23rd July 2019 – hot and sunny after overcast start S1/2
Offshore
Early morning observations (0700-0800) revealed a quiet sea with just 48 Common Scoter, 20 Sandwich Tern, 16 Gannet, 2 Little Tern and 2 Shag logged.
Grounded Migrants
Grounded birds involved 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat and single Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail.
Diurnal Migration
A group of 14 Swift were overhead.
Wildfowl and Waders
The first Wigeon has returned and waders included 80 Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel.
Dragonflies
The hot and sunny conditions brought the dragonflies out with 325 Common Blue Damselfly, 85 Common Darter, 10 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 9 Emperor Dragonfly, 8 Brown Hawker, 3 Black-tailed Skimmer and single Red-veined Dater and Common Hawker logged.
Butterflies and Moths
Again a small overnight attraction in the moth trap which produced Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing and Ruby Tiger - both new for the year. The afternoon sunshine saw many butterflies on the wing with 340 Gatekeeper, 175 Meadow Brown, 16 Small Copper, 14 Common Blue, 7 Small White, 6 Large White, 5 Large Skipper, 5 Small Skipper – a second colony, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Small Heath, 2 Peacock, 2 Green-veined White, 2 Dark Green Fritillary and single Red Admiral, Grayling and Comma logged. Though, it would appear that the Painted Lady invasion earlier in the month has moved on.
