snatches of time

Heysham Obs
Middleton IE
Model boat pond
Darter spp - a red darter was briefly in the centre of the pond before being chased off by Bk T Skimmer.  The variable-height flight mode was not convincing for Red-veined, but this might have been due to being harrassed.  If it was a RVD, it was not a full adult male.
Black-tailed Skimmer - minimum of 12, possibly up to 20

Ocean Edge
High tide produced:
Med Gull - single adult (Ocean Edge saltmarsh) and ad/3CY with only the upperparts visible (Red Nab) with c350 Black-headed Gull

Moths
The catch included two Broad-barred White.  Two nights ago produced a convincing e.g. of Heart and Club which is being thoroughly checked following quite a few false alarms with extralimital claims (has appeared here once before)

Decent Middleton ringing session

Heysham Obs

Middleton IE
A ringing session using the CES net sites in the central marsh and the western marsh net sites produced a significant number of warbler species including Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and reasonable numbers of Common Whitethroat.  Of the 7 Lesser Whitethroat caught, one was ringed elsewhere - the first time we have had either a recovery or a 'control' of this species and about time!   

Today

The only news so far is from elsewhere  - a Guillemot at Far Arnside.

Mundane June morning...

Moths:
Continued influx of the Heysham speciality Double Dart. (5).
Light Arches (1) dubiously worthy of note.

Elsewhere:
Red Kite at Yealand Redmayne

A Quiet Morning

Heysham
Reserve CES this morning produced little of note - some evidence of breeding success with two juvenile Lesser Whitethroat, one Chiffchaff and three Great tits trapped.

Moths
Double Dart 4 and Clay 4 amongst the fairly average catch.


ajd

Little news yet

Moths:
Buff Arches (2) new for the year.

"Singing" in the sunshine

Middleton Industrial Est
1 Grasshopper warbler reeling, and showing well, on new territory in the Northern side of the estate. 9:30am

Half a moth catch

Thanks to Reuben for doing the other half of the moth catch as a whistle-stop morning visit covering half of the toilet floor produced quite a time-consuming bag-full of common species including the start of the overlap period between Shoulder-striped Wainscot and Smoky Wainscot.

No obvious sightings of any birds

Figure of Eighty

Heysham Obs
A few previous Heysham records of this moth & one this morning in the trap

Middleton IE
There have been two recent records of Common Lizard to add to those seen at the Belted Beauty site near Potts Corner.  These are the first wild reptiles seen in the Obs recording area.  Slow Worm next?

Where are the small seagulls?

Heysham Obs
...........either late or there is no food on the outfalls due to 'outages'.  Just five Black-headed Gulls Red Nab on the incoming tide

Ringing by the office
A couple of hours confirmed the first successful breeding of Willow Warbler on the reserve for 'some years' with the capture of three recently fledged young.  A couple of unringed and a couple of ringed adult Whitethroat & juveniles of  Lesser Whitethroat, Robin & Blue Tit completed the haul

Breeding birds
Oystercatcher actually at the egg laying stage on the non-operational land after several years of showing interest - a new tetrad & site breeding record.  Also a re-laying Ringed Plover on four eggs

Insects
Painted Lady - by the office
Small Skipper - first of the summer (& plenty of Large Skipper)
Black-tailed Skimmer - 5 males Middleton model boat pond but no sign of any darters
Double Dart - first of the year in the trap