Heysham NHW

The afternoon visit was about as quiet as it gets apart from Black Guillemot in the inner harbour.


Stage 2 - Juv Black-headed Gull

First for reserve?

Feast your eyes on this little brown job which John Girdley photographed on Sunday (15th). This "widespread and common throughout the British Isles" moth is now on the Heysham list and has the grand name of Glyphipteryx thrasonella (who makes these up?). It feeds on rushes and flies in the sunshine during May to August. The specimen in the photo will be on display in Heysham Nature Reserve office tomorrow. Bet you can't wait to see it!

On the down side, no-one was on site today to witness any Storm Petrels and there must surely have been some.

Elsewhere

R. Conder: summer plumaged Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper, 2 Black-tailed Godwits.

Sea watch 0900-1000 hrs

Great Skua 'out' close in to end of wooden jetty
Gannet 5 in 8 out
Fulmar 7 in
Kittiwake 6 out
Arctic Tern 1 blogging
Sandwich Tern 7 out + 1 blogging
Black Guillemot on sea below wooden jetty

Dismal day

No bird news from Heysham or elsewhere today (so far, anyway). Very heavy rain and poor visibility seem to have dampened birdwatcher's spirits plus the main man has absconded to Norway.

Moth news isn't much better. In the hut trap were such delights as Heart and Dart (8), Shoulder-striped Wainscot (7), Ingrailed Clay (1), Light Arches (1), Mottled Rustic (2), Buff Ermine (1) and a depressing sign of impending autumn - Dark Arches. At least the plague of Large Yellow Nuisances haven't manifested themselves yet but they're imminent....

Black Guillemot in the hole?

Heysham Observatory
North wall
Nothing seen

Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Med Gull - the north harbour wall 2nd S was flying about at high tide
Sandwich Tern - 3 on Red Nab
Whimbrel - one on Red Nab
Grey Plover - 1st S Ocean Edge saltmarsh
no Knot at high tide

Moths
Included first Light Arches of the year, two worn Shaded Pug and a Grey Pug

Elsewhere
Just 220 Knot on Cockersands Point at high tide (& none at Heysham - have they gone?)

Black Guillemot puzzle

Heysham Obs
Its several weeks since two Black Guillemots were seen with one perceived to be a 2nd CY. The 'resident' bird is spending a lot of time right inside a crevice on the wooden jetty before returning to the nearby water. This was observed today. What is happening?

North wall lunchtime
Black Guillemot - one as above
Med. Gull - 2nd summer, definitely the wintering 1st W of 2007/8, on the railings etc along the north wall - great photo ops. before it loses its head colour.

Dragonflies
None flying at all at Middleton model boat pond lunchtime, not even Black-tailed Skimmer - too cool & windy

Elsewhere
TWO Spoonbill still (or did they disappear for a few days) at Leighton Moss on Griesdale, plus 4 Little Egret. Also Osprey in area.

"Pretty dead"

Heysham Obs
........was the verdict of the birder spending a few hours at Heysham this morning. No offshore Gannet passage as yesterday and no sign of the north wall Med!

Outfalls/north wall
Black Guillemot - in the harbour mouth
Sandwich Tern - c10 offshore
just c50 Knot on Red Nab today

Middleton IE census
This included two Black-tailed Skimmers, away from the usual model boat pond, in the central marsh and a male Broad-bodied Chaser on the no-swimming pond. More details later.

Elsewhere
A Black Kite was put on the pager at 1125hrs relating to a 0625hrs observation over Heversham Moss, then flying up the Lyth valley. Quail still present Marsh Lane, Heversham & seen in flight this morning. 21 Crossbill next to the steep hill between the Summersgill turning and the Botton Mill junction at SD645638; these flew north down the Hindburn valley. Later another ?smaller flock heard in the opposite direction in Thrushgill plantation (& Siskin, Lesser Redpoll). Note that Thrushgill plantation main track is still operational on weekdays.

Highest Gannet count of the year

Heysham Obs
Subtitle: 'should have done an earlier seawatch'

North harbour wall seawatch 1050-1220
Gannet - 34 out, including an initial flock of 13 close inshore which prompted the seawatch! Just two which appeared to be full adult.
Sandwich Tern - 8 out
Med. Gull - 2nd S patrolling the north wall, after earlier being on Red Nab
Black Guillemot - briefly around wooden jetty before disappearing into a hole thereon

Red Nab high tide roost am
Sandwich Tern 2 adult + 2 blogging offshore
Knot 165
Curlew 74

Moths
Another Shaded Pug, otherwise the usual suspects with Shoulder-striped Wainscot still in second position after Heart and Dart

Elsewhere
A visit to Leighton Moss reavealed some odds and ends around - e.g. Osprey past JBP with a fish, 2+ Little Egret still around. The Marsh Lane Heversham Quail has been showing occasionally without any "need" to use tape lures.

Med Gull returns "for the winter"?

Heysham Obs
North harbour wall
Black Guillemot still present in harbour mouth a.m. but not seen afternoon/evening
Mediterranean Gull - 2nd S 1900hrs. patrolling
Knot - 160 skeer opposite Sand Plant Gate - no adults.
Linnet - pair at Sand Plant

Stage 2 outfall
Black-headed Gull min. 250.
No sign of any Knot, but tide not far enough in during late afternoon check

Mammals
Grey Seal off north harbour wall

Moths
Shears new for the year

Elsewhere
Quail heard again along Marsh Lane, Heversham (pm)

Black Guillemot connected with again

Heysham Obs
North harbour wall 0900-0915
Black Guillemot - in the harbour mouth, then below the wooden jetty; also there late in the afternoon (per pager)
Sandwich Tern - 3 'in' together

Red Nab/outfalls 0915-0930
Good number of gulls for this stage of the tide but nothing notable e.g. Med.

Elsewhere
[R-C Starling Inskip, c30mins drive to south: SD453380]