Ebird October Big Weekend at the Old Vic

It was Ebird October Big Day this Saturday so I joined over 31,000 other world birders who collectively recorded 7,112 bird species across the Planet. I had my best day this year in the garden with a whooping 42 species HERE. Garden highlights were the garden's first ever Kingfisher and also the autumn's first Redwings (on the noc-mig and in the garden; noc mig HERE) and also Tawny and Barn Owl. The Garden bird list now on 94 and 77 for the year. 

The moth traps were fairly quiet, Green Brindled Crescent and Merveille du Jour were the highlights. 

Some pretty epic national and WP birding going on this weekend with the UK's first Least Bittern in Shetland, an adult male Baltimore Oriole on Lundy, a few other yanks and Ireland's first Alder Flycatcher. I've been back to work and with the family for a week which I think is probably long enough to justify getting back in the game soon. If all goes to plan hoping to be in Cornwall for the next decent spell of westerlies at the end of this week. Things are relatively quiet on Corvo as the weather systems seem to be moving further north this year, even Scillies is being largely missed by megas (except for a Swainson's Thrush), although that could be coverage related as Northern France is also doing well for yanks recently.   

Kingfisher- a garden tick. I was being lazy and not carrying my camera with me while doing my Ebirding and it perched up a few meters away posing for a perfect photo just to remind me the cost of being lazy. This is a photo of another Kingfisher from this blog. 

Skylarks (and Meadow Pipits) are daily over the garden now. Good to get the first Redwings and the noc-mig picked up a few thrushes and robins moving last night (and Tawny and Barn Owls).

Merveille du Jour (above and below). Always stunning to see. 

Green Brindled Crescent- this might be a new for year. Moth year list on 476. Only about 24 moths of 8 species last night with a light frost. It's looking like getting to 500 this year might be ambitious. Hopefully we get a few more mild night spells.  

Sallow