The sea was extremely rough yesterday but despite a few Shearwaters in the morning seen by Bart and Co, Andrew and I didn't have much in a couple of hours in the afternoon off Selsey Bill with just a Red-breasted Merganser, a Sandwich Tern and a few Gannets of note.
This morning it was completely calm. I covered Church Norton to the First Several and the Spit. Ebird list HERE . Highlights included a Turtle Dove sp that flew over the Horse Field, 2 Dartford Warblers, 1 Firecrest and 1 Tree Pipit.
The moth trap has been very exciting with my first Flame Brocades and a good selection of migrants and a couple of mystery moths that I'm waiting for the id confirmation on.
Turtle Dove sp. I almost got a sharp photo but this Mallard photo bombed the pic. Presumably a European Turtle Dove (only the second on the peninsula this year) but this time of year would be good to rule out an Oriental. It didn't look particularly large and there have been several other European Turtle Doves over the last month in the UK here and I wouldn't have thought anything odd about it apart from the late date.
Dartford Warbler- not sure on the age or sex of this. Shirihai and Svensson state that best way to age is on the covert contrast but can't see that in the images I got. First-winter females are the most dull plumage but adult males are duller in fresh autumn plumage compared to the brighter spring/summer plumage. The white specking on the underparts of this bird is interesting.
Med and Black-headed Gulls in the surf
Female Red-breasted Merganser
The wintering Whimbrel
Flame Brocade- only ever seen these at Portland so quite made up to now have them in the garden. Two yesterday.
Oak Rustic
Male Gem- two of these
Nettle-tap- two in the trap which was a NFG so maybe migrants or storm dislodged insects. Garden list now on 385 (pending review).
Mystery moth 1- presumably something obvious but I'm just drawing a blank. Maybe just a grey looking Nutmeg or not very green Brindled Green. Update 231024 Seems to be an agreement that this is indeed a Brindled Green.
Mystery moth 2. The only thing that rings a bell is Echium Slender, Dialectica scalariella , which I've had in Bulgaria but presumably not that species as not even in the micro moth book. An exciting update to this HERE
Mystery moth 3. Maybe a dark Winter Groundling. I did think of Tuta absulota which is another late autumn gelechid but looks like Winter Groundling. Update- yes confirmed as Winter Groundling (Thanks Stephen Palmer).
Mystery moth 4. I don't know. Update confirmed as a gelechid but not identifiable to genus or species as too worn. (Thanks Stephen)
Dartford Warbler and Tree Pipit at Church Norton (and Curlew and Grey Plover in background). Actually still need to double check the pipit to make sure not an OBP as some calls were a bit odd- a bit short and sharp.
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