A nice sunny day......so, butterflies and sunflowers

Another dry and largely sunny day with a slight NW wind.

Red Nab

I didn't have much time today, just a quick lunchtime check of Red Nab towards high water (MD).

Mediterranean gulls 36+ there were 26 on Red Nab, but many of today's gulls were flying directly from where they had been resting on the shore towards Potts Corner. At leat 10 Meds seen doing this.

The ones that were on Red Nab were mainly squatting, making darvic ring spotting difficult. I did manage two, but they had been read previously this year. These are some of the Red Nab gulls.

This was one of yesterday's new birds and the first German ringed one this year.
Ringed in Saxony in 2019 as a nestling and has subsequently been seen in France,
Wales, Portugal and Holland. This is its first record at Heysham

Redshank 15

Ringed Plover 2

Ringed Plover

The rest of today's stuff from Janet

Rock Pipit on Red Nab

Janet also reported flushing a "silent Snipe" from Middleton yesterday.

There was a good selection of butterflies on the Nature Park/dog walk Buddleia.

Comma

Red Admiral

Worn Small White

Large White

Brimstone 

Peacock

Female Common Blue

Male Common Blue

Also abundant were Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper 

Janet took this shot of the Sunflowers growing along the sea wall at Red Nab. They have done really well this summer as the tides have been relatively low and the the weather was calm during the higher tides. There must be 100+ plants along the foreshore and Red Nab, but not all as splendid as these.

Sunflowers along the high water line. The seeds obviously deposited 
by the tide, but you wonder where they come from in such numbers
Unless we get storms, they should be fine till the first week of August 

Lots of youngsters around

A dry and mainly sunny day after heavy overnight rain. A light NE breeze till mid morning, then it freshened slightly as it shifted to NW.

Middleton Nature Reserve 

Ringing report from John

Nice to have some weather suitable for ringing again, vegetation very wet, but calm conditions and not too sunny early on. Three nets set and a total of twenty five birds caught and processed. With the vast majority being this years young.

They comprised:

Chiffchaff          5 juveniles

Reed Warbler     4 juveniles

Cetti's Warbler 2 juveniles and 1 adult retrap

Blackcap            2 juveniles

Sedge Warbler   1 juvenile  and 2 adults

Great Tit             1 juvenile  and 1 adult retrap

Greenfinch          1 juvenile

Blackbird            1 adult retrap

Wren          1 juvenile

Goldcrest            1 juvenile

Tree Pipit            1 juvenile

Robin                  1 juvenile

Janet had a walk around late morning 

Young Robin

Swallow 

Brimstone 

Very worn Gatekeeper

Soldier Beetles 

Heysham Skear - low water 07:50 (MD)

Eider 2 individuals, a female and eclipsed male.

Great Crested Grebe 6

Red-breasted Merganser 2

Little Egret 17

Grey Heron 1

Oystercatcher c150

Curlew c250

Redshank 60

Most of the waders were close inshore on the inner skear. This area too is covered in mussels this year.

Red Nab to saltmarsh - high water 13:15 (MD)

Mediterranean gull c30. I didn't attempt to count them today, but there were similar numbers of adult but more first summer on Red Nab than yesterday. Plus 2 juvenile. There were fewer out from the saltmarsh as most gulls went further south towards Potts. I managed to read four ringed Meds on Red Nab, two of them new birds. This shot makes it look easy.

Two darvic ringed Meds on Red Nab

But easy it wasn't, this shot shows the Red Nab gulls. Most have legs hidden by rocks or other gulls and many sat down.

Today's gulls on Red Nab

Young Dunnock in the Nature Park

There were three young Blue Tits, finding plenty to eat amongst the weed covering the Nature Park pond.

More Meds and more passing terns

A heavy early shower, followed by light rain till late morning when the heavier persistent rain began. A light southerly wind.

South shore (MD)

I went down late morning toward high water, the promised heavy rain was, just about, holding off.

Mediterranean gulls 56 absolute minimum, probably many more. There were at least 27 on Red Nab, including 2 juvenile. Later there were 54 on the shore out from the saltmarsh, but no juvenile. Unfortunately, only one was was ringed and that had been read earlier this year.

Yesterday's new bird was ringed as a nestling in Belgium in 2018. It first visited Heysham as a juvenile that year, and was seen again in 2020. In between it has been seen in France, Belgium and Portugal.

This Great Black-Backed gull was also resting on the shore

It had been drizzling since I set off, but you could see the more serious rain approaching.

