East Head and Snowhill Creek Recee

After yesterday's family walk I decided to go back to East Head today to have a proper look round. 59 species of about 3500 individuals in 3.5 hours  Ebird list HERE, highlights included a Dartford Warbler in the sand dunes, a Firecrest in the lane behind Snowhill Creek, a handful of Chiffs and Goldcrests, some great views of Brents, plenty of wintering waterbirds and a Sandwich Tern off shore. 

Surprisingly the moth trap was busy with migrants this morning (after my seasonal affective disorder post yesterday) but it was mainly Rusty-dot Pearls with a record 36 in and around the trap. There was also a single Gem, Delicate and Radford's Flame Shoulder, a few Diamond-backs plus a little selection of mystery micros. 

Dartford Warbler

Brents (above and below)

The only Med Gull this morning but it was a photogenic one

Rusty-dot Pearl- the garden record breaker today

I've gone for Dark Chestnut on this- if confirmed will be a NFG.  Update- nope according to CMR it's just one of those dark shiny Chestnuts- although I thought the squared off wing tip with an S shaped outer forewing was a good feature (which I think I can see here)- don't really know how to seperate these two species. Also this morning on the non-migrant front were Feathered Thorns, Beaded Chestnuts, Green Brindled Crescent, Common Marbled Carpet, Red-green Carpet and Cypress Carpet. 

Plenty of November moth agg this morning including this really nice patterned one- every single one of this agg is unique 

The closest I could get to this is a very unseasonal Calybites phasianipennella ? 131124 update- yes confirmed (thanks Derek).

Gelechia sp? 131124 update- this is a good candidate for Tuta absoluta but would probably need dissection to confirm (thanks Stephen) 

I've gone for Blastobasis rebelli on this one. 131124 update - yes confirmed (thanks Derek). 

Another gelechia sp? Interestingly I also stringed a micro yesterday HERE. Fascinating that these tiny moths can still survive in these increasingly challenging conditions- down to 5 C tonight.  131124 update- unfortunately this one can't be identified (thanks Stephen)