Mega-micro saves the day

Heysham Obs
The Agonopterix in the trap this morning was liturosa, only the second record for VC60 and the second for Lancashire (one in 1986 at Gaitbarrows).  It feeds on St John's Wort of which there is plenty here.   The CES sessions at Heysham and Middleton were only a fraction above watching paint dry in terms of action.  Rachel Carson would have felt at home.  This time last year there were loads of contact-calling young warblers around.  Is this the worst-ever breeding season for 'open'-nesters?  Also where are the tit flocks?  Subsequent to this posting, the Walney Obs one for 31st July makes interesting reading and another stark contrast to 2011 with resepct to warbler breeding success.  See Links

Middleton NR 0545-0930
Teal - early individual central marsh
Swallow - c23 south
Swift - 9 south
Reed Warbler - 2 juvs ringed
Sedge Warbler - ONE juv ringed (similarly Whitethroat and Blackcap)
Grasshopper Warbler - 3, possibly 4 singing males (just about the only small birds making a noise!) and an adult female with brood patch ringed
Willow Warbler - 6 ringed

Ocean Edge/Red Nab incoming tide, then high tide
Med Gull - Juvenile, plus 2 adult and a 2CY
Little Gull - adult
Terns - none seen
Whimbrel - 3
Grey Plover - 75
Bar-tailed Godwit - 17
Redshank - 265
Curlew - 210
Oystercatcher - 1,300
Turnstone - 5
Dunlin - 14
Knot - 5

Moths
A few new autumnal things such as second brood Small Phoenix, Acleris emargana and Least Yellow Underwing but the rarest was Agonopterix liturosa (thanks to Steve Palmer for checking the pic)

A few more waders

Heysham Obs
Ocean Edge/Red Nab brief visit 0730hrs
Bar-tailed Godwit - 15
Grey Plover - 49
Redshank - 233
Turnstone - 7
Curlew - 156
Whimbrel - 1
Med Gull - 2 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer

Moths
Star of the show was Elachista atricomella - dont think I've noticed it before but there are a dozen or so previous records.  Otherwise just over 100 moths with a Dingy Footman, Golden-rod Pug, Barred Straw and Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet the most "notable" for here

Common Tern makes a rare appearance

Heysham Obs
Very quick check on the morning tide (no time for proper seawatching) off Ocean Edge area saw:

Common Tern - adult Red Nab
Little Gull - adult summer Red Nab
NO Meds!

Moths
Dingy Shears the most notable with Six-striped Rustic new for the year and Straw Underwing still over 50!

Moths and gulls plus a tern and Manx

Heysham Obs
Red Nab/outfalls/Ocean Edge 0745-0815
Unfortunately the big gull flock was sent in the direction of Pott's Corner by a dog and 2CY Meds may have been missed

Med Gull - 2 x ad & 1 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer Red Nab
Sandwich tern - adult Red Nab
Whimbrel - one
Curlew - 187
Grey Plover - 44
Redshank - 210
Manx Shearwater - one distantly offshore flying out

Moths
Another rather large 220+ catch with minor highlights including singles of White Satin, Double Dart, Dingy Footman, Garden Carpet (!), 3 Blackneck, but more especially the occurrence of both Small Fan-foot and The Fan-foot on the same night - neither regular here

The last of the overnight moth madness?

Heysham Obs
Its been a moth week when, despite traps being emptied and checked from the early hours, the identification and documentation has seriously 'crept' into work time!

Moths
Despite the rather late check at 0830hrs (in sunny conditions), with the predictable downturn in flighty geometrids which had presumably made their escape in the earlier morning sun, the trap was still heaving.  After an hour of checking and chucking out, 62 Straw Underwing topped the bill which was again devoid of real 'show-stoppers', but did include Grass Emerald making a welcome first appearance, Dun-bar also new of the year and one or two relatively scarce species in the form of Dingy Shears, Dingy Footman and Blackneck

Outfalls/Red Nab
Very heat-hazy afternoon check with the tide not really far enough in

Little Gull - adult easy to find with its conspicuously black head
Med Gull - 1 x 2CY and 2 x Ad in the heathaze, could have been more
No terns seen

More time-consuming moths

Heysham Obs
Another decent moth catch with no real surprises.  New for the year were Udea lutealis, Southern Wainscot and Cloaked Minor and I think LBB Yellow U/W.  Of interest for here were Plain Golden Y, Slender Pug, Agapeta zoegana (with hamana for comparison), Agonopterix nervosa, Blackneck, Dingy Footman (3), Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, a latish Double Dart and just 58 Straw Underwing

Outfalls/Red Nab late afternoon
Redshank - 235
Turnstone - 4
Oystercatcher - 1,140
Med Gull - 2 x ad, 1 x 2CY
Little Gull - adult summer
Sandwich Tern - 3 adults early afternoon, then just one adult
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 44

Autumnal stirrings

Heysham Obs
A decent incoming tide this afternoon although potentially the best bird, a 'miniature redshank' (with Redshank) was flushed by a bait-digger whilst still a distant complete silhouette, towering high and up and away

Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Little Gull - adult summer
Sandwich Tern - 4 ad, 6 juv
Med Gull - adult and 2 2CY
Oystercatcher - c970
Curlew - 135
Dunlin - 6
Redshank- 40+

Moths
Nothing startling such as the Bedstraw Hawk Moth sat on a moorland trap I ran last night.  Best was Pinion-streaked Snout and others included 5 Dingy Footman, Chinese Character, Slender Pug, Golden-rod Pug, Marbled Beauty and just 38 Straw Underwing

Where-ever there is clover you can often find this moth in the daytime and it also visits the moth trap, although is one of the first to shoot out of the window at the slightest disturbance.  Shaded broad Bar.  Thanks Janet

Warm drizzly moth-fest

Heysham Obs
After turfing loads out of traps at or near home for the last month or so, it was rather ironic that the 'rarest' moth at Heysham this morning was Plain Golden Y.  A large catch included 4 each of White Satin and Dingy Footman, 2 Dingy Shears, Golden rod Pug, Latticed heath, 5 x Blackneck, what is now known as Acrobasis advenella, a massive 53 Straw Underwing (a strangely localised species and this single-night total is guaranteed to be a much larger than in the rest of VC60 combined for the whole year) and just 5 Large Yellow Underwing, a species which has been held well in check so far this year

Not a lot else happening so far!

Three minor notables

Heysham Obs
First of all it took ages to find a way of posting on here (had to sign out, then sign in via the north Lancs ringing group blog!) and I cannot access a toolbar to upload any pics (or boldface/italics).  Will do that tomorrow from the office.  Apologies.

Office area
A Grasshopper Warbler was singing regularly in the tank farm area - typical of a breeding male just starting up again (prolonged singing from there in spring) & the habitat is fine

Moth
White-line dart is a one-two per year wanderer from the nearby coastline and a pristine speciman was in the trap this morning

Red Nab
Single Whimbrel

Moths Purple Patch

Heysham
The eighth CES visit was made today after early rain and rather stronger wind than was comfortable for mist nets.
There were few birds around and fledged young were conspicuous by their absence - for instance, no juvenile Blackbirds have yet been caught this year.

Five juvenile Greenfinches caught at the feeders by the Hut.

Moths
A decent catch of of 48 species although no great numbers of any one species (the species total being maximised by very early check on the trap).

Another Blackneck caught, together with Light Arches, Chinese Character, White Satin, Latticed Heath and Purple Thorn (only the second record at this site).

ajd