Ominous CES

Heysham Obs
Absolutely dreadful CES at Middleton this morning with just no sign of the usual young birds you would expect at this time of year and a notable lack of Sedge Warbler - they did this in 2012 - cleared off!

Tjhe moth trap was really good though with the first Shark since 2012 and the third record of Heart and Club (although four were taken at nearby Middleton in 2014).   Clay materialised for the first time this year

Wednesday 24th June

Heysham Obs
A thorough search of the outfalls on the early stages of the incoming tide "only" produced the following

Med Gull: 1 x Ad, 4 x 2CY

Bits and bobs

Heysham Obs
Mainly insects today

Mammals
Live Grey Squirrel Moneyclose Lane
Stoat Moneyclose Lane

Butterfly census
Very worn singleton Peacock and at least three Brimstone.  Three Burnet Companion, single Mother Shipton and Silver Y and, best of all, a single Marsh Pug

Birds
Jackdaw - flock of 16 Middleton MB pond may be a record county of local birds
Grasshopper Warbler - two singing Middleton
Tufted Duck - two eclipse males Middleton

Gulls
A careful scrutiny revealed 9 x 2CY Med yesterday (thanks Pete) - no gull check today in sun and heat haze

Pics from Janet - thanks Janet - all taken today at Middleton

More outfalls coverage

Heysham Obs
Outfalls/Red Nab three visits
Med Gull - 2 x summer ad, 1 x summer ad or 3CY (wing tips not visible).  2 x 2CY but neither the black-headed one seen the last few days
Common Gull - 235
Black-headed Gull - 280

Middleton NR
Grasshopper Warbler - two intermittent singing males western marsh

Moths
At least one Burnet Companion NR plateau.  Nothing dramatic in the trap, although two Shaded Pug cannot be sniffed at the top NW site for this species

Ten minute cameo

Heysham Obs
A ten minute check of the outfalls at low tide paid dividends

Outfalls 0920-0930
Common Tern  - adult briefly on seaward ends of Heysham one then Heysham two
Med Gull - 2 x 2CY and 1 x 3CY
Arctic Skua - dark morph sauntered out down the shipping lane at 0924! - midsummer skuas are very unusual in this area with 'no' terns for any off-passage birds to chase
Little Gull - 2CY seaward end of Heysham two outfall

A further check soon on the incoming tide

A little bit on the late side for the afternoon check and just the adult med gull seen and no sign little gull or any terns

Moths
Campion the best of a reasonable catch with pristine Scalloped Hazel reflecting how late a year this is

More gulls

Heysham Obs
Different ratio of Common (145) and Black-headed (c250) today with fewer of the former and many more of the latter including a juvenile

Meds seen amounted to two x 2CY but a bit late for the outfalls and the totals were mainly Red Nab

The moth trap was very good with Lime Hawk-moth a rare visitor here and Small Fan-foot notable

Larid kick-off

Heysham Obs
Its looking good - both outfalls in full flow and lots of gulls including serious numbers of Common Gull for this time of year.  There has got to be something good in the next few weeks but it needs regular careful scrutiny as the pattern of e.g. ringed Meds suggests quite a bit of midsummer turnover

Outfalls/Red Nab incoming tide
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 156
Oystercatcher - 790
Common Gull - 235 (2 adult)
Black-headed Gull - 96
Med Gull - large summer adult, smaller summer 3CY, at least one 2CY

A working away day

Heysham Obs
Will upload some pics tomorrow - thanks Janet

Don't forget the day-flying moth and butterfly event on Saturday 20th meeting 0930 Heysham NR car park and spending most of the morning on Middleton NR

Eyed Hawk-moth in the trap this morning

New moth for the reserve

Heysham Obs
Pale Prominent was new for the Heysham office toilet trap today, although there have been two records on nearby Middleton NR.

At least one adult Little Ringed Plover and at least one well-grown chick seen today at Middleton

First Tufted Duck for a while on the ponds there

Nutmega

Heysham Obs
Nutmeg was new for the north harbour wall 10km square (SD36) - quite scarce these days and perhaps surprisingly so was Turnip moth

Decent haul in the Heysham NR office toilet trap with Shaded Pug the usual highlight at this time of year

At least one adult Little Ringed Plover Middleton