Another Hummingbird Hawkmoth

The west wind continues, but not so strong now. Another dry day with plenty of sunshine.

Heysham Nature Reserve 

Janet had a bit of an insect day.

Newly emerged Burnet moth

Yellow Shell moth

Small Skipper

Scorpion Fly

Not just insects though, all the above would make a welcome meal for this spider.

Labyrinth Spider - Agelena labyrinthica

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - this was Janet as well but not in the reserve, it passed through her garden this afternoon. Too quick for Janet to grab her camera.

South shore (MD)

I didn't have much time today, just two very brief visits

Mediterranean gulls 17 was the most accounted for at one time. 7 adult, 1 second summer and 9 first summer. Seen on saltmarsh, Red Nab, outflows and on the afternoon ebbing tide on the sea out from the harbour mouth.

First summer Mediterranean gull flushed from the saltmarsh by the rising tide.

These are the raft of gulls out from the Harbour mouth, including at least 3 adult and 5 first summer Mediterranean gulls.

This is the history of the Mediterranean gull read on Saturday, ringed in Holland as a nestling in 2019, it is quite well travelled, but this year marks it's first sightings in the UK.

Rock pipit 5. 2 near lighthouse, 1 on Red Nab and at least 2 on foreshore, 1 feeding at leat one juvenile.

Rock Pipit with a Sea Slater for (one of)  its fledglings

Common Whitethroat 4 around the saltmarsh edge, including at least two juvenile. I think this one thought I was coming in to feed it.

Common Whitethroat 

At least some of the south side Rock Pipits have been successful

The west wind eased a little, light rain (although it didn't feel "light" in the wind) in the morning, long sunny spells after lunch.

South Shore (MD, JP, KE)

Rock Pipit 7 minimum. There was one standing guard over the lighthouse nesting area. Another halfway between the lighthouse and the waterfall with a bill full of grasshoppers.

This one clearly has large youngsters to feed somewhere 

There were another 5 between Red Nab and the foreshore slipway. One was definitely feeding at least one youngster, probably two.

This is the one collecting food for its fledged youngsters 

This one narrowly escaped being swept off this rubble

Linnet 14 between the lighthouse and saltmarsh 

Linnet on Red Nab

Mediterranean gull 26 - a morning count on the rising tide totalled 8 adult, 17 first summer and 1 second summer. But many were feeding on both outflows all day. This is one of the adults 

When I checked in the morning, it rained throughout my walk, resulting in me being the only person about. It just shows what a difference the lack of disturbance makes. This group of gulls, including an adult and a first summer Mediterranean gull were resting on what was left of Red Nab, directly below the sea wall, panning out reveals the location and a line of plastic flotsam!

Common Tern 2 probably 3

In the morning there were two on No.2 outflow and one seen on No.1, but possibly one had temporarily moved across. In the afternoon single birds were seen on both outflows.

Kevin's shots of this afternoon's Common Tern on No.1 outflow

It was a bit duller when I took this clip in the morning

You don't really associate Greenfinches with crashing waves! This male was taking advantage of the natural content of the flotsam.

Nature Park

Janet took these shots of some of the butterflies

Worn Ringlet

Male Gatekeeper

Comma - the tiny white "question mark" on its underwing is 
the "comma" that its name refers to.

Red Admiral 

Meadow Brown

Small White

Finally this classic moth from Kevin's trap

Garden Tiger

Third time lucky?

The strong west wind continues. A dry day with some sunny spells.

South shore (MD)

A check on the rising morning tide again saw the outflows busy, but only gulls seen today.

Mediterranean Gull 14 - 1 adult and 6 first summer on the outflows. 3 adult and 1 first summer on Red Nab. 3 adult and 1 first summer on saltmarsh.

Three first summer Mediterranean gulls with a Black-Headed gull

The nearest bird above was quite a striking individual.

Adult Mediterranean gull - also striking!

Curlew 100+

Redshank 2 on saltmarsh 

Lapwing 7 on saltmarsh 

Also on the saltmarsh was a recently dead adult Gannet, no sign of any trauma or decay. 

A second check early afternoon found the outflows still full of gulls and none visited the beach next to the wooden jetty. This is looking along No.1 outflow. Mainly Lesser Black-Backed, Herring and Black Headed gulls, but there were a couple of first summer Mediterranean gulls with them.

Some of the gulls were just hanging on the wind as it is forced upwards by the sloping wall. This is a Lesser Black-Backed, and it appears to be doing this just for the "fun of it"

This particularly bedraggled first summer Kittiwake was resting
on the sea wall, near No.2 outflow.

Rock Pipits 3 - in the morning the only one seen was on Red Nab. But in the afternoon the lighthouse pair were evident. This is what today's title refers to. They obviously failed to fledge their young for a second time this year, but were preparing to give it another go.

Female Rock Pipit gathering nest material above the nesting area.

Meanwhile, the male was "standing guard". Although he was more interested in keeping out of the wind!

Middleton Nature Reserve 

No sign of the Goosander when I checked in passing at 10:30. And no reports received.

Whitebait makes the outflows attractive

A strong west wind roughed up the sea. Mainly overcast with occasional showers.

South Shore

This report from Pete Crooks:

A walk along the South Harbour Wall (7.30 – 9.00 am) in a gusty westerly wind:
13 Mediterranean Gull – 7 adults (including 1 with white right leg darvic), 2 2nd summer, 4 1st summer – roosting on Red Nab, then dispersed by the rising tide
1 Whimbrel – summering? – Red Nab
24 Cormorant – Wooden Pier
1 Common Tern – Heysham Stage One Outfall

A 20-minute sea-watch from the North Harbour Wall (9.10 – 9.30 am) failed to produced anything offshore.

