Dark Green Fritillary weather and belated Red-veined Darter

Heysham Obs
Just received info this pm that Red-veined Darter was identified & photographed on Middleton model boat pond yesterday and the photos seen today.  To the photographer: please can you pass on records - it was only pure chance another dragonfly enthusiast saw your pics today.  Thanks! 

A thirty minute vigil 1525 onwards today produced a red darter briefly over the water in the NE corner which then disappeared but the over-water flight was spot-on for red-veined = hugging the water with sharp turns

Thanks to Mike Watson for this pic taken this morning

The Bonaparte's Gull was performing well this morning between Heysham 2 outfall and Red Nab along with Meds PNE7 and AKRS.  Please don't send the darvic-ringed Meds in directly but please send to me and I'll make sure you are acknowledged  PMrsh123@aol.com Thanks very much and this saves a bit of admin for the ringers. On the other hand, please don't assume the bird you see has already been read, especially if you manage any of the metal-only-ringed birds!

Other birds included a notable 6 Common Tern heading north, three Whimbrel, at least 10 Med Gulls.  Thanks for these Mike

We were only saying yesterday that this sort of weather could produce a wandering Dark Green Fritillary as per previous years.  This happened today with one below the classroom late morning and is about the fourth such record over the years

Bonaparte's gives the morning a miss but reappears mid-afternoon

Heysham Obs
No known sightings of the Bonaparte's Gull this morning but it was on the pager for 1435hrs between the two outfalls.  No other coastal news other than "the odd Med"!

Middleton NR
Fairly mediocre ringing session with about 19 new birds, the most numerous being Sedge Warbler (7).  No shelter from the blazing sunlight!

Moths - more SD36 coverage
A sheet and light session between the mound and sandworks last night was quite interesting.  There were loads of out of context insects on the move and it would have been a great session if there was a caddis specialist, beetle specialist and small fly/hymenoptera specialist available to add some more 10km square dots.  Insects included a single median wasp which was 'removed', two 7-spot Ladybird, a "backswimmer", several normal water boatmen and masses of unidentified small insects

It was a fantastic session for small micros but unfortunately I only had a limited number of pots, so hopefully discarded look-alikes were duplicates and not similar species!  By far aand away the best was a spectacular Hedya salicella and a lot of time has been wasted this morning trying to identify what appears to be a "distinctive" Epinotia-type.  Presumably it is a variation on a common species which is not illustrated and not a boat-hopping mega (two came into the harbour during the session!). An actinic was also left in the sandworks, thankfully in the lee of the single building and morning sunlight was avoided.

Quite a difference in the catches between the more rocky area (S & L) and the actinic in the sandworks.  The former saw Cloaked Minor dominating the sheet and the latter produced 61 White-line Dart.  Quite a few moths seemingly wandering out of habitat, notably Light Emerald and Peach Blossom and loads of new 10k square species

Bonaparte's Gull still present

Heysham Obs
It has been elusive today with 'no sightings since mid-afternoon' until about 8.30pm after which it was located off the southern end of Ocean Edge with at least 6 Meds.  Need to be aware that the freshwater is very low on Red Nab and birds may also go and bathe on Middleton model boat pond
Obviously the Bonaparte's Gull has been the main attraction but there is a sideshow involving up to 20 or so Med Gulls.  See below for Gav Thomas pics (flight) and one from Mark Nightingale (on Red Nab).  Thanks very much for these

Med Gulls
Some of these have rings and thanks very much for the efforts so far by Chris Batty, Paul Ellis, Jean Roberts, Pete Woodruff and Gav Thomas.  This activity is completely out of my league until the eye fully heals!  The following is the situation I am aware of:

Yellow with black letters - 3CY 2P96 - ringed by us last spring, already had Belgian metal ring
Red with white letters PNE7 - Polish ringed 3CY already sent in details awaited
Green with black letters - German-ringed 2CY AKRS - this bird may have gone but details received
Green with black letters - German-ringed 2CY possibly/probably AK(U?)R - under investigation to see whether a fit - confirmation gratefully received.  STOP PRESS:  Confirmed a few minutes ago by Pete Woodruff as AKUR!

A right-leg metal above the foot 3CY - anyone managed to read it, please?
3-4 with metal above tarsus - assume these are impossible!

Any other darvic rings seen, please?

Thanks very much

Moths
18 Double Dart in two actinics - definitely the top site for this species!  Loads of moths in actinic set overlooking many key habitats

Bonapartes Gull regularly reported and welcome Med Gull news

Heysham Obs
Bonapartes Gull being kept tabs on fairly well throughout the day but mobile between Red Nab and the seaward end of Heysham one and points in between - indeed the same pattern as most of the gulls!

Med Gull - at least 13, including a 2CY with green darvic - anyone read it, please?

