Red-veined Darter - Middleton

 The hot weather produced a lot of butterfly and dragonfly activity at Middleton and I was aware that Red-veined Darters had been recorded in good numbers in South Yorkshire so I had a look at the darters at Middleton and there were several Red-veined! 

My impression was that I'd started to see the 'red' darters when the influx of Painted Lady Butterflies occured several weeks ago and I guess that makes sense as they are also migrants from southern Europe.

The red veins for which they are named show up well in the top photo and the blue base to the eyes can be seen in the lower photo. As far as I can tell its the first time they have been recorded at Middleton Moor.

Red-veined Darter - male

A Quail could be heard on Black Harry Lane for several days from 22nd June and another Green Sandpiper turned up on the 26th, this time a juvenile, when there was also a Water Rail.

Green Sandpiper

I saw my first Hobby of the year at Middleton this morning and with the dragonflies and incresing numbers of hirundines I hope to see it again.

Green Sandpiper - Middleton Moor

 The spring migration of passerines is over for this year and it will be a month or two before autumn migration commences but the end of spring and start of autumn migration is not as clear cut for waders. This morning I had an adult Green Sandpiper at Middleton and it's likely that this is already a bird that is returning from its arctic breeding grounds, perhaps after a failed breeding attempt.

It is surprisingly scarce at Middleton, this is only my second record after a juvenile last August. 

Robin Elliot had a Quail calling on Screetham Lane the night before last and there are plenty of reports of Nightjar and Grasshopper Warbler so there are still birds to look, or listen for,

Green Sandpiper - worn adult

Decent wader passage at Middleton

 The first real signs of autumn wader passage getting underway today at Middleton Moor with Wood Sandpiper, Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover. The Ringed Plover and Dunlin departed high NW but the Wood Sandpiper was then joined by 3 Redshank and a Ruff.

On the 14th I had a Green Sandpiper at Middleton so the photos taken today of the Wood Sandpiper make a nice comparison with the Green, both are juveniles.

Wood Sandpiper juvenile

Green Sandpiper juvenile

Ruff juvenile

Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper and Dunlin

Green Sandpiper - Chatsworth

 Two Green Sandpiper today on Emperor Lake at Chatsworth. I have one previous record of Green Sandpiper from the Cupola Ponds at Stone Edge but I've lost the details and must have been 20 years ago, so this is my first documented record for the area.

The Birds of the Bakewell Area record annual sightings from Ramsley and Barbrook Reservoirs which are now almost gone with several records from Middleton Moor. It's recorded more regularly from Ogston and Carsington.

 

Green Sandpiper