Being as it was high summer the birdlife was limited. Resident species such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper, tits (including a Marsh Tit), Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mistle Thrush, Stonechat, Grey Wagtail, Linnet, Jay, Peregrine and Buzzard were all noted with young, while summer migrants included the expected Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, a single Spotted Flycatcher, plus Woodlark and Redstart also with juvs. Despite much searching in what appeared to be ideal habitat I failed to find any Dartford Warblers. Also noted during our stay: Red Kite, Goshawk, Kestrel, Lapwing, Tawny Owl, Swifts, Swallows, Bullfinch, Goldcrest, Redpoll, Goldfinch and House Martins collecting mud for nests in a muddy stream.
On the insect front plenty of Silver-studded Blues were flitting about on the scorched heath along with one or two Golden-ringed Dragonflies, while a Keeled Skimmer showed well on a bog. On Sunday morning I attended a mothing session organised by Anna Ryder, a musician (vocals, keyboard, accordion, guitar, dumbek, banjo and French horn) and songwriter who was performing at the festival with the band IOTA. There was a decent turnout of oldies and kids, most of whom were new to the mothing game, so it was good to see plenty of hawk-moths in the three portable traps. A wide range of woodland moths were trapped including Lobster and Ghost Moths, both of which I rarely encounter back home.
And the music was pretty good too, with old favourites such as Ralph McTell and Oysterband on top form; although most memorable for me was a band I`d not seen before - 3 Daft Monkeys, although quite why there were four of `em on stage I`ve not yet worked out!
Back on home turf this afternoon and a visit to ARC delivered a decent crop of adult waders including Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper and several Redshanks, plus the two long-staying Little Gulls. There was no sign of yesterdays Temminck`s Stint on Burrowes.
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