I disturbed four Latticed Heaths from long grass on Orcombe this morning - a species that until today I'd only seen in France. I can't believe I've overlooked them for the last twenty-something years (although it's not impossible) so presumably a brand new colony.
Orcombe Point - rained off with just 1 Whinchat and 1 male Blackcap logged. Nearby - on the beach by the lifeboat station - a flock of 52 Ringed Plovers. A flock of 8 or 9 Common Scoters whizzed by offshore.
Mudbank - 25 Wigeon, 5 Pintail, 5+ Black-tailed Godwits, 9 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Greenshank, 9+ Ringed Plovers, 1 Sanderling, 12 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 7 Sandwich Terns and 6+ Common Terns. The Osprey was well upriver.
Wigeon - Mudbank.
Two Painted Ladies, two Vestals and masses of Rush Veneers in the rain on Orcombe this morning.
Disappointingly quiet in soggy conditions this morning but this juvenile Whinchat on the dung heap was nice.
Hi Matt, You've not overlooked the heath, a migrant influx yesterday three in Dawlish and on Portland and two on the Warren. The first for the Warren was last year so maybe a future resident?
ReplyDeleteHi Kev - many thanks for getting in touch. When I found the first one I assumed it was a migrant but I kept seeing them (probably actually six in total but four confirmed) on my usual stroll. I didn't make any effort to search for moths so there could have been lots more! Had a little look today (9th) and found none so I'm sure you're right. Fewer Rush Veneers today too. All the best. Matt.
ReplyDeleteHi, Matt. Great keeping up with your butterfly finds. Hadn't seen a Latticed Heath before. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteMust add, too, that I enjoy all the gull images and info. I can now move on from talking only about "gulls", to actually identifying a few. Way to go, though !
Hi there - believe me - I have a long way to go too. Always learning with gulls! All the best and thank you for your comment - Matt.
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