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

Red-backed Shrike - Middleton Moor

 I dashed back up to Middleton on Saturday evening when the news broke, late afternoon, of a male Red-backed Shrike seen in front of the hide.

Red-backed Shrike - male

Not ideal timing for me as I'd fallen in the garden just before the news came out, banging my nose, but I felt a lot better after seeing the shrike! 

It was the first record for Middleton but there was no sign of it the following day but a male turned up at Hartington Meadows on Sunday morning which is just 14km to the SW so it seems likely it was the same bird. The Hartington bird disappeared late morning so that could be it for a while.

The Temminck's Stint was still at Middleton on Saturday but hasn't been seen since.