Autumn moths

Lade - mild, cloudy, sw 2 - At last a calm night that produced a decent crop of autumn moths in the garden trap comprising 11 species, including Beaded Chestnut, Scarce Bordered Straw, Feathered Ranunculus, Lunar Underwing, Black Rustic and Common Marbled Carpet. Also had last weeks Lesser Treble-bar confirmed by SC, another first for the trap site.

                                Feathered Brindle

                                Scarce Bordered Straw
   

                                Black Rustic

                                Common Marbled Carpet

                                     

                                 Beaded Chestnut
                            

  Called in at Hanson hide early afternoon where a Common Tern showing characteristics of the eastern race Sterna hirundo longipennis was still present from the weekend. It was sat on the tern raft clearly showing tail feathers projecting beyond the wing-tips, while the plumage was a shade darker than nominate Common with a similar upper wing pattern and a black adult like cap. The bill and legs appeared to be all black at distance. It eventually flew off towards New Diggings. There are some excellent flight shots of the tern on:  www.travellingbirder.blogspot.com

                                Adult Common Tern showing characteristics of the eastern race

  A brief look at the sea this afternoon from the boats produced the usual fare of distant Gannets, Sandwich Terns, Kittiwakes and several Arctic Skuas. A Merlin flew out over the sea and a couple of pulses of Swallows went south.
  Finished the day at Lade checking for migrants around the ponds where only Chiffchaffs noted, plus hirundines overhead.