Summer storm

There was a F6 southerly/southwesterly today with frontal rain in the morning and then showers in the afternoon. I decided to let it brew for a while so got some things done in the morning and started preparing for our Bulgaria trip and then went out for a bit of seawatching in the afternoon from Hillfield Road. Checklist HERE with highlights including 2 Manx Shearwaters flying west close in, a couple of summer plumage Guillemots close in, a dark phase Arctic Skua on the prowl, 12 Sanderling east and nice feeding flock of gulls and terns.

The winds continue until tomorrow, reducing a bit but hopefully a few more hours of this overnight might stir things up a bit more. A Deserta's-type Petrel went east past Portland this morning so that is out there somewhere. I'd be made up with a Storm Petrel or a few more Manx Shearwater- the two main targets in an early summer storm round here. Will give it another go in the morning. 

I put the actinic moth trap out last night as despite the heavy rain the wind was from quite a deep south and was hoping for some migrants. Indeed I had 4 Silver-Y and a White-point, a couple of Turnips, a Portland Ribbon Wave and a  Dewick's Plusia which may also have been migrants. Also had a Dark-barred Twist, Syndemis musculana which was new for year. Now on 135 for the year. The Goosefoot Groundling HERE dissected and identified by Mike Bailey has been confirmed by Stephen Palmer and accepted by the CMR Colin Pratt so now on 645 for the garden. 

Gannets

Guillemot- rarely see them well from the Bill.

Dark-barred Twist- NFY

Silver-Y (above) and Dewick's Plusia (below)