Hit the G-Spot

I've been hoping for my first Gold Spot after Steve Gale had one in a local trap and today I literally hit the Gold Spot. 

 Gold Spot- the second record for Beddington Farmlands following one in 1994 caught by Derek 

 Even more rare than the Gold Spot this Ancylosis oblitella  is a first for the farmlands 

 Also had the remains of this in the trap- an Indian Meal Moth- another local scarcity

 Lesser Waxmoth (bottom) and Wax Moth (top) 

 Setaceous Hebrew Character- a real harbinger of autumn. Soon the trap will be full of these- the first of the year today.  Only 33 species in the trap this morning but quality rather than quantity. 

 Had a walk round the farmlands this evening- highlights included 5 Green Sandpiper, 6 Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 juv Shelduck, 2 Willow Warbler (above), 3 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler and 6 Swift

Jim's Pit on 100 acre is one of the few decent areas left on the farmlands- most waders are concentrating on there. Just to torture myself I was looking through the archives of what August used to be like at Beddington. I remember August 1987 well. We had 98 species that month including up to 29 Greenshank (in one flock feeding on the large enclosed bed), 5 Spotted Redshank on 100 acre, over 100+ Common Terns moving through during the month, 2 Black Tern, 3 Sandwich and 1 Arctic Tern, Kittiwake, Grey Plover, Oystercatcher, 6 Curlews and 6 Whimbrel, 2 Little Stint, several Ruff, Dunlins present throughout, Ringed and Little Ringed Plover, Wood Sandpiper, up to 9 Green Sandpiper, a max of 17 Common Sandpiper, a flock of 170+ Lapwing through the month, juvenile Cuckoos throughout, up to 30 Yellow Wagtails throughout, 2 Turtle Doves, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 8 records of Spotted Flycatcher and up to 7 Wheatear and 8 Whinchat.  It really was a mega site- particularly considering it's in an inland urban area.