Clouded Yellow surprise

Heysham Obs
Now two Clouded Yellow along the path between the reserve and Ocean Edge, colloquially known as the 'dog track'

Outfalls
2-3 juv/1st W Med Gulls were new in. No sign of any Black Guillemot

General birds
Pretty quite other than a trickle of southbound Swallows e.g. a search of the coastal sites saw no Wheatear. A mist netting session around the office area saw two Whitethroat and a Black cap but little else caught other than a flock of 10 Blue Tit

Moths
The second Mouse Moth of the year was in the trap

Elsewhere
Wood Sandpiper overflew Conder Green calling and flying east. 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint Allen/EM Pool along with a record Lancs count of 24 Little Egret and the three long-staying Spoonbill. Two further Little Egret along Morecambe foreshore. Juv Garganey still at Leighton Moss Griesdale hide and Ad Yellow-legged Gull still at Glasson. Ring Ouzel Whitendale but no sign of yesterdays Marsh Harrier

Black Guillemot return....but which one if either...

Heysham Obs
A Black Guillemot was fishing between Red Nab and the wooden jetty this morning and was last seen 'near the jetty'. This was a bit alarming as there are large numbers of monofilament nets in this area, all apparently legal. It is also a habit that, as far as I know, was never recorded during the tenancy of the pair. These invariably fed for a short period in the harbour mouth but otherwise flew offshore. We'll see what happens in the next day or so.

Red Nab/Ocean Edge/ Harbour/ north wall
Different adult Med Gulls along the north wall (Czech-ringed bird) and on the sandflats off Ocean Edge south shore. 2nd W Med Gulls in the harbour and on Red Nab. Adult Little Gull on the sea off Red Nab at high tide but rather surprsingly no Sandwich Tern

Offshore
A Gannet followed the dredger in and records from Rossall suggest a bit of systematic seawatching may have been productive

Insects
Not very good weather for searching for the Clouded Yellow and there were no reports. Some 'in-off' reports from the SE of England today (along with scattered Camberwell Beauty) but this does not explain why one was seen here yesterday. Rather late records the main theme in the moth trap with single Marbled Beauty and two Straw Underwing.

Elsewhere
Juvenile Garganey seen at Leighton Moss probably the best unless the numbers game = 21 Little Egret at Leighton Moss interests you. Black Tern (elusively or just few reports?) on the public mere at Leighton yesterday and at least 1245ish today. 3 Spoonbill still present on the Allen/EM Pool [why did I write 'spring and early summer visitor' in the revised fairly imminent WTWB in LCC - this is the first time they've done this!]. Adult Yellow-legged Gull visible rather distantly from Sunderland-Overton tidal road

Clouded Yellow a major surprise

Heysham Obs
Another insect day with the only bird of note being a Garden Warbler trapped during an otherwise quiet final CES visit early morning.

Butterflies
A male Clouded Yellow was nectaring on ragwort by the NR office at 1120. In the context of this year, a very significant record and, as such, the origin is by no means obvious. It remained for about 10 mins before flying south but was seen in mid-afternoon just north of the dog-walk pond by other observers. Unfortunately no cameras available

Moths
A Mouse Moth was a reasonably significant new record for the year as they have become rather scarce in recent years. Similarly the second record of the year of Olive.

Dragonflies
2+ Black Darter in the NE corner of the reserve with another near the dog-walk pond. 10+ Brown Hawker and 10 or so Migrant/Common Hawker around the reserve - certainly including both species. Male & female Emperor on the dog-walk pond. 10+ Emerald Damselfly on the dog pond. No Ruddy darter.

Elsewhere
At least two juvenile Yellow Wagtail around the northern end of the large maize field at Melling (Lune valley) this evening. 3 Spoonbill and further Osprey report from Leighton Moss.

a nice sunny day

Heysham Obs
The top sighting today, a reflection of the catastrophic decline in the last two years, was a Wall Brown butterfly on Middleton IE along the road between the western and central marshes

Heysham NR
Sprinkling of Chiffchaff (5-10), one or two Whitethroat and a scattering of ticking, presumed migrant Robin. At least one Jay. Kingfisher in the NR marsh mid-afternoon (thanks Doreen).

No report of any sightings of note from one birder known to have checked the outfalls etc.

Insects
Heysham NR
Two Holly Blue, male Brimstone & at least two Small Copper but no Gatekeeper were seen during a quick walk round. Dragonflies comprised two Migrant Hawker and a single Brown Hawker - perhaps fractionally too early in the day for this group. Butterfly transect results from the reserve: Common Blue 12, Small White 10, Large White 1, Speckled Wood (just) 5, Meadow Brown 25, Small Copper 3, Peacock 8, Red Admiral 1, Brimstone 7, Painted Lady 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1 (the Holly Blues did not behave for the census)

Middleton IE
See intro. Dragonflies were thin on the ground in good conditions. 6 Migrant hawker, one male Ruddy Darter, 2 Brown Hawker, 2 geriatric male Emperor and a similarly old and tired male Black-tailed Skimmer. c30 Common Darter and c10 Emerald Damselfly were casually recorded

Moths
The last few mornings have seen the top species as Treble Bar as we have managed to check the catch before they all shoot out of the window! Dark fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) appeared to be new for the year

Elsewhere
Nothing new at Leighton Moss other than an increase to 5 Ruff (i.e. 3 Spoonbill, 18 Little Egret). 7 Painted Lady seen along the Cockersands seawall.

