Sunday 17th May 2015

After yesterdays excitement it was back to reality today, there was no sign of either the Shrike nor Serin, so pride of place were the 3 or 4 Spotted Flycatchers that flitted about in the compound. Added to this just the odd migrant appeared, although 6 Common Whitethroat were seen, some of which were singing so have probably settled in to breed. Other than that, 3 Wheatear and a Hobby were seen, along with 30 House Martin and about 60 Swallows going south. Offshore, only a few Terns were noted, most of which were Little Terns.  

Only 6 birds were ringed, singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Linnet and Starling.  


Insect wise, there was more to see than of late with a Clouded Yellow, 2 Painted Lady, 2 Red Admiral and several Holly Blues and Green Hairstreaks floating about on the butterfly front, whilst in the moth traps, 2 Dwarf Pugs (above), which is a first record for the site of this conifer forest species. Also Silver Y, and Bordered Straw, both of which are migrants, plus Rustic Shoulder-Knot and Green Carpet, (neither of which are seen often on-site).