Saturday 16th July 2022

Southern Hawker

A good day for dragonflies at the observatory today, the the years first small red-eyed damselfly and brown hawker recorded. Brown hawker was first recorded here in 2014, and has been in 5 subsequent years. The woodpecker movement continues with both green and great spotted juveniles being seen out on the reserve. 

The Festoon is a moth that likes oak woods. As such its a scarce visitor here. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 2, Dunnock 3, Goldfinch 1, Great Tit 1, House Sparrow 2, Linnet 1, Starling 85

Friday 15th July 2022

Another warm day today. Nothing of note on the ringing front, but continuing our dispersing woodpecker theme, two great spotted woodpeckers were present on site, having travelled down the peninsula and then thought better of going further when they saw the sea. 

Butterflies were well represented today, with 17 species on site, including freshly emerged speckled wood and a male brimstone, amongst all the regulars. A few larger dragonflies were present, with an emperor and a ruddy darter at the Butt's Pond and a southern hawker enjoying the net lanes at the observatory.

The moth traps were not heaving today, but relatively busy. This fresh Pine Hawkmoth was notable, as they are infrequent visitors and usually more worn than this.

Birds Ringed: Dunnock 2, Linnet 1.

Thursday 14th July 2022

Another very warm day. Birds were sensibly not moving a lot, so the list of observations and ringing were appropriately low. 5 lapwings over the Obs early morning was a nice record however.  We had two members visiting, so it was good to catch another green woodpecker juvenile for them to see up close. Quality not quantity today. 

A southern hawker dragonfly was hunting in the observatory compound in the morning and the usual selection of butterflies were also present.  

Despite the warm morning, the night had been significantly cooler so moth numbers were down, though diversity remained high. Oncocerea semirubella is one of the better looking micro moths. 

Birds Ringed: Blackbird 1, Blue Tit 1, Dunnock 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Linnet 2. 

 

Wednesday 13th July 2022

 Very warm overnight not droping under 20 degrees Celsius. Southbound 9 Swallow, 8 Sand Martin & 2 Sandwich Tern. On site baby birds including a juvenile Song Thrush which is the first youngster seen this summer as the pair here failed. 

Moth traps very busy although very few migrants. July Highflyer is apparently a common species but one we are fortunate to see once a year.

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Wood Pigeon, 1 Blackcap, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

Tuesday 12th July 2022

A sunny day good for insects, but low diversity of birds. That said, the ringing was quite productive, with a good range of juveniles processed, including another brood of great tits, presumably from further up the road. The nightingale continues to skulk at the back of the observatory, though is only heard and not seen, and we have finally observed the red-legged partridge chicks that non birders have been seeing the last few days. 

Lots of butterflies present today as expected and a few dragonflies. 2 common blue damselflies were notable, as despite their name, they are not common here. 

Small Ramunculus is a Red Data Book species until recently, when its status has improved.  

Ringed Birds: Dunnock 1, Great Tit 7, Goldfinch 2, House Sparrow 2, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Linnet 8, Starling 1, Wren 1. 
 

Monday 11th July 2022

 More baby birds plus dispersing juveniles including the first Green Woodpecker of the 'autumn'.  Adult Blackcap new in will be a wandering post breeder as migration in this species doesn't get underway until end of August.

First Buff Footman here for three years which is a species that has only been noted in a total of ten previous years.

Ringing: 3 Linnet, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Dunnock, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Wren.

Sunday 10th July 2022

Locals plus dispersing juveniles including single Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker & the first young Chaffinch of the summer to appear (it wasn't that long ago there were two pairs breeding on site). 2 Swallow south was the only fly throughs.

Not the most photogenic tiny tot but the first site record of Dystebenna stephensi which is a nationally scarce species living on old established Oak trees trunks.

Ringing: 4 Linnet, 3 Blue Tit, 2 Blackbird, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 House Sparrow.