A bright but quiet morning once again in the compound with Willow Warbler and Reed Warbler song briefly. Out on the reserve we have a Wheatear which does look like a juvenile from the freshness of the wing feathers in the picture above. 2 Lapwing were present early morning near the point. 4 Adult Ring Plover were present with 2 chicks. A Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel were both also seen from the compound.
Seawatching produced a handful of movements with 15 Teal, 2 Black-headed Gull, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Heron and an Oystercatcher, all south. Feeding offshore: 14 Sandwich Tern, 5 Mediterranean Gull and a Cormorant.
Moth trapping: 79 Moth species recorded last night between our 3 moth traps. Moth of the morning is the Oak Processionary Moth, first noted on site in 1995 and in six subsequent years. The caterpillars of this moth species cause severe damage to oak trees by stripping leaves and can pose a risk to human and animal health with small irritational hairs they shed. The moth is Native to Europe but not to the UK and although internet sources say the moth was introduced accidentally to the uk in the 2000s and only causing damage to oak tree when in large populations in 2006, our early record could be evidence of them naturally crossing into the UK however it far more likely arriving on a ship at the nearby port.
Bird ringing: 1 Linnet.