Dark clouds coming in over the new Isle of Man ferry (Manxman)

Common Tern 3 together passed overhead and continued south calling all the while. Unfortunately my camera was set for trying to pick out gull ring details, not for passing terns.

It was easier to get out my old camera, at least it has a much better sound pick up. This clip isn't great and only shows one of the terns, but you can hear the others.

After that the promised heavy rain fulfilled its promise, it was time to leave.

Little Egret 3

Grey Heron 1

Sand Martin 1 south

Rock Pipit 2 - one on foreshore and this one feeding along the tide line on east side of saltmarsh.

Janet has just returned from her holiday and visited a wet Middleton early this morning.......and saw some wet insects:

Gatekeeper 

Buff-tailed Bumblebee 

Slightly better Tern shots

A light west wind. Dry all day with plenty of sunny spells.

South shore (MD)

Mediterranean gulls 35+ there were 15 adult/2nd summer, 5 first summer and a juvenile on the beach near wooden jetty. Another 4 adult near No.2 outflow. Later in the tide there were similar numbers on Red Nab including 3 juvenile and 4 second summer. Another 5 adult, 2 second summer and 3 first summer on the shore out from the saltmarsh.

Most of the birds on the beach by the jetty were just resting, and had been for some while, judging by the amount of guano surrounding most of them. But that wasn't because of the lack of feeding opportunities, the few that were feeding were finding Sandmason worms relatively easily. The resting birds had obviously eaten their fill.

This first summer bird catches a Sandmason worm in this clip.

There were 3 white darvic ringed adults, one was a new one for this year.

3867 last seen at Heysham in 2020 - updated history awaited
That makes 8 white and 3 green darvic ringed birds read so far this year.

Little Egret 3

A particularly shaggy Little Egret

Grey Heron 1

Curlew 100+

Oystercatcher c50

Lapwing 1

Common Sandpiper 1 around the rocky outcrop just south of the saltmarsh 

Common Sandpiper

Common Tern 1 - it was resting with the gulls just south of the saltmarsh. 

The tide was still coming in but almost full. The gulls didn't budge when it reached them but the, shorter legged, Tern had to.

It landed on the mud closer to me

Common Tern, its black bill tip almost faded to nothing
Metal ringed as well, but no chance of reading it

Rock Pipit 3 together on Red Nab

These Gatekeeper were along the foreshore.

There are plenty of young birds flitting around the Nature Park, Robin, Chaffinch, Long-Tailed Tits, Blue Tits and this Chiffchaff seen today, although keeping track of them in the foliage isn't easy.

Storm Petrel best of the wind blown stuff

The very strong overnight west - SW wind eased by morning but it was still strong. Mainly dry after some early showers.

Report from Pete Crooks:

Red Nab – Heysham Harbour (8.05 – 9.50 am)
11 Mediterranean Gull – 5 adults, 2 1st summer, 4 juveniles – between Red Nab and Heysham Stage 2 outfall
8 adult Common Tern – 5 at Heysham Stage 1 outfall, 2 at Heysham Stage 2 outfall, 1 at Red Nab
29 Cormorant – Wooden Pier

Heysham North Harbour Wall (10.00 – 11.00 am)
1 Storm Petrel – c.250-300 m offshore, mostly resting on sea with occasional brief fluttering flights, but seemingly drifting into the Bay with the incoming tide at 10.25-10.30 am. Difficult to see as mostly hidden in wave troughs.
4 Common Scoter (3 males, 1 female) flew out of the Bay close inshore
1 Guillemot on sea
2 adult Gannet flew out
30+ Dunlin flying out of the Bay in small groups
1 Grey Seal – very close inshore – even the fisherman got their phones out to photograph it!

This Report from Gavin Thomas.

Pete (M) also visited, these are his additional records

Distant petrel presumed Storm. Seen twice briefly off harbour mouth c0930 - seemed to be heading out but possibly lingering

Manx Shearwater 1

Sandwich Tern 1

45 Dunlin in four flocks

Common tern  4 - all flying out and therefore in addition to those on outfalls as will have been Gavin’s stuff. 

So a total of 14 Common Tern

I had a walk along the wall but didn't see anything not covered above(MD). 

This is one of the Common Tern on No.2 outflow. They were hard to track in the very windy conditions.

This is the metal ringed Med that was the first to arrive this year.
It is losing its black head, and, unfortunately, its limp seems to be getting worse.
Still it seems to be finding enough food to keep it healthy looking.