Little happening

Heysham Obs
Didnt have chance to check the bushes for Greenish Warbler, so the only birding comprised:

Outfalls area via harbour
Nothing other than a distant Ad Med Gull on the foreshore

Moths
Copper Underwing new for the year

Elsewhere
3 Spoonbill, several Little Egret and an Osprey in the Leighton Moss area

Whinchat surprise

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab/outfalls
2nd W Med Gull & adult Little Gull & adult Sandwich Tern on the foreshore & 5 Wheatear and a 1st W Whinchat (definite c/f recent 'chattering' on the LDBWS site!) on the rocks. 8-10 Wheatear Heysham Head (thanks Malcolm)

North wall not covered at all

Middleton IE
A short ringing session before the northerly wind suddenly increased at c0900 included 6 Common and 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Reed Bunting but just the one Sedge Warbler. Quite a few flocks of Linnet & Goldfinch & several ringed.

Moths

A new moth for the year in the hut trap was Ypsolopha scabrella

Elsewhere

Belgian-ringed Ad Med Gull 36W off north Morecambe again [please do not send this bird in, it is fully documented (see for e.g. Heysham Obs & LDBWS ringing reports)]. 2nd W Med Lune Estuary. 3 Spoonbill and c18 Little Egret Leighton Moss area.

Robin time

Heysham Obs
A calm morning allowed the CES (Constant Effort Site) nets to be set below the old Obs Tower 0600-1000. There were plenty of migrant Robins ticking around the nature reserve and the autumnal feel was enhanced by most of the calling phylloscs appearing to be Chiffchaff. 7 Robins were trapped and ringed along with 3 Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler

No known coverage of the foreshore areas

Moths
Better, with higher quality year ticks than the previous night in the form of Red Underwing and the seemingly declining Tawny-speckled Pug. Local species included Bordered Beauty

Elsewhere
3 Spoonbill still at Leighton Moss

Little Gull reappears

Heysham Obs
North harbour wall
2 x 2nd W Med Gull in the morning, one of these plus the Czech-ringed adult Med in the afternoon. No sign of any Black Guillemot since the male was back to its old solitary routine chasing Feral Pigeon (and perhaps, by default, Turnstone) on the outer section of the wooden jetty on 14th August.

Outfalls/Red nab
Adult Little Gull in the morning at least. An afternoon high tide count at Red Nab saw a routine 5 Sandwich Tern but a juvenile Kittiwake was new in. Common Sandpiper also seen.

Moths
Square-spot Rustic and Rosy Rustic rather belatedly new for the year in the hut moth trap. Also the first of the autumn brood of Common Marbled Carpet. Riveting stuff.

Elsewhere
Two separate checks of the Lune Estuary early and mid-morning produced a combined total of 3 adult and two 2nd W Med Gulls. The adult Yellow-legged Gull was also off Glasson quay. 3 Spoonbill and 18 Little Egret at Leighton Moss. The only tern in the area away from Heysham was a Sandwich at Teal Bay!

Meds and a lost tree rat

Heysham Obs
Red Nab per-high tide
Unringed adult and juv Med Gulls

North harbour wall just after high tide
Czech-ringed adult and two 2nd W Med Gulls

Mammals
Grey Squirrel along the north harbour wall

Elsewhere
3 Med Gulls at Bank End (nr Cockerham) high tide roost and 3 Green Sandpiper in the Aldcliffe area

Dire seawatching

Heysham Obs
I know it is deceptive, but the line of wind generators really do look like an extension of that other nuisance, Walney Island, with respect to seabirds entering the Bay. About 1.5 hours over the last 4 days or so has, apart from a surprising flock of Common Scoter, not produced a single seabird (inc. tern!). It is difficult enough to get them to "turn round" or be blown round against the preferred direction without this windfarm. Stick to spring seawatching unless there is a period of howling onshore gales which do not go round to the NW!

North wall
No sign Black Guillemots. Ad & one 2nd W Med Gulls.

Reserve
Quite a few Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Warbler scattered around but probably none of these exceeding single figures.

Butterfly census
Highlighted by 4 Gatekeeper and a fresh Painted Lady

Elsewhere
3 Spoonbill and up to 18 Little Egret Leighton Moss area. 2 2nd W and one adult Med Gull north Fylde coast.