Bits and bobs in the week

I managed to get out birding a couple of times this week locally. The highlights have been the booming tern and gull colony at Church Norton and the beginning of wader passage at Mill Pond Marsh. I've still not managed to connect with the Roseate Tern that keeps appearing at Church Norton but the sight of the hundreds of Sandwich Terns, Little and Common Terns and hundreds of Med Gulls is incredible. 

The RSPB estimate about 100 breeding pairs of Sandwich Tern and 35 breeding pairs of Little Terns (More here) with many young already fledged but it's been a late start to the season and still plenty of juveniles to fledge.

Meanwhile at Mill Pond Marsh there has been one or two Green and Common Sandpipers, a Greenshank and up to 9 Blackwits. Sand Martins are also on the move at the moment with several over the garden and seen across flying over other areas of the Peninsula including Mill Pond Marsh. 

The moth trap has been the main focus of interest still with plenty of highlights this week. I made a couple of moth trapping investments this week, first a new Robinson's trap to go with the twin-actinic electrics I already have and I finally took the plunge and bought a Lepiled which has arrived but is missing a bit so not tested it yet. 

Also been getting on with work around the Lodge. Matt was here yesterday and worked on the roof , clearing the gutters, sanding down the fascias ready for painting next week and also did the lawns and a bit on the mini-farm. 

Sandwich and Common Terns and Med and Black-headed Gulls at Church Norton

Plenty of juvenile birds around including Med Gulls 

There was an emergence of flying ants over the garden yesterday morning which attracted hundreds of Med and Black-headed Gulls. 

Moth highlight of the week was this Crescent Striped - a lifer

Large Clothes Moth- another lifer

Another Bright Wave

Drinker- new for year and always great to see

According to Obsidentify this is likely to be a Channel Island Pug?

The Ni Moth lure is consistently attracting Dewick's Plusia- up to three and also a few Silver-Ys. No Ni moth yet.

Plumed Fan-foot appeared for the first time this week for the year

The new (second) Robinson's. Can run two Robinson's a night now, one an MV and one twin-actinic. Once I get the Lepiled going will be able to run three traps. 

View from the scaffolding while its still up . Might have to try one of the moth traps up here. 

So the goose comes with us everywhere now