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| Convolulus Hawk Moth - with 10p coin for size comparison |
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| Grey Squirrel |
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| Grey Squirrel |
A day seldom passes when there is nothing of interest for the observatory even when, like today, birds were scarce again. The moth lamp was out last night and obtained records of a small number of species, but the best find was a Convolulus Hawk Moth, a scarce migrant, found resting in the 'heli' trap mid-morning. It may have been there since dark but because of the clever camouflage was not noticed until late morning. Our moth enthusiast was most pleased as he was just leaving after spending 2 weeks on the island. Another unexpected find was a Grey Squirrel that appeared around the obs garden fences, a rare visitor indeed as few make it to the island and we suspect even fewer make it back to the mainland. Birds today were less compelling, a single Willow Warbler was the sole grounded migrant, with no Wheatears present but about 12 Pied and a Grey Wagtail went through and Swallows totalled 75 birds, Meadow Pipits also passed in small groups with 35 during the morning. A Goldfinch was the only non-Linnet finch. The 2 Pale-bellied Brent showed again late morning at the north end, and 5 Bar-tailed Godwits were on the shore. A quick look out to sea from the slipway found
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| Orb Spider |
a juvenile Arctic Skua quite close in. Not so many Small Tortoiseshells today, perhaps 15 with a Red Admiral and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly.
Ringed:- 1 Willow Warbler [ 944-29 ]
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| in the lamp trap last night- thought to be a White-line Dart |
(DCT,PT,NDW,DB+ESCA,CJ,SRW) photos - squirrel CJ, others SRW
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