The wind changed back round to the northeasterly this morning so expectations were higher than in yesterday's westerly. I missed a Red-necked Grebe and Puffin in the first half hour of light (I was processing the moths) and then basically after I arrived there was bugger all and as soon as I left a Manx Shearwater flew past. I've given up counting all the Peninsula ticks I've missed over the last few days (but it's now 5 and 8 year ticks). My sad effort from this morning HERE. So basically there has been a break in passage round here. Hope it picks up again this coming week- one of the most eagerly anticipated weeks of the year. Things are set to get cooler with a strengthening northeasterly which could be disruptive- will see.
I clocked off early to spend some more time with my sister and then did a bit of garden birding in the afternoon. A Cattle Egret, 3 Swift, a few Swallows and Lesser Whitethroat were the highlights. No Red Kites despite there literally being hundreds of them moving over Sussex today- an annual phenomenon in recent years of presumed second calender year birds/ non-breeders wandering around the UK on Spring walkabouts.
The last few days have been pretty good for moths in the balmy conditions. Now on 461 for the garden and 125 for the year (a few picture highlights below). 42 new year ticks in the last three days - it really has kicked off. Just a few migrants- 2 Rusty-dot Pearls, 2 Diamond-backs and a couple of Angle Shades. Also had a couple of Painted Ladys whizzing through today. Derek had a Mediterranean Brocade yesterday and there have been some mega Purple Clouds nationally and Striped Hawkmoths etc so fingers crossed a real good one ends up here.
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