Cinnabar Moth larva feed predominately on Common Ragwort, they eat the leaves and flowers, when they occur in large numbers they strip the plant to bare stems.
Clear sky and a strong Easterly breeze this morning. Offshore passage was quiet. There was a Chiffchaff (which are not resident at Landguard during the summer,) singing by the Observatory during the morning. A young Muntjac was on the reserve, it may want to consider a rethink on direction of dispersal now it has got to the Mine Station at the river mouth, it easily disappeared from view into the bramble cover. Eleven species of Butterfly were recorded during the morning, Essex and Small Skipper were out at the Butts, there is an increase in Gatekeeper seen on the reserve too.
Noted on the reserve, 600 Starling, 70 Linnet, 10 Whitethroat, 8 Ringed Plover, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 Chiffchaff & 1 Shelduck. Going North, 3 Black-headed Gull. Going South, 6 Black-headed Gull. Coming in off the sea going West, 2 Cormorant. Going South then a change of mind and going back North again, 1 Grey Wagtail.
Lozotaeniodes formosans lives on Scots Pine so consequently only visits us occasionally.
2 birds ringed: Lesser Whitethroat 1, Wren 1.