The westerlies continue, mainly overcast with a few sunny spells. Showers by evening.
Red Nab and Ocean Edge
Not many birds on show, but plenty of insects.
Little Egret 1
Lapwing 3
Linnet 10
Pied Wagtail 8
Rock Pipit 1 - this one was feeding on Red Nab, it seemed to be finding food, but eating it straight away.
Butterflies:
Small White 6
Small Tortoiseshell 3
Large Skipper 10
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| I know we've had lots of large Skipper pictures, but this male is striking the classic skipper pose with the fore-wings raised and the hind-wings horizontal |
Cinnabar moth 2
A small blue and black Hawker flew in off the saltmarsh, I don't think it came in off the sea, as the wind was wrong. It was probably just flushed off the marsh by the tide. Unfortunately, too fleeting a view to identify.
Middleton Nature Reserve mid afternoon
Cetti's warbler 2 - both the central marsh and "no swimming " pond males singing.
Little grebe 1 adult on Tim Butler, behaviour suggested it was taking food to another bird out of the water.
Dragonflies - not many around at 14:30, but after a short sunny spell there were several active. Including:
Emperor 3+
Hawker 1 large blue/green and black, probably Southern
Brown Hawker 1
Broad-bodied Chaser 3
Black-Tailed Skimmer 2+
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| Female Black-Tailed Skimmer |
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| Male Black-tailed Skimmer - a slightly clearer shot than yesterday's effort. |
Two moths from Kevin's light trap last night.
This moth has been confirmed as Anania fuscalis, which appears to be the first record for the north of the county since 1994. It's not the most attractive of moths, but it's a welcome addition to the local list.
Anania fuscalis
A bit more striking, a Lime Hawk-moth
Finally, this faux castle is at the southern edge of the shore recording area. There were five crows, presumably a family group, "playing" on it.
Carri On, up the castle........sorry (MD)
