Rain and a bit of moth mig

I was planning on sneaking in a bit of birding today in light of a good spell of scarce bird migrants at Portland and the South Coast in the last couple of days but it's raining today so decided to get on with work.

However ahead of the rain there was a nice little influx of moth migrants with the year's first Porter's Rustic and Radford's Flame Shoulder with 4 Scarce Bordered Straw, 4 Silver-Y, 2 Blair's Mocha, 2 Vestal, 10 White-points (an increase), 4 Rush Veener, 3 Rusty-dots, Small Mottled Willow and 2 Clancy's Rustic. 28 species in total of approx 150 individual moths with Beaded Chestnut and Lunar Underwing (almost equal numbers) making up the bulk of the catch. Crambus pascuella was unseasonal and a Setaceous Hebrew Character was the first in a while. There was also a Pale-lemon Sallow but I think it was the same one as the night before. 

Porter's Rustic- only the third record here (above and below)

Radford's Flmae Shoulder- surprisingly the first for the year. In my first autumn here, 2024. there were daily autumn records with double figures some days. 

After it stopped raining I popped out for a walk along the harbour. There have been at least three Marsh Harriers around recently (an adult male, adult female and at least one juv- above). It was all rather wintery in the rather cold northerly wind HERE. 

The Greens and the Zionists

The Green Party recently declared Zionism racism—a move that has deeply offended pro-Israel supporters and split the party. It's a striking reversal from when I was a member.

I once campaigned for Beddington Farmlands and even stood as a Green councillor. Back then, I landed in trouble at a tribunal for allegedly writing something antisemitic HERE. My actual offence? Pointing out that the owners destroying our local reserve were Jewish cousins—and suggesting we appeal to the Jewish community for help. This was before the more recent 'wars' in Gaza and Iran, at the peak of left-wing cancel culture.

How times change.

I've since left all political parties. Beddington taught me that democracy is a farce—we live in a corporate dictatorship wearing a democratic mask. With Trump and current world events, the mask is slipping entirely.

I now describe myself as an eco-social anarchist/natural capitalist/eco-socio technocrat—a mouthful I basically invented which translates broadly as a modern birder/naturalist. It reflects my hopelessness with party politics and my belief that family, friends, personal enterprise, and like-minded connections with the birding/natural history community are the only way forward.

The Greens are a perfect case study in why party politics fails. Under Zach Polanski and populists like Hannah Spencer, the party has morphed into a gloves-off anti-capitalist, anti-West outfit, courting Muslim and anti-Zionist voters. It was always anti-capitalist—it began as a communist brand, later buried under environmentalism and socialism.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk—the world's first trillionaire—promises global communism via Super Intelligence: abundance so great we'll only work for pleasure, all sustained by universal basic income. Good news for birders. Marx predicted communism as capitalism's inevitable end—maybe he was right. Or maybe the oligarchs are planning genocide and mass enslavement through an AI they control. Probably both.

Back to the Greens. They're the most democratic party—members vote on policy. I helped write and vote on nature conservation policy myself. Yet their leader, Polanski, didn't even vote in the Zionism referendum and reportedly opposes it. The members lead, not the leader—and that's democracy's fatal flaw.

The party has U-turned from the antisemitism stance I was disciplined over to declaring Zionism racism—the ultimate antisemitism—all to court Muslim votes prsumably. It's a testament to party politics' runaway narratives, unconstrained because it's utterly irrelevant to anyone with real power.

The Greens will never challenge the Zionist-spearheaded Western military-industrial complex before Super Intelligence arrives. Then whoever owns that intelligence controls everything—and Zionists, with their major tech holdings and global influence, will likely be major stakeholders. Unlike the UK Green Party.

Meanwhile, the real revolution—the rise of Super Intelligence, the global elite controlling it, and the undemocratic new world they're building—happens entirely outside politics, with values dictated by tech dictators and eventually non-human ones.

Party politics is just silly noise that is becoming incresaingly absurd.  

A few nice moths

The dead calm conditions continue and its been a good time for moths emerging and also looking for passerines. 

This morning I did Church Norton and the Severals with 75 species of about 900 individuals HERE. The highlight was my first Brambling of the year (now on 185 locally and 931 for the year list) and a nice fall of Chiffchaffs with 53 across my circuit. There was also a Dartford Warbler, 15 Stoncehat, 14 Blackcap, 3 Siskin, 1 Firecrest, 3 Goldcrest, 15 Barn Swallow, 2 House Martin, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Tern and 6 Brent Geese. There were more Robins, Dunnocks and Blackbirds around and a couple more Song Thrush. Also more Woodpigeons around and yesterday morning I had the first group moving over in the garden. The Firecrest and a few Chiffs and Blackcaps are still in the garden and I had the first Siskin for the autumn go over too.

