Elusive Marsh Pug eventually located

Records for Wednesday 11th June 2014:
Heysham Obs
Creepy crawly news only today

Heysham NR
Marsh Pug - one found in sweep net almost certainly caught along the bank along the entrance road
Burnet Companion - several

Middleton NR
Wall Brown - one rescued from puddle
Burnet Companion - a few

Many Large Heaths have now emerged and are being released daily on Heysham Moss with the BBC in tow today


Records for Thursday 12th June 2014:
Heysham Obs
Ringing
CES ringing visit number five completed this morning. One downside of running a CES project is the frightening speed at which the 12 periods pass.  It's a little like counting the summer away and we are already now looking to visit six - half way through!

This morning's catch was typically small, normal for this site.  The majority were recently fledged young of common species but did include single juveniles each of Lesser Whitethroat,  Blackcap and Chiffchaff.

 Moths
A reasonable catch of 26 species, including the first Blackneck of the year.

ajd

Midsummer fence hopper

Heysham Obs

Middleton NR
Harris Hawk - one without jesses and seemingly nothing to do with gull scaring eventually flew off east
Little Ringed Plover - have young
Lesser Black-backed Gull - c40 nests on ind est roof
Herring Gull - c17 nests on ind est roof
Broad-bodied Chaser - male and female in NE corner of reserve
Hedgehog - not easy to see around here these days (thanks Justine):

 

Heysham NR

Following the earliest known Lancs Common Hawker in Hindburndale on Sunday, the same (I think) could be said of a BROWN HAWKER seen by the dipping pond today. 

Bee Orchid

Sunday 8th June at Heysham nature reserve

Red Admiral

Downpour

Heysham Obs
A quick look at the tide off Ocean Edge revealed a 3CY Med in amongst some rather poor visibility - shedload of gulls seaward end Heysham one (best watch from north wall).  Two Little Egret seen

Few Young Birds Yet

Middleton
A ringing session at Middleton Nature Reserve this morning was mildly disappointing.  There was little evidence of fledged young moving around, with only three juveniles caught - 2 Greenfinch and 1 Great Tit.
Four unringed Sedge Warblers and one Reed Warbler were trapped.  Many migrant breeding warblers are presumably still incubating eggs and therefore out of the picture until feeding begins.

ajd

Recent records

Heysham Obs
Sorry getting a bit behind with this


Dark-bellied Brent Goose - one flew 'out' past half moon bay on 31st May (thanks Malcolm)


A pretty thorough check of the gulls yesterday produced a typical result - nothing - other than about 675-700 common seagulls with fewer Common but more Black-headed than previously.  Still looking good!

Tuesday 3rd June

Heysham Obs
Not perfect, but a bit better look at the gulls today produced 675 with about 350 2CY Common - a very late influx after very few at the usual time earlier in the spring

The only 'oddity' was a 2CY Med - unringed

Moths
6 Burnet Companion recorded on the butterfly transect at various places around Heysham NR.  The trap held an increasing variety of common early summer species, but none of the local specialities.  By far the best was a single Figure of 80 - just about annual here

Game on

Heysham Obs

A very early influx of gulls on to the outfalls - not sure whether these were around yesterday (coverage didn't seem to include this area).

Outfalls low tide mid morning
Mixed Black-headed/2CY Common - c600-700
Med Gull - moulting adult (first of autumn)
Little Gull - 2CY
Common/Arctic Tern - one in heat haze

Many of these could not be seen well due to heat haze and the fact they were miles away on the outer shoreline by Stage one

ACCESS

ONLY via the Nature Park/Red Nab and you can walk as far along the seawall as Heysham Two Outfall

Early morning fare

Heysham Obs
Now May is behind us, the worst migration month I can remember here, a murky calm morning at High Tatham seemed to suggest a session at Middleton might just produce something, as well as getting another tedious early season CES out of the way.  So as soon as I arrived the skies cleared and a northerly breeze set in!


Middleton NR 0515-0900
Highlight was the return of V901330 - a Reed Warbler which was first encountered here as an adult male in 2010 and has bred every year since.  Three un-ringed presumed male Sedge Warblers were a bit unexpected - presumably on foraging trips from elsewhere, not late migrants


Otherwise three Greylag flew over, a couple of Jackdaw were seen and Pheasant were high profile compared to recent years with at least two calling.  No Grasshopper warbler sang this morning


Moths
A decent night, but sun blazing into the window and many were certainly lost.  Nothing bettered the "usual" Shaded Pug and Treble Bar, however.

Brief check of Ocean Edge and outfalls

Heysham Obs

Outfalls/Red Nab/Ocean Edge
Med Gull - black-headed 2CY - again could not see legs properly for rings - seen in flight or right on the low tide edge
Common Tern - one seaward end of Heysham Two outfall
Wheatear - smallish female near slipway

Moths
Marbled Minor agg new for the year and two Shaded Pug of note