The really welcome Med news was the successful return of the bird we caught along the north harbour wall this spring and attached a darvic ring (photographed two evenings ago)

Check North Lancs Ringing Group site for early March

Common Sandpiper - one nature park pond
Whimbrel - 2

The 2CY Kittiwake was present at least late afternoon

Moths
Figure of 80 a rare visitor

Still present

Heysham Obs
Showing well on the inner end of Stage 2 outfall on the dropping tide this morning.  On the lower stages of the tide, present on the seaward end of  Heysham one outfall late yesterday evening.  Also at least 15 Meds around yesterday evening and an absolute minimum of 8 this morning (without checking the favoured loafing area near the wooden jetty) plus a Sandwich tern

Top two from Dave Talbot, bottom from Chris Batty.  Thanks for these. 

Moths

A Large Emerald was a nice surprise on the toilet wall.  Middleton actinic saw the first Southern Wainscots, Eudonia pallida and a Garden Tiger as well as the expected Blacknecks and Double Darts 

Thanks Reuben

Wow...

Heysham Obs
Ad summer Bonapartes Gull found early evening & showing well on/either side Heysham 2 outfall.  Thanks to David Talbot

More pics tomorrow..........

Much better weather today - flat light, no skin-burning sun, no heat-haze - perfect for gull watching with just enough wind to 'organise' the flocks at the same angle

Med Gull - 4 2CY (the German bird not seen), 3 3CY and at least 5 adults.  One of the 3CY has a below tarsus metal ring which should be 'gettable' via a pic and blow-up.  Three others have metal rings above the tarsus which are a real pain to do anything with when you are looking 'down' on the birds from the seawall and tarsal feathering covering half the ring.

Moths in SD36V
Be good to have a bio-blitz on here - the only dry land in SD36 - just the right size to comprehensively survey as per Eric Greenwood and the late Jennifer Newton with respect to the flora. Indeed, the flora could do with re-surveying as there have been quite a few recent changes, notably an influx of stabilising sand and associated flora.  The composition of the modest catch in an actinic was just like a segment from e.g. Walney Island with White-line Dart dominating

All these were new 10km square records!:   Lime-speck Pug (5), Garden Tiger, Agapeta hamana, White-line Dart (20), Shoulder-striped Wainscot (2), Rustic (2), Uncertain (1), Crambus perlella (6), Crambus pascuella, Clay, Bryotropha affinis and another micro still to look at.

Bonaparte's Gull!

Heysham Obs
Yesterdays sightings
Yesterday morning, Jean Roberts went to check the gulls on the outfalls with the aim of finding an "about time" Bonaparte's Gull amongst the hordes.  No Bonaparte's Gull but a valuable reading of the green-ringed 2CY Med:

AKRS
Ringed: Pionierinsel, Germany, 53 35N 9.36 E  Nestling      16/6/12
Seen Heysham outfalls: 13/7/13 and presumably this several times over the previous fortnight

Then in the evening, Ian Walker had the presence of mind to photograph a small gull in very poor late afternoon light as it roosted, partially obscured, on Red Nab at 1630hrs.  Initially thought to be a Little Gull, close perusal of the single photograph led to the observer to realise the identity:

Todays sightings
Mediterranean Gull - 6 adult, possibly 7, 3CY and 2CY
No sign of the Bonaparte's Gull on afternoon tide..............but please keep looking.  There is a long history of birds coming and going from here and other local roosts/feeding areas at this time of year.  Prime sites to check are Cocker's Dyke, Bank End and Glasson

Med read

About 520 Black-headed Gulls on the outfalls (220 on H1 and 300 on H2) at low tide.  Med Gulls were hanging out in the usual area on the mud between H1 outfall and the wooden jetty, a 2S with a metal ring below the knee on the right leg and a 2S with a metal ring above the knee on the left leg and a green Darvic below the knee on the right leg bearing the letter AKRS.  The latter is a German-ringed bird.

Later on at high tide what was thought to be a summer-plumaged adult Little Gull  roosted at Red Nab.............but check tomorrow's posting!.

Moths of note:
Middleton:
Northern Eggar

Heysham Nature Reserve:
Peach Blossom - notable for its prettiness!

J R.

Least Minor sensation

Heysham Obs

Recent Middleton moth trapping
Following the decent actinic catch the previous night (Silver Hook and Silky Wainscot), a sheet and light session was carried out the following night by John G (night of 9th/10th).   This produced a small minor spp which, in the light of day seems to be Least Minor in pretty perfect condition!

There is absolutely no chance that this has been accidentally transported from the hotspot near Leighton Moss - none were retained from there by John and the car was parked miles away! Pics soon.

The sheet and light session was plagued by flies of various sorts of which a pic might be available soon if it can be transferred from a mobile!

Outfalls/Red Nab
A major test of the 'new' eye saw 3CY and ad Med Gulls identified in the shimmering hordes on Red Nab.  Must do better.  Ad unringed below tarsus, 3CY legs not seen

Moths
Green Oak Tortrix was an unusual visitor - this might have come in my car from Millhouses but not aware of any passengers!  Agriphila selasella paid a visit from the local saltmarshes

Tuesday 9th July at Middleton Nature reserve.
Mother and Cygnets doing well.
Young Wagtails out and about. Emperor Dragonfly and Dab chicks, Burnet Moths