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Friday 10th May 2024




Another quiet morning, though in glorious sunshine. A few migrants had come in overnight, some chiffchaffs and new robins. A blackcap and a couple of chiffchaffs were singing in the compound, and there were some new whitethroats passing through. A 2nd year female grey wagtail was unexpected, as it had a brood patch, presumably a failed breeder on its way to try again elsewhere. A white wagtail out on the reserve was a different individual from the one recorded a few days ago. 

10 mute swans sailing south was not a sight any of the observers had seen here before, though its not the first double figure record of the species, they eventually flew off upriver. Insects are making the most of the warmth with a hairy dragonfly sitting on lilac in the observatory grounds, 9 large red damselflies at the Butt's pond and green hairstreak butterflies now being seen daily.

Common Pug is one of those species that despite its name, we only get infrequently here. It's also the sort of moth that can make pug identification difficult. 

Birds Ringed: Chiffchaff 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Robin 1, Whitethroat 1.