Yet another 'under fiver'

Heysham Obs
Doing well with 'under ten' or 'under five' previous records species so far this year, with the moth scenario amazingly already producing a new species (also new for the 10k square) in the form of Grey Shoulder-knot and an 'under five records, possibly only the second or third' (Oak Beauty).  This morning, another 'under five records' appeared in the form of the rather unobtrusive Mottled Grey.  I've found this species to be most common on the moorland edge and inland deciduous wooded areas.

A Siskin was heard around the office, but no coastal coverage today 

Theres only one dotted border

Heysham Obs
Shameful lack of coverage today by two office-bound observers as admin things had to be done

Moth
A Dotted Border graced the trap

Wren
A presumed Heysham-ringed bird residing in Janet's garden in Heysham village. Thanks Janet

Motley fauna

Heysham Obs
Heysham NR
Pheasant - The male was noisily strutting around the PA way area and flushed:
Woodcock - one in the alder woodland, flew towards NE corner
Goldcrest - one in the NE corner may have been a very early migrant
Siskin - 4 ringed this morning

Mammals
Stoat - 1 seen crossing reserve entrance (RN).

Insects
Pale Brindled Beauty in the moth trap - under 10 records for here, along with 5 Dotted Border and 2 Hebrew Character.  A Red-tailed Bumblebee was along PA way (south-facing) bank

Elsewhere
Small Tortoiseshell - 1 seen Overton
Red-tailed Bumblebee - 1 Torrisholme

What a Beauty!

Moths
A total of 5 Dotted Border and an Oak Beauty in the Heysham trap this morning.

Nothing yet

Should be a short post tomorrow

Dowdy ducks top the bill

Heysham
Middleton NR
Gadwall - pair
Teal - 9
Tufted Duck - 14
Goldeneye - 1
Fieldfare - 6
plus single/low double-figures of Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe setting up territories
North Harbour Wall
Twite food replenished. No birds seen on brief visit.

Moths
Dotted Border - 4
Hebrew Character - 1

From oak woodland to toilet trap

The nine Twite (thanks Janet)

Heysham Obs
Last night was a good moth night, but not quite if you operate a toilet trap where the window was just a little bit too parallel to the wind direction.  This was a shame - hopefully tonight might be better

Heysham hut trap - east-facing window & 160w blended
Dotted Border - 1

North harbour wall
Med Gull - 2 adults, one in fsp, the Czech bird in half sp
Twite - just 9
too murky offshore

Ocean Edge area
Murky
Lots of seagulls with significant increase in LBBG (45-50)
5 Woodpigeon feeding on OE football pitch rather unexpected

Middleton
Lots more seagulls round the sewage works
Tufted Duck (5), Little Grebe (4), Teal (2 on model boat pond)

Elsewhere moth trapping
Millhouses, nr Wray 125 MV trap - sheltered oak-laden valley
Tortricodes alternella (117), Ypsophola ustella (2), Small Brindled Beauty (10), Dotted Border (21), March Moth (32), Satellite (4), Chestnut (31), Yellow Horned (2), Hebrew Character (1), Clouded Drab (2), Spring Usher (9), Pale Brindled Beauty (8), Oak Beauty (2)

Ashley's farm, High Tatham 125 MV trap - exposed, but with old scattered oaks
Dark Chestnut (very late) (1), Small Brindled Beauty (1), March Moth (13), Spring Usher (2), Dotted Border (8), Hebrew Character (1), Oak Beauty (1), Pale Brindled Beauty (3), Chestnut (3)

Empty seas

Heysham Obs
Apart from the one-offs, its been pretty desperate out there on the sea this winter with even Red-throats like rocking horse dung.........and still no records of any auks.  This morning was particularly poor as there is usually the odd great-crest or Eider when the sandbanks are still showing - not a thing in two sweeps.

North harbour wall
Twite - 33, 3 unringed, all the rest Heysham ringed   
Red-breasted Merganser - long-staying female still in harbour

That morning after feeling

Heysham Obs
That reminder of a former life - the maritime stage of the Little Blue Heron twitch - the Clipper Point was making large waves as it departed the harbour just as I was making my way down the north wall.  The harbour then also revealed a survey type boat swanning around.  No Slav Grebe was a predictable result.

North harbour wall
Twite - 51
Linnet - 1

Office area
Definite small increase in thrushes in the murky weather with 3 SongThrush together being notable and a loose 'gang' of 5 Blackbird

Moths
None due to wind being a bit too SE/S overnight - should be one or two tomorrow morning with high night temps plus south-westerly

Slavonian Grebe & even more enthusiastic Sean

Heysham Obs
North & south Harbour Walls
Slavonian Grebe emerged from the harbour area at about 9am.  It disappeared after a boat came out.  Excellent views included the red iris! (thanks Sean)
Purple Sandpiper - 3 seen at high tide with 105 Turnstone
Med Gull - 2 adults, one with full black hood.
c40 Twite on the gasholder.
Song Thrush on the mound
Cormorant 42
Great Crested Grebe 5
Pink-footed Goose 100 (S to N) and 15 (N to S)
Wigeon 86
Eider 2
RB Merganser 6 (2 male and 4 females)
Peregrine 1 (bombed some Knot just when I was leaving - nice parting gift)
Bar-tailed Godwit 2,000
Knot 10-15,000+
Linnet - 2

Mammals
Grey Seal seen on the incoming tide.

Office area
Hut feeders filled on a late quick visit - Great Tit (4)  and Blackbirds (2) only seen.