Puss Moth Cat

Went searching for the remarkable-looking Puss Moth caterpillar this afternoon but didn't really expect to find one. A bonus Sallow Kitten caterpillar too!

Mudbank - not a lot today but 14 Mediterranean Gulls included a flock flying upriver at 0950. Also off there - 8 Sandwich Terns.

Blackhill Quarry - 7 Tufted Ducks and 1 Coot with a recently-fledged juvenile. See below for yesterday's birds.

Puss Moth caterpillar.

Sallow Kitten (third instar?) caterpillar.

Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Wheathill carpark.

Grayling.

One of seven Tufted Ducks on Blackhill Quarry pool. No juveniles.

Ringlet.

Large Skipper.

My first returning Redshank of the autumn - Mudbank 29/6/26.

Mudbank yesterday - 1 Redshank, 5 Whimbrel, 7+ Sandwich Terns, 2+ Mediterranean Gulls, 125+ Black-headed Gulls, c40 Curlew and my first fully-fledged juvenile Herring Gull of the summer.

A quick search of Liverton Copse revealed 20 Broad-leaved Helleborines - the majority no yet in flower so I'll be back...

Small Tortoisehell - Exmouth cricket club 28/6/26.

Thirteen Common Sands

Thirteen Common Sandpipers off Mudbank on this morning's high tide. Ten were still present this afternoon. These were my first Common Sands in Exmouth this year and thirteen is by far my biggest ever flock! Also off there today - 2 Grey Plovers, 11 Sandwich Terns, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 145+ Black-headed Gulls and 35 Shelduck.

Common Brindled Brown Agonopterix heracliana.

Holly Blue - mating pair, Mudbank.

Oak Nycteoline.

True Lover's Knot.

Broad-leaved Helleborine. Just five spikes of his gorgeous orchid in the traditional spot, down from nearly thirty not too many years ago!

Local LRP.

Vestal - Orcombe Point.

Black-tailed Godwits

A lovely flock of 16 fully summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits was off Mudbank this afternoon. Also off there today - 1 Greenshank (heard whilst doing the moth trap early morning), 105+ Black-headed Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Gulls.

Juvenile Black-headed Gull.

2s Mediterranean Gull - Mudbank.

Reed Minor Orthotelia sparganella.

Last night's more notable moths included 1 Silver Y, 1 Small Mottled Willow, 3 Scarlet Tigers, 1 Dark-bordered Pearl, 1 European Corn-borer, 1 Rusty Dot Pearl, 12+ Diamond-backs, 5 Privet Hawkmoths, 1 Italian Bark Moth, 1 Four-spotted Footman, 1 Bulrush Veneer and 1 Reed Minor.

Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella.

Dark-bordered Pearl Evergestis limbata.

Dun-bar.

I think this is Rust Pine Borer Arhopalus rustica. Caught in the moth trap this morning.

Netted Tortrix Acleris forsskaleana.

Burdock Straw Aethes rubigana.

Lobster  Moth.

Obscure Wainscot.

Dingy Shell.

Scarce Footman.

Peach Blossom.

Blue-bordered Carpet.

 Small Rivulet.

Scarlet Tiger.

Garden Straw Agapeta hamana.

Large Pale Masoner Blastobasis lacticolella.

Barred Red.

Water Veneer.

Tawny Sycamore Piercer Pammene aurita.

Slender Pug.

Clancy's Rustic

Clancy's Rustic. A first for the garden here in Exmouth and only the second one I've ever trapped.

Shelly Beach this morning - 1 Common Tern, 17+ Sandwich Terns, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and 5 Grey Herons. Nearby, off Mudbank - a flock of 55 Black-headed Gulls, 3 Whimbrel, 57+ Curlew,  4 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Stock Dove and 1 Canada Goose.

Brown Rustic. I used to catch this species regularly several years ago, when we lived in Rockbeare, but this was the first one I've trapped in Exmouth. Almost didn't recognise it!

Heather Knot-horn Pempelia palumbella.

Thistle Ermine.

Chequered Grey Scoparia basistrigalis.

Angle Shades.