Aethes deaurana - first recorded in the UK as recently as 2017, this southern European species has now become established at a few sites in Devon and Dorset. They've been recording them at Dawlish Warren for a while now but I hadn't managed to get my act together, to search for them, until yesterday evening. A short, dusk search of the Maer, where Alexanders abound, was all that was required!
Birds today - Mudbank - 47 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Dunlin, 12 Curlew, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 80 Canada Geese. The Yellow-legged Gull was in the recycling centre and the Sedge Warbler was still in song on Orcombe Point.
Ringed Plovers - Mudbank.
Predictably, the second-summer Yellow-legged Gull was back in the recycling centre early this morning.
A male Stonechat singing from the top of the Geoneedle this morning - Orcombe Point.
House Martins - Mudbank 31/5/23.
Both Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler in song on Orcombe yesterday morning. The Sedgie is presumably the bird that's been on territory up there all spring.
Off Mudbank - 5 Ringed Plovers, 1 Redshank, 11 Curlew, 9 Sanderlings, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Black-headed Gull and 16 House Martins.
Heather Knot-horn Pempelia palumbella.
Early Marsh Orchid.
Heath Spotted Orchid.
Common Cudweed.
Whitethroat - Orcombe Point.
Good to see some moth action amongst the birds here Matt. My trap is turning up next to nothing!
ReplyDeleteHi Nick - I hear that numbers are low everywhere. The cool, clear nights can't be helping. Hopefully it will pick up with some more overcast conditions. Trust you're keeping well. Matt.
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