Serin, White-speck

Hastily-scribbled sketch of this morning's Serin, drawn seconds after seeing it (with a bit of yellow added at home).

This morning's Serin was picked up thanks to its distinctive trill. At first I assumed it was flying around but it was actually hiding in a sallow clump, in the corner of the main big field, along Gore Lane. It was with a small group of Greenfinches and Goldfinches but I didn't actually see it until the flock burst from cover and flew towards Orcombe Point. I hoped to pick it up again but it wasn't to be, and not too surprising as small flocks of Goldfinches, Siskins and Linnets were clearly on the move. This is my second Serin in Exmouth this year, following a spring fly-over, and my seventh in Exmouth in total. Counts this morning included c4000 Woodpigeons (all west before 10am, with the largest groups numbering c300 birds), at least 23 Stock Doves, 2 Fieldfares, 3 Redwings, 1 Reed Bunting, 19 Jackdaws, 6+ Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 30+ Starlings, 3 Little Egrets, 4 Goldcrests and a Coal Tit. A gathering of 10 Great Black-backed Gulls was resting in the top fields and small numbers of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were noted but not counted.

One of two Painted Ladies seen on Orcombe Point this morning.

Woodpigeons got properly going this morning. I'm used to seeing them on colder, clearer mornings, so they took me a little by surprise. Small numbers of Stock Doves snuck through with them.

This White-speck was only my second garden record. It's a really smart moth. Other immigrant species last night included 2 Dark Sword-grass, 2 Turnip, 1 Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, 1 Silver Y, 2 Rush Veneer and 40+ Rusty Dot Pearl. Also 9 Box-tree Moths and a late Brimstone amongst the other bits and pieces.