High tide, jetskis and holidaymakers having a good time

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab etc
Med Gull - juv on the sea was the only notable bird on a visit which was a little too late with very little of Red Nab uncovered

Half Moon Bay woodland
Perhaps the same Jay party as recorded recently on Moneyclose Lane were seen this morning (3 young or 4 young in a single parent family!)

Insects
A Red Underwing was disturbed during the butterfly transect, unfortunately in SD45E where already recorded (once) in the moth trap this year. Butterflies on the HNR transect highlighted by 6 Brimstone, 6 Gatekeeper still, 5 Small Copper and 4 Small Tortoiseshell on the fleabane in the NE corner. Two Common, single Migrant and Brown Hawkers seen on transect route

Elsewhere
Nothing yet of note

Incoming tide check highlighted by distant Bonxie

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge foreshore/Red Nab/outfalls 1125-1200hrs
Bonxie (Great Skua) - distant bird appeared after IOM ferry started coming in, circled around then appeared to land on the sea
Gannet - one imm
Med Gull - just the one juv on Red Nab
Black-tailed Godwit - one Red Nab
Ringed Plover - 47 on shingle Ocean Edge south beach; no obvious colour-ringed birds (some hard to see) but metal-ringed male

Elsewhere
Two Spoonbill still on Eric Morecambe complex. 4CY Yellow-legged Gull by red buoy 14 as seen from Sunderland tidal road late afternoon. Wood Sandpiper briefly on Conder Pool earlier on

Another guillotined check

Heysham Obs
A spray-filled high tide check produced
Ringed Plover - exactly 50 on OE west field, 25 definitely unringed, then all flushed before could be checked
Med Gull - adult drifting around OE foreshore
Gannet - one along horizon
Manx Shearwater - I think it was - split second on the horizon

Elsewhere
2 Spoonbill Leighton Moss. 45 Little Egrets left roost in morning. 4CY & JUV Yellow-legged Gull off Fishnet Point, Glasson this late afternoon (& Ad & juv Med).

5 minute guillotine

Heysham Obs
Pressing work issues kept the birding to a 5-minute high tide sweep of the outfalls & Red Nab & Ocean Edge foreshore

Little Egret - One OE saltmarsh creek
Med Gull - 2 juvs on outfalls, ad & 2CY on Red Nab
Black-tailed Godwit - none seen for the first time for a week or so
Grey Heron - juv Red Nab

Moths
Old Lady was a welcome visitor and Dark Spectacle was another rather uncommon addition to the year list

Elsewhere
Note that this wind might produce a Black Tern or two later on today. Ad Curlew Sandpiper Glasson still, Marsh Harrier and Hobby past Cockerham Sands Carvan Park & Med Gull Jeremy Lane. Common Scoter Barnacre reservoir (no general access)

Unobtrusive Meds & breeding Jays

Heysham Obs
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge
Med Gull: 2CY, 2/3CY, Ad on Red Nab in perfect viewing conditions, the first two a bit 'unobvious'! The 2/3CY was not clearly visible but seemed to have newly-growing (as opposed to old and unmoulted) black-tipped primaries, therefore another 2CY. Note that old extensively black outer primaries would still be a 2CY, with the moult not as advanced! These can otherwise look like 'adults' at rest at this time of year, especially if the bill is tucked away. No juvs today.
Black-tailed Godwit - just 2

Moneyclose Lane
Family party of very noisy Jays - almost certainly bred along here

Middleton IE
3 Reed Bunting, 2 Common Whitethroat & 2 Willow Warbler ringed before the weather which should have stayed in or west of the Isle of Man reached us in the form of medium/heavy rain!

Moths
Included a late Mother of Pearl

A bit of variety!

Heysham Obs
Not up early enough this morning & I dont think there were any early morning seawatchers out.

North harbour wall/Ocean Edge/outfalls 0900-1000hrs
Common Tern - adult Red Nab
Manx Shearwater - one out close in at 0905 & 4 together distantly across the mouth at c0915 - no others in a further 45 minutes watching
Arctic Skua - Juvenile in the mouth of the bay - headed in and across towards Ulverston 0905-0915
Med Gull - 2 adults (one Ocean Edge saltmarsh), one 2CY and one juvenile
Black-tailed Godwit - at least 12

Moths
Just Agriphila latistria of note

Ringed Med
A rather unexpected reappearance in this area by a bird recorded as a juv in 2007. There is a distinct possibility that this bird has been seen in the meantime e.g. Dutch/Belgian/French coasts and any details received will be published on this site

Arnhem 3651898 & darvic
Ringed: De Kreupel, Netherlands Nestling 5/7/07
Seen: Heysham outfalls 1-2/9/07 (& prob from 28/7/07)
Seen: Morecambe Broadway area 16/8/09

Seawatching missed

Heysham Obs
No significant amounts of seawatching today which probably saved an observer or two from watching paint dry

North harbour wall/outfalls
Med Gull - two adults and a juv
Manx Shearwater - 3 out together early evening

South harbour wall
Wheatear - 1
Lapwing - increase to c50

Middleton IE
Tufted Duck family party (first breeding record for SD45E) now down to 4 young

Elsewhere
Belgian (Ad) and Dutch (3CY)-ringed Med Gull north Morecambe along with an unringed adult. Another colour-ringed Little Egret seen at Leighton Moss - please keep checking both legs above and below the knee of any Little Egrets you come across

Meds return but wind below seawatching par

Heysham Obs
Red Nab/outfalls
Med Gull - 2 juveniles & one adult
Black-tailed Godwit - 24
Whimbrel - 2
Wheatear - 2

North wall
Med Gull- visiting birders saw an adult & either 2CY or 3CY

Elsewhere
Nothing yet

Rock bottom early autumnal dross

Forecast 'back on again' (via the usually reliable XC weather) for early Sunday morning and seabird possibilities. Note it is an anniversary of some sort for Balearic Shearwater!

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Robert-the Bruce-like persistence with Red Nab saw a third visit late afternoon which produced fleeing Redshank, Black-tailed Godwits, seagulls etc and a family of 'flattened mohicans' with a double 'tideline' on the shaven bit along the side of the head. Extraordinary: father & two small sons with identical highly intricate patterns.
Black-tailed Godwit - 24
No Meds at all at high tide!

North harbour wall
Nothing

Heysham Nature reserve
The Constant Effort Site ringing session revealed that there was no movement of an ornithological nature through the bushes below the observation tower. A supplementary net next to the office produced a sprinkling of finches and warblers, including one of three Lesser Whitethroats around the office during the morning

No vis at all. A perceived Swallow passage was resolved as the same bird on a sizeable circuit!

Moths
Highlighted by White-spotted Pug plus the first of the local Agriphila latistria for the year. Another rarity, Agriphila selasella wandered from the local saltmarshes for the second time this year.

Elsewhere
Similarly dead by the look of the pager

Cold, clear and birdless start to the day

Heysham Obs
Middleton IE
Green Woodpecker - heard on golf course & then east of Tim Butlers
Swift - 1 south
Swallow - c15 south
Meadow Pipit - one high to the south (first perceived autumn migrant)
grounded migrants: zilch

Ocean Edge/Red Nab
Dreadful heat haze with birds facing away at high tide
Med Gull - 2 juvenile & 2 adult noticed
Black-tailed Godwit - 27
Whimbrel - 1

Butterflies Heysham Nature reserve
Highlighted by a really good count of 6 Small Copper, 3 Brimstone, 3 Red Admiral and Gatekeeper relegated to 'lots'.