1st August.
Had rained overnight but the cloud cleared enough to photograph the 'Blue' moon at 3am. Strictly a 'blue' moon is the 2nd of two full moons occurring in one calendar month - which this one was when it rose earlier.
At 1.16pm we watched a Southern Hawker fly about briefly and land on garden vegetation in front of us. We could clearly see that it was a male from its anal appendages, narrow waist and reduced adult patterning. It had soft reflective wings with pale yellow wing spots which indicated that it was a newly emerged Dragonfly (teneral). As it was still in the same spot at 6.30pm - we presumed it was letting its wings harden.
At high tide (1.30pm) a good roost was forming on the saltmarsh in front of Biglands layby: Gulls, Lapwings and Oystercatchers.
At 2.30pm, as the sun had come out, a butterfly count for 15minutes along a small patch of gorse, grasses and brambles at the top of the marsh near the hamlet, produced 16 Meadow Browns, 2 Ringlets, 2 Large Whites, 1 Green-veined White and a Large Skipper.
'Blue Moon' at 3am over the Reserve meadows..
Teneral Male Southern Hawker at 1.16 pm - letting wings harden.
Still there 4 hours later - wings still glistening.
Marsh Woundwort amongst the grasses on the edge of the saltmarsh.
Meadow Brown.
2nd August.
Although it had rained overnight - the Southern Hawker dragonfly had been sheltering under vegetation and was still in the same place at 11.45am (lucky not to have been spotted by a hunting bird, although vegetation was a good camouflage). However by 2.pm it had gone and possibly the light rain as the tide came in moved it on. Perhaps its body and wings had hardened enough for it to begin to hunt for food.
The weather was quite warm and very still. The high tide at 2.16pm was a fairly high one at 9 metres. Plenty of Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls flew in and settled in the corner at the end of the Viaduct.
Oystercatchers flying in to the roost.
High tide roost near Biglands layby.
LOGBOOK SIGHTINGS.
NVH - A few Golden Plover on the roost by the shore. Lots of bumblebees on Yellow Rattle.
3rd August.
Dull with rain earlier in the day. A strong SW wind was blowing and the 10m high tide at 2.36 pm came well up the saltmarsh and left a driftline of debris right into the gorse.
Lots of young birds were now in evidence on the bird feeders and most were feeding themselves: young Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tits and Tree Sparrows. A young Blackbird, however, was still being fed.
Visitor - Heron from hide.
Paul Glendenning - Male Hobby over the pond at Rogersceugh (1100 hrs)
4th August.
Rained overnight. A very strong SSW wind was blowing and the very high tide (9.9m) at 3.41 am must have flooded the marsh substantially, as it was very soggy in the morning. Lots of young birds were on all the hangers: Goldfinch, House Sparrows and Chaffinches. A pair of Greenfinches are frequenting the area; the male is very bright - almost yellow. John saw a Swift fly over the hamlet in the evening.
Young Blackbird being fed.
It's standing room only.
Black-headed Gulls bathing in the channel off Scargavel Point.
Faded Meadow Brown butterfly on marsh edge.
5th August.
Rained on and off overnight and a dull day followed with occasional breaks in the clouds. Virtually no wind, warm and quite muggy. Still high tides over 9m.
Plenty of butterflies were flying: Meadow Browns and Green-veined Whites. A Willow Warbler could be seen picking around the vegetation on the marsh front and at high tide (4.30 pm) a good flock of Oystercatchers flew along the marsh front going east. Plenty of Gulls out on the channel.
NJH - 2250 Oystercatchers, 35 Golden Plover, 42 Bar-tailed Godwits and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Angela Goody and Megan H.. - 11.45 am, Male Hen Harrier.
Young Willow Warbler had been picking along marsh edge.
6th August.
Rained overnight and into the morning. After lunch we called in at Port Carlisle and were pleased to see 69 Redshank and a Little Egret in the channel. Also a pair of Common Sandpiper were making free with the stones on the other side.
Common Sandpiper seen landing on the stones in the channel at Port Carlisle (Neil and Marjorie H. had seen one here on the Dipping Pond at Campfield, on 25th July).
Common Sandpiper.
69 Redshank and a Little Egret in the channel at Port Carlisle.
8th August.
Quite a warm day with a light westerly wind. Butterflies were flying, mainly Meadow Browns, although John had spotted a Speckled Wood flying over the house roof towards the marsh.
On the hamlet hangers, we were surprised to see a family of House Sparrows vying for the adult's attention i.e. in the form of food. Whereas Tree sparrows are pretty common here, we rarely see House Sparrows let alone young ones.
HKH, along with a contingent from the Carlisle Naturalists, had been out on the Moss. They had seen an Emperor Dragonfly, Common Darter, Black Darter, and all the usual Damselflies. She also recorded having seen a Kingfisher a few days before, crossing from the farm, along the line of trees and over the Discovery Pond.
John Howard called in and said that he had been on the Lonning and a Southern Hawker had landed on his chest which had been frustrating for him as it was too close to photograph.
HKH - Scalloped Shell Moth.
Juvenile House Sparrows. - what are we waiting for!
That's more like it!
9th August.
It had rained overnight and there was heavy cloud cover in the morning. With a brisk SW wind the high tide(7.8m) came in at 10.08 am. On the ebb about 11ish, good flocks of Golden Plover and Black-headed Gulls started to form on the mudflats. By midday Grey Plover, Curlew, Redshank , Bar-tailed Godwits, Dunlin and Cormorants joined them.
In the hamlet a number of young birds could be seen around the feeders: Blue Tits and Dunnock. Swallows were still busy hawking about along the edge of the marsh and under the trees where there was a plentiful supply of insects.
Later in the afternoon 62 Cormorants could be seen sitting out on the sandbanks and in the water.
Golden Plover , BTG, Dunlin, Black-headed Gulls on the mudflats.
Mixed waders landing.
Golden Plover and Dunlin at low tide.
Cormorants out on a sandbar off Maryland layby - there were 62 all together.
Male Bullfinch has just had a good bath.
Young Dunnock.
Young Blue Tit.
10th August.
Fine rain early on with a SE wind which veered to the west by mid-afternoon. The high tide at 9.26am did not come in far (7.9m), leaving a good amount of mud uncovered for the best part of the day. Consequently, good numbers of Black-headed Gulls and waders, including Dunlin, Golden Plover and Curlew, were taking advantage of this feeding bonus.
At low tide, a handful of Cormorants could be seen far out on the tide's edge, drying their wings - presumably having had a successful fishing trip.
An early afternoon walk down the Lonning found the Reserve quiet with the only bird sighting being a Grey Heron flying off the 1st Meadow Pool.
In the hamlet, we were pleased to catch a glimpse of the Grey Squirrel on the nut hangers, performing amazing antics to get down to those nuts at the bottom of the feeder.
LOGBOOK SIGHTING
RDC - Female Painted Lady at 3.15 pm, Rogersceugh.
Curlew flying west along tideline.
Cormorant and Waders on ebb-tide.
Cormorants, waders and gulls on the ebb-tide.
Grey Heron flying off 1st Meadow Pool.
'Stretchy' Squirrel is back in the hamlet . . .
Quite an acrobat.
Did not stay long though!
Promise of a good day tomorrow.