 

Commons also on Main Pond. 

Male Ruddy Darter on the pond in the Southern Section. 

Quite a few Emperor's, Black-tailed Skimmers, Brown Hawkers and a female Broad-bodied Chaser

Met a couple who had seen Southern Hawker too. 

Just out of the recording area:

Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen for the first time at Walney today. They are certainly rapidly expanding their territory.

Janet was watching the Common Terns feeding in the River Lune from Bazil Point, before flying back to their nest at the Conder pool.

Common Tern