Cool June surprise

I cannot remember such a protracted period of cool weather in June. All the more surprising then to see this Painted lady, on Ocean Edge salt marsh.

The picture above was taken at 10:00. After lunch, there was a short down pour. I had a quick check of harbour area after that (14:30) and located another six Painted lady on a 20m stretch between the lighthouse and waterfall. Clearly there has been a significant and/or concentrated movement.

Common tern feeding on No.2 outflow. 1 hour before high water.

Rock pipit perseverance

(MD - Pete's still away)
The lingering, presumed female, Rock pipit, at the failed nest site near harbour lighthouse, has not been seen for four days.  (sex based on distictive supercilium of nest building bird)
Today a male Rock pipit was seen displaying (parachuting) several times over Ocean Edge salt marsh.
The potential downside to this possible new breeding location is the lack of an obvious nesting area, that wouldn't be vunerable to predation. I'll keep an eye on developments.

In contrast the the north shore Rock pipits have at least one, probably two, fledged young.
Three feeding events were seen, and at one point there appeared to be be four birds around, but only clear views of two at a time, so couldn't confirm two juvenile.

This first picture shows two birds. The rest show detail of the upper bird.

Red Nab - mid morning
Over 50 Black-headed today, mainly 2cy, no sign of any Mediterranean gulls.
One of these Eider seems to have some sort of leg tag, but couldn't get any clearer shots than these.

Drip feeding

Little to report.
Heysham skeer - low water mid afternoon
Great-crested grebe - still 5
Eider 29
The only waders were Oystercatchers

South shore - early evening
Black-headed gull numbers are growing quickly c30 today (many 2cy)
Curlew roost on Red Nab getting underway. 23 flew in today. There were 415 by 10/07 last year, so some way to go!

Tuesday

Pete and Jean are away till later next week, so records will be depleted.
Only thing of "note" today was a 1cy Black-headed gull - quite early for here.

Hopefully we'll be getting Mediterranean gulls soon.

No sign of Guillemot in hharbour, for fourth visit. Looks like it's moved on. (MD)

Sunday

Middleton Nature Reserve.

Only two pair of Mute remain both now with 5 young

Stock dove 1

Moths

Included Burnet companion

Dragonflies:

Only Broad-bodied chaser and Black-tailed skimmer seen.

Heysham Nature Reserve

Thanks for these pictures Janet

Large skipper

Small Heath (very scarce here last year)

Burnet Companion

Saturday

Only records that I am aware of (MD)
Rock pipits 1 adult near lighthouse and another near slipway Ocean Edge salt marsh

Friday

Heysham skeer - low water
Great-crested grebe 7
Whimbrel - 2 late(ish) birds together.

Pete (M) did have more.
Mediterranean gull 1 2cy south shore
Sandwich tern adult
Hobby, 2cy Heysham Nature Reserve

Thursday 6th June

Middleton Nature Reserve early afternoon
Went while sun was shining to check the dragonflies:
Black-tailed skimmer m & f on main pond
Four-spotted chaser at least 10, most on no swimming pond
Broad-bodied chaser 4 (1f) on new small ponds (west sise of western marsh)

Mute
The female from the main pond is now on the "no swimming" pond with 5 of the original 7 young.
The pair from the "no swimming" pond now occupy the main pond, but have acquired an additional chick, and now also have 5. The ousted male is still beside the main pond.

Gadwall 3

Cetti's warbler
None singing today, hopefully all busy. There have been four territories confirmed this year.


Harbour area - evening
Rock pipit - one adult still hanging around, but no evidence that any of the young survived.

No sign of long staying Guillemot, but it has gone awol before.

Wednesday 5th June

Low water channels early am
No sign of Great-crested grebe or Red-breasted merganser today.
Eider c40
Canada goose two lots flew north 4 + 8

Tuesday 4th June

Slim pickings and limited observers this week (MD)

Low water channels early am
Bar-tailed godwit 10 (not sp)
Dunlin 2
Red-breasted merganser 5
Great-crested grebe 6
Eider c50

North shore lunchtime
Rock pipit appears to be guarding territory

Middleton Nature Reserve
The dominant male mute which had nested on the "no swimming" pond has brought his family to main pond, and is attempting to oust the pair that nested there.