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Saturday 11th April 2026

 

Silver Y (Autographa gamma) - about two weeks earlier than most years. A little look into the scientific name: gamma is Greek for the letter Y.

A windy overcast morning with wind blowing from the SE. Very few migrants passing through, with ringing saying it all, with mostly retrap Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs from yesterday. A Redpoll was seen early in the morning in the compound, and a Whimbrel on the beach, 5 Wheatear remain on the peninsula. 

An easterly wind can be promising for blowing migrants closer to the shore, however today few were seen, with 7 Black-headed gull, 5 Swallow, 2 Whimbrel and an Oystercatcher flying south. Just 2 Cormorant moving North.  

Moth trapping: 3 moths, in a total of 3 traps, somewhat not surprising with the strong winds overnight. One of them being our first Silver Y of spring. The Silver Y is probably the most common immigrant moth in the UK, numbers tend to build in autumn, as the breeding population from spring migrants is swelled by further migration.    

Bird Ringing: 1 Chiffchaff.