Yet again my moth learning curve continues! Having hastily potted up what I thought was a Mullein Moth I latter reconsidered the id, as they normally fly earlier in the season, and came up with Star-wort (more likely) or perhaps Striped Lychnis (wrong size). After consulting the Kerton Road Café (thanks DB) for a second opinion it was confirmed as Star-wort, new for the trap site.
On the local patch, first thing before the rain, a trickle of Sand Martins and two Yellow Wagtails through, several Willow Warblers by the ponds and two Common Sandpipers on the island at the south end. Pochard and Tufted Duck numbers were on the rise, yet there is still no sign of any Great Crested Grebe juvs, as opposed to Coot and Mallard young that are everywhere. A couple of small parties of Sandwich and Common Terns flew over calling, and just in front of the rain band as we were leaving a moulting adult Black Tern dropped in, although it was not present later on. The juv Oystercatcher chick on the scaffold island looks about set to fly, whilst against all the odds a pair also fledged a chick on the beach between Lade and the Tavern (DS).
This afternoon, on a falling tide with rain in the air, the following were counted from the boardwalk: Black-headed Gull c1,000, Mediterranean Gull 10, Sandwich Tern 10, Curlew 210, Oystercatcher 220, Dunlin 110, Ringed Plover 10, Bar-tailed Godwit 5.
Elsewhere today, around the bird reserve, Black-winged Stilt, Black Tern, Little Gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover were all reported.
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