What with Brents arriving in the harbour now, wildfowl flocks building and the summer migrants slowly dropping out, the Pagham Harbour annual cycle is coming full circle as shown beautifully in the Ebird Bar Charts for 2026 HERE. 

A family visit to East Head yesterday produced a Merlin hunting the Linnets and Skylarks in the saltmarsh, 15 kettling Common Buzzard and the usual selection of waders on Snowhill. There was also a bit of Clouded Yellow vis-mig along the beach. The good season for Clouded Yellow also produced another one in the garden this morning. 

The moth trap has been the main source of interest with the first Flame Brocades, Feathered Ranunculus, Green Brindled Crescent and Red and Yellow-lined Quakers emerging. This morning I was pleasantly shocked to find a Pale-lemon Sallow in the trap- a lifer for me. Continuing on the moth highlight theme, an RSPB volunteer found a Convolvulos Hawkmoth resting by day by the board walk too. Other interesting bits in the trap included an unseasonal Rosy Tabby and the first Dark Sword Grass in a while. Now on 560 for the garden year and 722 all time (now 3 months into our third year here). 

53 Chiffchaffs this morning Church Norton and the Severals (above and below) 

Dartford Warbler

Male Siskin 

Pale-lemon Sallow- what a beauty! Lifer. Seems to be a local speciality, see HERE. 

Flame Brocade

Yellow (above) and Red-line (below) Quakers 

Feathered Ranunculus 

The Church Norton Convolvulos Hawkmoth 

Main scene in the trays is lots of Lunar Underwings (up to 110 a night) and a peppering of Black Rustics, Turnips and Large Yellow Underwings. 27 species in total last night. 

The good harvest continues in the garden with abundant tomatoes and peppers, raspberries are still producing and the ducks are laying 3-4 eggs a day

We got the rabbits finishing off the haycut by moving them round the meadow. Free hay and free mowing- good times. 

Return to Scilly

Cream-coloured Courser, St. Martin's, 2004

I'm quite excited about a mini-trip to the Isles of Scilly from next Saturday for a few days. My last visit to the islands was in 2005 so it's over 20 years since I've been there. I've been meaning to revisit for a while now but between the Azores and Bulgaria there was never enough time. However this year seems to present a window of opportunity so, with the help of Ian, I have jumped through it, 

My first visit there was in 1991 and then I visited again in 1992, 1996 and 1997 and then annually between 1999 and 2005 with two visits in 2004. 

I've had some great trips out there and below is a concise summary of the highlights from previous trips:

15th to 19th October 1991- Highlights with Johnny Daniel included an Eyed-browed Thrush, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Bobolink, Sora and Spotted Crake together, 2 Rose-coloured Starlings, Golden Oriole,  Richard's and Tawny Pipit together, Siberian Stonechat, Red-breasted Flycatcher and found a Barred Warbler.

23rd to 27th October 1992- Highlights with Johnny Daniel were  Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson's and Grey-cheekd Thrush, Upland Sandpiper, Isabelline Wheatear, 3 Olive-backed Pipit, Bee-eater, Melodious Warbler and Radde's Warbler. 

Blackpoll Warbler, St Mary's, 2005

30th September to 4th October 1996- another trip with Johnny. Highlight was a juv Rock Thrush, Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-eyed Vireo, American Golden Plover and found a Semipalmated Sandpiper 

13th to 17th October 1997- Did a few days in Cornwall before with Kate and had American Wigeon on the Hayle and a few seabirds and then met up with Jaffa, Sam and Lee and we went over to Scilly. A fairly quiet week with highlights including Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, Black Duck, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Wryneck and Yellow-browed Warbler (a good bird at the time).

8th to 15th October 1999- what a year with the Uni gang. Highlights included Siberian, White's and Blue Rock Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Short-toed Eagle, 2 Upland Sandpiper, 2 Radde's Warblers, Richard's Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Siberian Stonechat and Wryneck. The year of a night at the Kavorna bakery, a story that stays on Scilly.    

Short-toed Eagle, St.Mary's 1999

14th to 17th October 2000- a short trip with Jaffa and Cherry Bakewells to twtich the Solitary Sandpiper and also had Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Spectacled Warbler, 3 Ring-necked Duck and Yellow-browed Warbler. 

3rd to 9th October 2001-Highlights on this solo trip included Yellow-breasted Bunting, found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and also had Ring-necked Duck, Dotterels, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-backed Shrike. 

11th to 16th October 2002- A pretty quiet week with Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warblers, Lapland Bunting, Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Corncrake. On the way back home we found a Red-breasted Fly at Kenidjack. 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Tresco, 1999

30th September to 5th October 2003- Highlights were Booted Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Dotterel, Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan, Lapland Bunting, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler. Also had a Death's Head Hawkmoth, my only one ever. 

