Mothfestish

Heysham Obs
The office trap done good this morning, but only in the context of what has been a very poor year.  Other than a very odd noctuid which might be an aberrant Mottled Rustic (check tomorrow), new for the year included Treble Bar, Double Dart and a definite Mottled Rustic.

Problems with computer, Janet - sorry will upload your pics from work tomorrow and add any sightings from the NLWG event today

Please note that there is a Butterfly Conservation visit to Heysham and Middleton next Saturday with an okay forecast in the context of this year.  Meet Heysham NR car park 0930hrs

Saturday 13th June

Heysham obs
Saturday
Two sandwich tern off the Heysham skeers per Malcolm

Shaded pug in moth trap

Friday
Male and teneral black-tailed skimmers Middleton model boat pond also sev large skipper and little ringed plovers seem to have fledged.

Thursday
Shaded pug in trap first decent catch for a bit also including ruddy highflyer - third of the year at this known site

Pics later from Janet . Thanks

SD36 strikes again

Heysham Obs
The bit of land in SD36 often produces surprises - one of which is that it can be very good for moths
Lou Cross located the first ever Mother Shipton for there this lunchtime and another was seen on Middleton looking rather tatty (see below)

Malcolm recorded the Little Ringed Plover party this afternoon along with a party of 10 Long-tailed Tit juveniles and taking Crane Fly identification beyond the daddy long legs level for the first time on this site - latin name for a black and yellow striped thing tomorrow

Earlier in the day, low-key midsummer ringing in the form of the Middleton CES took place - thanks John - and was quite productive for this time of year, including a juvenile Reed Warbler

Thanks for these Janet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Insects

Heysham Obs
About 5 Burnet Companion seen on Heysham NR, including one in SD45E

Mainly insects including hints of migration

Heysham Obs

Silver Y
Worn pale examples on the north harbour wall in Sd36V and next to the office

Butterfly transect
Included up to 5 Burnet Companion and a few lingering Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell and one Brimstone

A Red Admiral was reported by a visitor

Middleton NR
Emperor dragonfly new for the year

Off-duty LRP Middleton

 

 

Moth trap

Buff Tip and Shoulder-striped Wainscot new for the year



Little ringed plovers successful

Heysham obs

Five little ringed plover chicks this evening on Middleton along with 120 mullein moth larvae. House Martin down to low single figures.

Turnip moth new for the year hnr trap

Saturday 6th June - belated House Martin movement

Heysham Obs
Sorry this is late as quite an interesting day - albeit one species

House Martin
14 north from NHW 1200-1230hrs
11 feeding over model boat pond at 9:30 swelled to 50+
by 12:15, then 47 and dwindling as the weather cleared 1245
Middleton NR
Mute Swan - pair on Tim Butler pond have 1 chick. Other pair failed on Fence
pond. They did mate again but since then I have only seen 1 bird, hopefully they
have another nest. 6 2cy on model boat pond.
9 mallard
1 gadwall (m)
3 moorhen
1 heron
1 little ringed plover
Outfalls
Kittiwake - 1 adult on no2
Seawatch 1200-1230
See above
Swallow - 3 north
Manx Shearwater - 1+5+1 - all but the first very distant and all out

mega alert

Heysham Obs
The first Red-legged Partridge this century in the recording area!

3rd June
Pair of LRP Middleton alarm calling

Burnet Companion next to office

4th June
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE - two Middleton NR - one calling (Dan Haywood).  Getting infested with game birds with at least 7 Pheasant on there

5th June
Decent moth catch last night with first Shaded Pug of the year and a single (recently very scarce) Shears and Muslin Moth

Frontal wave knocks seawatching on the head

Heysham Obs
The isobars widened to let a little wave depression through which produced a lot of rain and knocked the wind on the head.  By the time they closed, it was low tide and late evening.  Result: not a lot:

Kittiwake - adult Heysham 2 outfall pm
Manx Shearwater - two distant birds am

Grey Seal - 1

Will the wind veer before dusk. If so.......

Heysham Obs
There are no House Martins at Ashleys Farm this year.............so far, but they still seem to be arriving.  Foe example, there were 24 feeding on Middleton model boat pond in the rain this afternoon (from no obvious local source) along with that ubiquitous "highlight" which keeps turning up out of pity on grotty days when there is nothing else of 'note', 4 Canada Geese

Gannet - one far offshore early morning

Flock of 7 Manx shearwater whilst the wind still south at 1950 - heading out