There was a lot of activity on the outflows, Janet's shots show why.

First summer Black-Headed gull picking out a tiny Whitebait

Juvenile Black-Headed gull

I checked a little later than Pete (MD).

The Common Tern was still feeding on No.1 outflow.

Common Tern

Second summer Mediterranean gull

First summer Mediterranean gull (left) and first summer Common gull

Eider 1 female west

Rock Pipit 1 along sea wall

An evening check found the outflows quieter. Which was good news as the Mediterranean gulls (4 adult, 1 1st summer, 7 2nd summer) were feeding on the sandmason worms and I managed to read a white ringed adult. 

Not the bird seen by Pete this morning, this one's darvic ring is on the left leg.
Details awaited

Shortly after this shot, the outflows suddenly became busy again (another shoal of Whitebait strayed too close to the intake) and all the gulls on the beach left

This is the history of the Belgium white ringed bird read on Wednesday 

Just a splash of colour from the Nature Park:

Small Copper

Red Admiral cleaning its tongue 

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

The juvenile Goosander was on the main pond all day. I wasn't planning on using any more of my shots of it, but when I looked this afternoon, despite several cars in the car park, it was just out from the car park. I doubt I'll ever get any closer to a Goosander and couldn't resist taking a picture.

Goosander "lingers" and Silver Y invasion continues.

A fresh SW wind with some heavy squalls. The rain started about 08:00 with only a few short dry spells for the rest of the day.

Anticipating a washout today, I saved some shots from yesterday. These two are from Kevin Singleton on Heysham Head.

A nice bright Goldfinch - obviously not from today

Rock Pipit

Middleton Nature Reserve (MD)

Goosander 1 juvenile - the reason "lingers" is in inverted commas in today's title is because I'm not sure if it lingered or returned. I arrived at the main pond at 09:30 and had failed to locate the (relatively large) bird in 10 minutes. I just popped across to check the "no swimming" pond and when I returned it was in the middle of the main pond fishing. And fishing with gusto! Same technique, snorkel then a quick dive, there were obviously plenty of fish to catch its eye. I didn't see it catch one this morning, but I only watched for a couple of minutes as it was lashing down. 

I called in again at 16:00, it was still there, no longer fishing, but cruising around the pond preening. Presumably well fed.

South shore (MD)

Mediterranean gulls 5 was the most seen at one time. There was an adult and a first summer on Red Nab and another adult on saltmarsh beach at high water. There were 3 adult and 2 first summer on beach near the wooden jetty and occasionally on the outflow, towards low water.

Adult Mediterranean gull
Another sunlit shot from yesterday, the same scene today, but in pouring rain!

Rock Pipit 1 near the lighthouse - we both sheltered from a heavy squall in the lee of the lighthouse for a while.

Linnet 5 near Lighthouse 6 on saltmarsh 

One of yesterday's saltmarsh Linnets

Finally, this from Kevin Eaves:

Following on from Janet's comment about the number of Silver Ys yesterday, I had 18 in the trap last night!

Goosander surprise, and two red letter insects

A fresh west breeze. Sunny spells.

Middleton Nature Reserve (JP/MD)

Janet checked just before lunch and spotted

Goosander 1 surprisingly early juvenile on the main pond.  Goosander have historically been very uncommon in the recording area, but we had adults off passage in the spring and now a juvenile.

I checked just after lunch the Goosander was still around.

Juvenile Goosander

It was actively feeding, but not wasting any effort. It was searching for a target by snorkelling then diving after it. A House Martin then a Swift zip past, with sound effects, during this clip.

Not the most elegant of dives, but effective. It caught a Tench.

Goosander with a Tench

After that it chilled for a while and provided nice views of its plumage.

On the "no swimming" pond there was a male Gadwall in eclipse, plus a female with six well developed young. Previous sightings of a female with young on this pond there were only five. So, either one had been out of sight on all previous sightings or there are two broods. Time should tell.

Female Gadwall with a brood of six

Red-Veined Darter 1 male on the west bank of the main pond

Male Red-Veined Darter

Also: Four-Spotted Chaser, Black-Tailed Skimmer and Emperors 

Female Large White

Other insect shots from Janet:

Female Meadow Brown

Comma

Also Ringlet and Small Skipper

Silver Y

The Six-spot Burnet clearly like this flower

Common Green Grasshopper 

South shore

Nature Park - Kevin Eaves

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 1 feeding on the Buddleia

Hummingbird Hawkmoth 

Cinnabar moth Caterpillar 

Small Tortoiseshell 

Also seen:

Ringlet (several)

Meadow Brown

Red Admiral

Comma

Speckled Wood

Small White

Small Skipper

Gatekeeper

Six-spot Burnet

I did a quick morning check at High Water (MD)

No gulls on Red Nab, a large group out from the saltmarsh, but mainly Black-Headed gulls, only 2 adult and 2 first summer Mediterranean gulls with them.

Curlew 151 strung out along the waterline.

Lapwing 2

Linnet 10 on saltmarsh 

A walk along the sea wall in the evening rising tide fared little better.

Mediterranean Gulls 10+ there were 2 adult and 2 first summer on beach next to wooden jetty and on No.1 outflow (not a single large gull on this beach today). There were lots of gulls along the stream of fresh water beyond Red Nab at least 2 more adult and 4 first summer. Unfortunately they were flushed by a dog before I could have a close look.

Rock Pipit - just a solitary bird near the lighthouse not feeding.

Janet had commented on how many Silver Y there were on
Middleton today. Then went home to find her garden full of them too!