29th to 30th September 2004- This was a twitch with Johnny Allan and Sam for the Cream Coloured Courser on St. Martin's. Also had 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Common Rosefinch.

25th to 30th October 2004- The Cream Coloured Courser was still present when I returned for my planned trip with Kate and the gang. Highlights included Ovenbird, Pallid Swift, Red-backed Shrike, Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warblers,  co-found an Olive-backed Pipit, a fall of 100+ Black Redstart was impressive. We also had two Waxwings at Kenidjack on the way back. 

30th September to 3rd October 2005- Highlights included Sora, Blackpoll Warbler, Greenish Warbler, and Corncrake.  This was the same autumn I first visited Corvo and after started spending my autumns there.

Sora, St.Mary's, 2005

Local Yellow-browed

After the moths and a bit of a garden watch HERE I went over to Church Norton via Ferry considering what a calm and pleasant morning it was in the hope of a Yellow-browed Warbler which I was hoping might have made their way down to the south coast by now after arriving to the north and east a week or so ago. 

Within a few minutes indeed one appeared in the St Wifrid's Church yard tit flock, attracted by the tit flock 'tape'. I put the news out and a small crowd soon appeared and most people eventually saw or heard it within the next couple of hours.

Ian, Andrew and myself then walked round to the Severals HERE and had either the same or another Yellow-browed Warbler by the Horse Field conservation area. Other migrants included the first Siskin of the auutmn, a late Yellow Wagtail, 12 Stonechat in the Horse Field, 3 Song Thrush over (also 3 over the garden this morning, the first thrush autumn vis mig here), a few more Blackbirds, good numbers of Linnets, 10 Jay (a personal local record), 27 Skylarks and a few Skylarks and Mipits over, Goldcrest, Whitethroat, handfuls of Chiffs and Blackcaps and about 100 or so mixed Barn Swallows and House Martin. Also had the first two Brents in the harbour for the autumn and there were 6 Snipe on Ferry.

Highights in the moth trap (over 150 individual moths last night) included Silver-spotted Veneer (maybe one of the same ones from yesterday), 5 Vestal, Delicate, Portland Ribbon Wave and another Merveille du Jour. Also a Common Marbled Carpet. We have a couple of birders/mothers staying with us at the airbnb from North Yorkshire this weekend so they've had a good time with a few southern specialities and migrants. 

Yellow-browed Warbler in the church yard (above) and Conservation area (below). One or two birds, Andrew and Ian are strongly in the single bird only camp although if this was a common migrant such as a Blackcap or Chiffchaff we would definitely have counted it as different over the few hundred meters apart.  The 178th species for Pagham Harbour this year HERE and my 191th species for Pagham Harbour HERE. My 184th species for the Peninsula this year. The group Peninsula list is now on 211 for the year. 

Siskin- the first of the local autumn  

Silver-spotted Veneer- looks like the same dark one from yesterday. Only 12 previous records of these in Sussex according to the Sussex Moth Group website HERE and I've had nine here this year so if I keep this up, will double that soon. 

Portland Ribbon Wave- not seen one in a while 

Merveille du Jour

Deep Brown Dart- only the second garden record. 

Some really smart fresh Vestals around at the moment- becoming a very welcome near permanent feature of the catch 

Finally some action of sorts

Having missed out on anything bird wise from the west or east from the respective regional influxes and associated weather systems in the last couple of weeks our main hope down here remains from the deep southerly airflow a few days ago bringing in some decent moth migrants. 

Therefore last night I went all in with the twin actinic and the lepiled here in the garden and the 12W actinic up at St.Wilfrid's Church at Church Norton. Frustrastingly my MV is in for repair at the moment. Maybe luckily Isaac would not allow me to sleep last night so I was up at 3.30am and was able to catch a few migrants in pots too. 

Sadly no moth mega, particularly no Maize Wainscot (the three Large Wainscots gave me a small heart attack each) but a good selection of new migrants in the garden traps with two Silver-spotted Veneer (the 8th and 9th records here and all from this year), a nice Golden Twin-spot, Scarce Bordered Straw, Clancy's Rustic, Silver-Y, 3 L-album Wainscot, 3 Rusty-dots, 4 Rush Veneer, 5 Beet moths and 12 Small Mottled Willows. Additional migrants in the last couple of nights include Pearly Underwing, Dewick's Plusia and Blair's Mocha so it's been a pretty good influx now. 

Meanwhile at St Wilfrid's a Small Marbled was the highlight, with several L-album Waiscots, Rush Veneer, Vestal and heaps of Turnip moths. There was also Red-green Carpet and Common Marbled Carpet which would be unusual here. 

