seabirds missed?

Heysham Obs
If anyone managed to do any seawatching on the morning tide, results gratefully received. Thanks

One Gannet flew out of the Bay past the Stone Jetty this morning during a short pre-work seawatch, otherwise the only sighting was 'at least one Black Guillemot by the wooden jetty' around lunchtime

First Green Sand of the autumn

Heysham Obs
This was a day where a few bits and bobs could be 'squeezed out' notably location of rather lethargic dragonflies in sunny conditions, but barely 14C! It was the authors fifth unsuccessful attempt to see the pair of Black Guillemot - exclusively late afternoon!

Wooden jetty/harbour area
The pair of Black Guillemot were seen in the morning at c1030 but could not be located late afternoon. One juv Shag was on the jetty late afternoon

Heysham NR
A Green Sandpiper flew from the NR marsh towards the (ex)Obs Tower pond late afternoon. At least three singing male Lesser Whitethroat on British Energy property.

Insects
3 mature male and a probable sluggish female rather than teneral Red-veined Darter along the western shore of the model boat pond. One male spent a very short time over the water. At least 7 similarly sluggish Black-tailed Skimmer including two 'in cop'. The first Brown Hawker of the year was along the sheltered Moneyclose Lane

Mammals
Grey Seal harbour entrance late afternoon

Elsewhere
A non-singing Wood Warbler seen at Tower Lodge (three singing males this week at Outhwaite Wood). Long-eared Owls were notable up the Leck Fell road this evening with at least 4 young in the top plantation [2 showing along the eastern side, viewed from the road about 300m beyond/above the end of the plantation] and at least three in the lower [one seen briefly] and a sighting of two adults, one from each plantation

They are still here.....

Heysham Obs
Two Black Guillemot and at least one juv Shag reorted by visitors around the harbour entrance/wooden jetty. Thanks.

Only had time to check outfalls on dropping tide and that is the worst time with gulls scattered far and wide. Anyone time to check for the ringed Med & read it this evening? Thanks.

Elsewhere
TWO Spoonbill on the pager for EM Pool. Returning Green Sandpiper Aldcliffe

Darvic ringed Med new in

Heysham Obs
Early morning visit
harbour/wooden jetty
Black Guillemot - 2 showing well
Shag - 2 juvs

offshore
Sandwich Tern - 3

Evening visit
Red Nab
Mediterranean gull 2nd summer - full black hood and red bill, white mirrors on black primaries, only seen at rest. Ringed LL metal RL white with black digits, lower leg. PLEASE try and read this - the 'black on white' darvics are the easiest. I'll have a go tomorrow but a good idea to have a 50 x with you when visiting this site in the next month as the Meds build up

Black-headed gull 265 at roost
Red-breasted merganser 2
Shelduck 5
Curlew 37

Harbour
Black guillemot 2
Shag juv
Sandwich tern min. 10 blogging
Gannet 7 blogging - very unusual in the evening - fish shoal? Most probably as the Sandwich tern and c40 large gulls were active there in a relatively small area.
Turnstone 1 wooden jetty

Misc
Blackcap female/immature in bush at gate 38!

Elsewhere
Spoonbill Allen/Em Pools.

Heysham obs

Heysham Obs
Evening visit foreshore areas
Black guillemot - 1 on sea below wooden jetty (3 reported on the pager in the morning)
Shag 2 juv on wooden jetty
Black-headed gull 312 roosting off Ocean Edge.
Redshank 1 wooden jetty

Insects
Broad-bodied Chaser and an identified teneral darter, possibly Red-veined, at Middleton during unhelpful weather

Elsewhere
Spotted Redshank still at Conder, Spoonbill EM Pool (also seen yesterday and decribed as 'imm'). Short-eared Owl as well as at least two ad Long-eared Owl seen on Leck Fell from c2140hrs, but young not cooperative, mainly calling from the centre/far side of the plantations (4+).

Black guillemot display

Heysham Obs
Harbour/wooden jetty area
Two Black Guillemot present at least most of the day [present for at least a week]. Close together on the sea below the wooden jetty and quite close to the south harbour wall. The slightly larger of the two (white wing patches distinctly larger), presumably the male was making up and down neck and bill movements with the bill frequently opening and closing showing well the red gape (vermilion in text book), at the same time issuing a high pitch 'whistling' (text book again). There is another out of range displaying pair at a harbour (Fishguard). The more products of harbour hole nesting (e.g. Bangor Co Down) reach maturity and disperse, the more suitable Heysham Harbour looks as a potential site to colonise. Early days though and surely too late this season. The biggest threat are probably the monofilament nets which are set fairly close by.

