Tuesday 26 June 2007

First Green Sand of the autumn

Heysham Obs
This was a day where a few bits and bobs could be 'squeezed out' notably location of rather lethargic dragonflies in sunny conditions, but barely 14C! It was the authors fifth unsuccessful attempt to see the pair of Black Guillemot - exclusively late afternoon!

Wooden jetty/harbour area
The pair of Black Guillemot were seen in the morning at c1030 but could not be located late afternoon. One juv Shag was on the jetty late afternoon

Heysham NR
A Green Sandpiper flew from the NR marsh towards the (ex)Obs Tower pond late afternoon. At least three singing male Lesser Whitethroat on British Energy property.

Insects
3 mature male and a probable sluggish female rather than teneral Red-veined Darter along the western shore of the model boat pond. One male spent a very short time over the water. At least 7 similarly sluggish Black-tailed Skimmer including two 'in cop'. The first Brown Hawker of the year was along the sheltered Moneyclose Lane

Mammals
Grey Seal harbour entrance late afternoon

Elsewhere
A non-singing Wood Warbler seen at Tower Lodge (three singing males this week at Outhwaite Wood). Long-eared Owls were notable up the Leck Fell road this evening with at least 4 young in the top plantation [2 showing along the eastern side, viewed from the road about 300m beyond/above the end of the plantation] and at least three in the lower [one seen briefly] and a sighting of two adults, one from each plantation