Last couple of days

I've been sneaking out into the field  over the last couple of days to help cope with the summer holidays. I was up early yesterday morning for the high tide roost at East Side HERE and was back home by 10am for family proceedings (Shopping and then Kath's party- Indy cooked Sri Lankan Rice and Curry so a more than tolerable social occasion). Highlights on East side was basically nothing but a nice selection of 78 spcies of over 1000 individuals. 

The moth trap was pretty poor in the morning too, the highlight being a Palpita vitrealis, so overall quite a lot of effort for not much reward on both the bird and moth front. I bumped into Andrew and he concurred that there's not a lot of change over at the moment and especially quiet off the Bill. Even though we are not in a heatwave the dry and mid-20 degree high pressure conditons have persisted for the last couple of weeks, the only recent change being a shift to a westerly breeze from the persistent north-easterly. So overall rather slow and steady migration.  

The highlight of the day was a flock of 21 very noisy Sandwich Terns flying over the garden yesterday evening. Presumably migrating off from the harbour. Up to three Common Terns are also still flying around. Seem to be a few Swifts moving through too and there were over 70 Barn Swallows last night and also been getting Sand Martins coming in late too. 

I was up around 5am again this morning and processed a more interesting moth trap with 115 species of about 250 individuals from only two traps. Highlight was a cracking Clouded Buff. 

I then only had until 9am before having to be back at home so I did Ferry and Mill lane. 67 species of about 500 indiviudals (not including distant birds in the harbour in the strong light and heat haze) HERE. No real highlights apart from a new Shelduck family, a couple of young Stonechats on Ferry field, more warblers now in the bushes/reeds, Coal Tit again at Mill Lane and a Yellow Wagtail over. 

The local Cattle Egrets are usually in the North Wall area and are surprisingly infrequent on the west side so the 25+ today in the Ferry field area were a bit of a surrpise

The Shelduck and Oystercatcher family on Ferry are coming along well (above and below)

Only three juvenile Avocets now left on Ferry (and a couple of Adults) which is drying out fast. The Little Ringed Plovers are now gone (Andrew had one early on).

A lone Lapwing on Ferry and about 18 or so out in the main channel- not much in the way of post breeding dispersal build up yet

Plenty of Reed and Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats around Mill Lane and Blackcaps calling (and one still singing a bit) around Ferry. Also a few Chiffs. Beginning to get that autumn feel.

Juvenile Stonechats on Ferry- presumably a locally bred family (Medmerry?). According to the main Ebird data the first record in Pagham Harbour since April HERE

Clouded Buff- stunner! Moth 698 for the garden and 479 for the year. 

Ni-moth - the 5th this year

Vestal- two today but only the fourth or so this year. Also had the year's 4th Silver-spotted Veneer- only recorded for the first time this year. 

Oak Eggar- a much appreciated first for the year

Still nice and colourful in the garden despite the local drought- still a few butterflies (not as many as earlier in summer). The lavender at night is attracting around 8 or so Silver Y and a couple of Dewick's Plusia and still attracting Hummingbird Hawkmoth by day. Seems like less insects on the umbellifers in the back garden now- maybe things winding down.