As I had failed to find anything mega myself I jumped at the opportunity to go and twitch Derek's Maize Wainscot from yesterday at Bracklesham. A moth lifer.  

So getting in some action at least! 

Maize Wainscot- the 10th for UK (the 6th to 10th records all from the last week) from Bracklesham caught by Derek Lee. Trapped on the night of the 30th September but retained for breeding as a female. The adults only live a few days and she has already laid eggs. Derek will attempt to rear them but usually the caterpillars eat Maize leaves and then burrow into the cane where they pupate and then emerge as adults later so Derek is considering how to replicate that environment. An interesting example of what insect migration is all about with this female ready to lay eggs after crossing the Channel in new territory which can potentially become a toehold for colonisation. Considering this is a well known pest in Southern Europe, it probably won't be too welcome here on the Peninsula which is a maize/sweetcorn growing area.

Golden Twin-spot. The second this year and only the 6th garden record.

Silver-spotted Veneers (above and below). Only the 7th date recorded in the garden but this is the second time I've had two in one night so these are the 8th and 9th individuals.

Small Marbled from St. Wilfrid's.

A different Scarce Bordered Straw to yesterdays

Chestnut and Dark Chestnut? or two Chestnuts. Every year I have to relearn these.

As I was up at a ridiculous time I got the thermal out and had this presumed Wood Mouse and also a couple of voles and some bats flying round the garden 

Wondering round a graveyard in the early hours. I was more concerned by someone sitting in a parked car in the car park rather than supernatural beings. 

A bit better

The warm southerly airflow from yesterday (now more of a typical south westerly) delivered a bit more last night with 150 moths of 31 species in the trap. Elsewhere on the south coast 3 Maize Wainscots were caught (8th to 10th for the UK with the 6th and 7th recorded in the last week too with two in Sussex) inlcuding one by Derek nearby at Bracklesham but no such lofty heights here with 'migrants' including Dewick's Plusia, Scarce Bordered Straw,  Blair's Mocha, Spindle Knothorn, 10 Small Mottled Willow (rallying again),  6 Rush Veneer, 3 Rusty-dots, 2 Beet moths and a Vestal. A couple of expected NFYs also occurred including Merveille du Jour and Chestnut and there was also an unseasonal Swallow-tail Moth. 

While doing the moths a Redshank flew over the garden calling and there was also a bit of Mipit, Skylark and 'alba' Wagtail vis mig so I decided to bunk off work and have a look at Church Norton and the Severals. The highlight was a Muntjac, a Peninsula mammal tick, which basically says it all about the birding with 9 Stonechat in the horse field (and another 12 in Ferry area) and single Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest and Lesser Whitethroat the highlights with 16 Chiffchaff and 10 Blackcap. Only 2 Barn Swallow on my circuit. I tallied up 8 Jay including 2 vis-miging high over the fields. Large numbers of Jays have been moving down the east coast and there is an ongoing irruption of Nutcrackers on the continent (apparantely the northern acorn harvest has been affected by the summer droughts) so good to have some signs of that movement here. 

In the afternoon I popped back to Ferry, Long Pool and Church Norton and had Hobby and Marsh Harrier. 19 Barwits roosting at high tide was a noteable late autumn count. Todays Ebird list HERE , 72 species of nearly 800 individuals seen from the bits I covered. 

Now with Siberian Blue Robin, Syke's Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's and stacks of less mega eastern rarities and scarcities on the east coast and northern isles it seems like we are a long way from action down here. Our best hope (as the Maize Wainscots declare) is for a decent moth at the moment. Here's hoping while enduring the grippage. 

Muntjac- the fact that this is the best thing I've seen today while there are Siberian Blue Robin and Syke's Warblers in the country is a sign from the birding heavens to abandon the patch. I've got some free time from next Thursday onwards so hoping to brew up a plan nearer the time. 

Stonechat (above and below). Still the migrant of the moment with 21 between Ferry and Church Norton that I recorded and then 12 along North Wall area and 39 at Medmerry HERE , so 72 in total not including any birds at East Head or anywhere else on the Peninsula. Graphs of recent influx at Pagham Harbour HERE.

Jay- continuing the birds and grave stone theme 

Spotted Flycatcher

A confiding juvenile Barwit. There was a group of 19 roosting at Norton at high tide, a good count for the late autumn. 

Merveillle du Jour- the first of the year deserves a couple of photo angles (above and below). Always stunning to see. 

Chestnut- the late autumn theme is beginning to take shape. 75 Lunar Underwings made up half of the trap yesterday. Now on 552 for the year. Last year I got to 573 in a year so hoping might be on track to beat that record. Still got the July and August dissections to come in yet which should add a few more plus a few late autumn/early winter species and hopefully something decent. 

Another colourful Vestal 

Quite a dark Scarce Bordered Straw