Saturday 2nd August 2014

An overcast day with a slight breeze. The only migrants on site were 2 Blackcap & a Willow Warbler. Offshore 14 Teal, 4 Oystercatcher and a Grey Heron headed south and 39 Common Scoter, 1 Whimbrel & a Little Tern flew north.

On the insect front our second Clouded Yellow of the year was located at the Point.

Ringing; 1 Dunnock, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap.

Friday 1st August 2014

Apart from a couple of Willow Warblers and our first Wheatear & Sedge Warbler of the autumn very few birds were about on the deck, whilst overhead 32 Swallows, 5 Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail headed south. Offshore 15 Dunlin, 7 Sanderling, 7 Ringed Plover and a Curlew headed south.

On a walk round the nets 4 splendid Privet Hawk-moth caterpillars were found on a small Privet bush near the information board.

5 Birds ringed; 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wren, 1 Linnet, 1 Sedge Warbler.

July ringing totals

A total of 230 birds of 26 species were ringed during the month.

Ringed Plover	2	Wren	8
Woodpigeon	2	Starling	12
Cuckoo	1	Blackbird	18
Green Woodpecker	1	Song Thrush	1
Great Spotted Woodpecker	2	Black Redstart	1
Jay	1	Dunnock	9
Great Tit	15	House Sparrow	19
Chiffchaff	10	Pied Wagtail	2
Willow Warbler	5	Chaffinch	1
Blackcap	4	Greenfinch	55
Lesser Whitethroat	7	Goldfinch	2
Whitethroat	21	Siskin	1
Reed Warbler	1	Linnet	29

Thursday 31st July 2014

Migrants have started to trickle through again with 4 Willow Warblers, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and overhead were a Hobby and 28 Swallows south.

Moth trapping has been very interesting during the month with 360 species being recorded including Epinotia ramella (below) which was another addition to the site list and the Pine Hawk-moth above.

13 Birds ringed; 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet and single Blackbird, Wren, Pied Wagtail, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler & Ringed Plover (pullus).

Wednesday 30th July 2014

Yet another day when most interest surrounds the moth traps. Despite the overnight temperature cooler than of late, with a strong north-westerly wind blowing, several interesting moths were recorded including this Great Brocade, a rare immigrant. This being only the 3rd site record and the first since 2006. Other interesting moths included a Bedstraw Hawk, Tree-lichen Beauty, Pempelia genistella and a Coast Dart.

Birds were few and far between, and ringing was very quiet with only 3 birds ringed. 1 House Sparrow and 2 Greenfinch.

Tuesday 29th July 2014

A Common Sandpiper was heard calling at dawn and soon after 4 Willow Warblers were located, autumn passerine passage has started at last. Apart from these the only birds about were the resident breeding birds and a Blackcap that could have been new in or one that has been hanging around.

4 Birds ringed; 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Greenfinch, 1 Whitethroat.

Monday 28th July 2014

A cooler overcast morning. A Green Woodpecker flying over the Holm Oaks was the highlight onshore, whilst offshore 12 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew and 2 Whimbrel headed south.

4 Birds ringed; single Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren & Linnet.

Sunday 27th July 2014

With the hot and humid overnight temperatures and no wind, insects were again the main subjects of interest. The moth traps were particularly busy with over 150 species of moth overnight. Little else to report, even the ringing was poor with only 6 birds ringed.  3 Blackbird and 3 Linnet.