Watch the Curlew on the left, it finds a crab and runs away to eat it undisturbed. All over in 30 seconds.

Plenty of butterflies in the Nature Park

Large White 5

Red Admiral 4

Peacock 1

Peacock

Gatekeeper several

Common Blue 1

Meadow Brown several

Worn male Meadow Brown

One (or two) to watch out for.

A strong south wind freshened further and moved to SW. Very heavy showers from late morning onwards.

South shore

Shaun checked at high water and before the rain. 

Not many gulls roosting on Red Nab. 

Mediterranean gulls - Could only pick out 8 adult/2nd summer + 2 juvs. Though some hidden behind rocks. 

I went along the wall in the afternoon to watch the beach next to the jetty become exposed (MD). It was fine on the way out, there were no gulls waiting on the rocks, but there were at least 12 Meds waiting on the sea beyond the harbour mouth.

Yesterday I said the "heavens opened". Mmmm, compared to today that was just drizzle! Just before the mud became exposed a squall of biblical proportions hit. The torrential rain was horizontal and no sign of it abating! There was nothing else to do but head for home.

Today's title refers to a most unusual coincidence. Last week I read a green darvic ringed Med as R5UN. Yesterday, I thought I had seen it again, but no. It was 56UN. Jean, Pete and myself went through my shots to check that there was no mistake, there wasn't. Definitely two consecutive ringed birds. Both ringed in France 25/06/22. If you spot one of these, you need to be sure if it is a 5 or a 6. Or, you never know, we may get even more in the sequence!

Shag 1 immature on the wooden jetty

Curlew 170

Rock Pipit 2 (Red Nab and Lighthouse)

There were several juvenile Long-Tailed Tit in the Nature Park 
This was on the way out before the storm

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

A short check of the two main ponds in the morning.

Mute Swan. Pair plus 5 cygnet on the "no swimming" pond. The other three cycles (ousted males?) on the main pond

Coot 4 adult and 3 juvenile. A Cetti's warbler is just finishing a burst of song at the beginning of this clip. It was in the lower car park bushes, but this was the only time I heard it.

The only other warbler heard was a Lesser Whitethroat

Moorhen 3

Mallard 26, the young now taking short flights

Gadwall 4 - what appears to be a female with three well grown young.

Swift 2 feeding over main pond

The only dragonflies were

Black-Tailed Skimmer 1 each, male and female.

Emperor 1 cruising along Middleton Road

Plenty of Butterflies 

Gatekeeper 30+

Meadow Brown several

Ringlet 1

Large White 2

Small White 1

Green-Veined White 2 mating

Speckled Wood 2

Holly Blue 1 female

Holly Blue

Just possibly more to come

Mainly gulls (well.......only gulls and a jellyfish)

 A freshening SE wind. The worst of the rain held off till early afternoon.

Just my stuff from the South Shore so far (MD).

A morning visit to Red Nab as the tide was almost full located lots of gulls but again they were well scattered.

Mediterranean gulls 32 at least. 12 adult, 3 second summer, 13 first summer and 4 juvenile. There were two white and a green darvic ringed birds. All but one previously read.

There was also a blue darvic ringed Black-Headed gull 2X34
Ringed as a nestling at Martin Mere in 2020 its only other sighting was also
at Martin Mere in April 2021

A second check just after lunch was to watch the beach by the wooden jetty become exposed. Yesterday when I did this, there were no gulls at all at first, then eventually three Meds turned up. Today couldn't have been more different, there were 20+ Meds waiting for the beach to become exposed, and more arrived later. Unfortunately, only one white ringed darvic bird amongst them, and that had been read previously.

Gulls, mainly Meds waiting for the mud to become exposed.

They quickly moved to the mud as the tide receded.

There were at least 12 adult, 7 second summer, 5 first summer and 2 juveniles. The juveniles had a go at feeding, but didn't look like they knew what they were looking for.

Then the heavens opened!

This clip is just another Lion's Mane jellyfish, but somehow it has ended upside down. You can see it stinging tentacles and also where it gets its name. 

Its tentacles look quite short here but some do extend for a lot further.

Redshank return in numbers

A fresh west wind. Dry and mainly sunny after overnight showers.

South shore (MD)

Mediterranean gulls 20+ another day when they were spread wide and thinly. At least 9 adult and 6 first summer 3 second summer and 2 juvenile. Some of the white ringed birds are still around, but no new ones seen.

