Garden Dart Confirmed

 Confirmation today that this moth, trapped on the 22nd of July this year, is indeed Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans. What's more, it is the first Devon record in 32 years, with the last one being trapped on August 1st 1990, in Colyton. A big thank you to Barry Henwood and Phil Sterling for confirming. It's not yet possible to know if this individual is part of a resident population or an immigrant, but I'll be keeping my eyes open for future specimens, regardless.

A bit 'finchy' on Orcombe this morning, with at least 104 Goldfinches and 60 Linnets east (with a flock of c100+ in the top fields), 5 Siskins south and c15 Chaffinches. Also c100 House Martins, 20+ Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit, 10+ Swallows, c40 alba wagtails, 2 Blackcaps, 10+ Chiffchaffs, 2 Stonechats, 3 Goldcrests, 1 Little Egret, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Reed Bunting, 5 Song Thrushes, 1 Peregrine, 1+ Grey Wagtail and 6 Starlings.

Off Mudbank - 10 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 430+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Greenshank, 3 Black Swans, 1 Reed Bunting (over south), c220 Curlew and 18 Bar-tailed Godwits. The Wigeon flock was too difficult to count accurately today, but I would guess c1000 birds present, with a very small number of Pintail.

A dog-walk around Blackhill Quarry produced the juvenile Ring-necked Duck, 2 Tufted Ducks, c30 House Martins and the Kingfisher.

Yesterday off Mudbank - 25 Turnstones, c60+ Teal, 7 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Black swans, 36 Black-tailed Godwits, c275 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 9 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Sandwich Terns and 1 Osprey.

The juvenile Ring-necked Duck was on Blackhill Quarry pool, with 3 Tufted Ducks, and nearby on Bystock - 3 Snipe, 5 Firecrests and c10/15+ Goldcrests noted on a quick circuit.

This Reed Bunting was on Orcombe Point first thing this morning. Another flew south over Mudbank a short while later, and at least 2 were heard on today's dog-walk, on Woodbury Common.

The Ring-necked Duck is present for its third day, at least. This morning it was with two Tufted Ducks - one less than yesterday.

The three Black Swans are still providing a talking point amongst locals, off Mudbank.

Small Copper - Orcombe Point.