Shag juv on wooden jetty.

Red Nab/Ocean Edge area
236 Black-headed Gull included a 1st summer Med Gull around high tide (early evening)

Insects
FIVE male Red-veined Darter on the model boat pond during a short period of sunshine in the early afternoon. Common Footman and Straw Dot new for the year in the moth trap

Mammals
Brown Rat on rocks below wooden jetty.
Whitish rabbit at entrance to Obs. for the last week or so

Elsewhere
New in was a adult summer Spotted Redshank at Conder Green (wintering bird??).

Red-veined Darter again in rather inclement weather

Heysham Obs
2 Black Guillemot on wooden jetty late pm

Middleton IE
At least one Red-veined Darter on the model boat pond (thanks Steve)

Elsewhere
Nothing new reported. Single adult and at least 5 young LEO seen/heard on Leck Fell 2130-2200hrs in worsening weather [last two (uphill) plantations on left as viewed from road on SE side of valley].

They're back and almost creating a little Atlas dot!

Heysham Obs
Harbour area/outfalls
The pair of adult Black Guillemot were again around the harbour entrance. Two juvenile Shag were on the wooden jetty. Thanks for these Lou. A visit to the Ocean Edge side at high tide failed to produce a single worthwhile sighting, despite 75 Black-headed Gull on Red Nab

Middleton IE
As was the case nearby yesterday, two newly-arrived singing male Reed Warbler. One of these was an expressive individual with a section of the song being quite fast, high and multi-notated before returning to the usual 'chug- chug chug-chug'. This is why 'possible' Marsh Warblers are claimed.

Insects
'Good practice' isn't much use if you dont switch it on again - nil moths! However, blended tungsten-ballasted MV bulbs have had a habit of blowing during thundery conditions in the past, especially if the door is opened, creating a sudden pressure change, whilst the thunderstorm is still in the area. Anyone explain this?

"Quite a few" (20+) Red Admiral butteflies around

Three male Red-veined Darter during sub-optimal windy conditions on Middleton IE - this DOES suggest there are quite a lot but when are we going to get good flying conditions to do a proper count? There was also a teneral which appeared to be Red-veined. At least 9 Black-tailed Skimmer. All on 'model boat pond' = first pond you come to. on the right after the entrance

Elsewhere
5 young Long-eared Owl calling in the top left-hand two plantations on Leck Fell (road on SE side), also at least one adult seen. Best after 2130hrs.

Swift sensation

Heysham Obs
North wall/wooden jetty
Swift 126 in-off over Heysham 2 continuing inland 1850 - 2005 hrs.
Shag juv wooden jetty
Starling c300 pre roost at Harbour
Herring gull at nest with young in Harbour on one of platforms near intake. Several on buildings around the Power Station/harbour/Middleton IE [LBBG in the majority] but ground nesting unusual. The main site (the old Pontins roof) has become unavailable so there is presumably some 'readjustment' going on on the reduced number of rooftops etc! Time to census them?

Outfalls
1st S Med. Gull
2 Arctic and one distant 'comic' tern

Insects
Two male and a teneral Red-veined Darter during a very brief period of sunlight at the Middleton model boat pond. Also 4 Black-tailed Skimmer.
Dragonfly sp. 'out' West over sea. Brown China Mark new for the year in the moth trap.

Elsewhere
Back to zilch reported!

Rushed WeBS count

Heysham Obs
"Dashing" back A590-style from the Hudsonian Whimbrel (well worth seeing at Biggar, 'middle' Walney Island) to do a quick WeBS saw the only loggable birds of the day.....or bird:

Shag - juvenile on the wooden jetty
Black Guillemot - no sign but the Pilot Boat was around during the short visit
Swallow 'blogging' along north wall - are they nesting in one of the harbour buildings?
Swallow always along SHW and are probably nesting nearby somewhere in the Power Station.

Middleton IE
Very marginal weather saw a Swallow 'flush' a male Red-veined Darter for a short flight. 3 brief sightings of Black-tailed Skimmer, but not really sunny enough despite 18.5 degrees on car temperature guide

Elsewhere
Described as 'ominous' by the warden, the final sighting of the White-tailed Plover was heading towards the Slag Tips before being 'lost' at 2040hrs YESTERDAY as viewed from the Crag watchpoint. NO reports today but surely saturation coverage (or appearance elsewhere!) needed to make any pronouncements on departure