Previously read white darvic adult Med on Red Nab amongst the Oystercatcher and Curlew 

Redshank 69 - four groups seen, 15 on saltmarsh, 35 on Red Nab, 17 on No.1 outflow and 2 on beach.

Redshank and an adult Mediterranean gull over Red Nab
Redshank, probably won't get another mention again this year

Curlew 200+ I didn't count them but should have they were constantly flying north. This is just one of several flocks.

Whimbrel 1 - resting on No.2 outflow railing. Suspect this is genuine movement, as opposed to the possible summering bird that has been lingering around Red Nab.

Whimbrel 

Lapwing 3

Linnet 8 near lighthouse 6 on saltmarsh 

Rock Pipit 1 near waterfall 

Swallow 3 feeding over saltmarsh before heading south

Grey Seal 1 between outflows

Nature Park

Plenty of butterflies in the sun.

Red Admiral 4

Peacock 1

Comma 5

Commas

Gatekeeper several

Meadow Brown several

Common Blue 1

Common Blue

Small White several

Large White 2 - this is a female

I managed a better shot of one of the juvenile Robins 

Juvenile Robin

Not quite sure what this Dunnock is doing. Although the sunshine was patchy at this point, perhaps it was just catching its warmth while it could.

More juvenile Meds arrive

 A fresh west wind, mainly overcast with occasional heavy showers. Some sunny spells by evening.

South shore

Shaun checked early morning when the tide was still quite high: 

22 Mediterranean gulls: 8 adults, 4 2nd summer's, 6 1st summer's and 4 juvenile.

Adult with white darvic on left leg + adult with yellow darvic on right leg. 

Common Tern feeding on outfalls.

I went down to watch the beach next to the wooden jetty become exposed (MD). Hoping to see the yellow darvic adult. But the only ringed bird to feed there this morning was LCG. This is it catching a Sandmason worm.

The worms are quite long. This is just the tail end.

In total 10 adult, 2 first summer and 2 second summer arrived to feed here. 2 juvenile were seen along the sea wall.

Adult Mediterranean gull, arriving to feed

I checked again in the evening towards high water. We are back to neap tides again and the Mediterranean gulls were spread out  between the saltmarsh and Red Nab. At least 24 adult (possibly some of these 2nd summer), 8 1st summer, 3 2nd summer, 2 juvenile. So minimum number 37.

Most were either sheltering from the wind behind rocks or squatting on the dry mud, so very few legs were on show. I eventually located two white ringed adults, but both already read this year.

Two juvenile Mediterranean gulls

Curlew 150+

Redshank 1

Little Egret 5

Rock Pipit 2

Nature Park 

This Young Chaffinch had just been given a largish yellow seed by Mum. Probably one left by the several visitors who leave food for the birds. It seems to struggle with it, but eventually manages to eat it.

One of two young Robin, also waiting to be fed

First juvenile Med arrives.......and a brand new ferry!

A light SW wind, a couple of showers early on, then dry with sunny spells.

South shore (MD)

A walk along the wall in the morning to check the beach by the wooden jetty as it became exposed, and a quick check of Red Nab in the evening rising tide, paid dividends today.

Rock Pipit 1 on foreshore 

Mediterranean gulls 30 minimum including all four identifiable ages. Adult 19, second summer 3, first summer 7, juvenile 1

Juvenile Mediterranean gull

It was feeding on No.2 outflow

It seemed like there had been an influx of Meds overnight. There were twelve waiting on the rocks for the beach to become exposed.

Some of the Meds waiting for the beach by the wooden jetty to become exposed.
Including two white ringed birds, a new in adult left, and LCG just right of centre.

This is the new in adult - ringed as a nestling in Holland in 2019.
It was first seen at Heysham last summer

Three age groups feeding in this clip. It begins on a second summer, joined by four adults, then a first summer flies in to join them.

The birds were a bit flighty this evening as there were quite a few people around the shore at Red Nab, still I managed to read a green darvic ringed first summer Med.

Darvic ringed first summer Med on Red Nab - details awaited

Curlew 100+

Whimbrel 1 calling as it flew off.

Redshank 4

A few more butterflies in the Nature Park this evening

Red Admiral 3

Comma 4

Large White 1

Small White 3

Meadow Brown 3

Gatekeeper 3

Speckled Wood 1

Kevin took this shot of the Manxman, the brand new IOM ferry.
Unfortunately, the Ben-my Chree's day's are numbered