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Tuesday, 13 August 2024

Pagham Harbour Migrants

A change in the weather seems to have done the trick yesterday (12th) with an uptick in migrants on both the bird and moth front. There's been a return to warm conditions (28 C) and an easterly airflow with noticeable influx in the number of waders with over 200 Ringed Plovers at Church Norton and a flock of very vocal 16 Greenshanks flying around in the morning. Additionally I had a couple of Wheatears, a Yellow Wagtail over, flocks of Sand Martin over the harbour and our estate and a young Kittiwake flew through Church Norton yesterday evening. There was still 2-3 Curlew Sands around and the Semipalmated Sandpiper was out on Ferry again with it's Dunlin consort. 

Surprisingly there didn't seem to be many warblers involved in the influx despite large numbers of Willow Warbler 'falling' at Beachy Head. Just a few Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Whitethroat around. A few Swifts have reappeared too. 

Today a few more migrants arrived the highlights being a Pied and Spotted Flycatcher at Church Norton - I only heard the Pied Fly. There was also a noticeable influx of Sand Martins over the harbour with 50+ birds in the evening. Up to 40 Sandwich Terns in the harbour in the evening also represents an increase in numbers. 

As usual all the local news on the excellent local blog: BIRDING THE SELSEY PENINSULA

Moth wise highlight has been two Convolvulus Hawkmoths and a dash of the regular migrants- Silver-Y, Rush Veneer, Dark Sword Grass etc. Had over 110 species of 250 individuals on Sunday night. 

Greenshanks on the move 
Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Curlew Sandpiper 
Juv/first-winter Kittiwake- cracking looking fresh bird 
Juvenile Peregrine 
Small Ranunculus- a new for garden. Garden list is now on 315 species. 150824- not sure what's happened here but most likely a Marbled Green (see comments below). 
One of the Convolvulus Hawkmoths - a bit tatty so presumably had a bit of a tough journey over here 
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4 comments:

  1. Stewart14 August 2024 at 09:30

    Peter Ive not checked and with zero experience of both, how is your Small Ranunculus not a Marbled Green?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Peter Alfrey14 August 2024 at 11:13

    I thought the same thing and then considered Feathered Ranunculus (because of the green colouration) but the County Moth Recorder Team say it's Small Ranunculus which does seem to fit too especially on profile

    ReplyDelete
  3. martin cade14 August 2024 at 22:01

    Peter: My opinion, for what it's worth, is that I wouldn't have given the moth a second glance - it look likes an entirely typical Marbled Green. Maybe I'm missing something?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Peter Alfrey15 August 2024 at 08:23

    I might have confused the issue with suggesting Feathered - will check with the guys. Agree the first thought of Marbled Green should have stuck.

    ReplyDelete