Monday, 12 June 2023

12th June 2023

 Weather:  NW force 1/2   mist

A visit after the morning tide was lucky to find a first summer Mediterranean Gull resting on the whaleback, summer and early autumn is a good time to find them hereabouts on the estuary.


Seven Greylag Geese flew by the island.


and 2 drake Eiders represented the species this morning, and then 'our' summer plumaged Black Guillemot showed to the east of the island off the east hoyle. A Swift came through and the Chiffchaff ringed yesterday was still here, meanwhile the (breeding?) pair of Goldfinches showed well. Good numbers already of Black-headed Gulls (85) despite them suffering recently from avian flu, and Little Egrets also built up to 8 birds today.  An Emperor Dragonfly was in the air as were 2 male Azure Damselflies. Although there were 15 Red Admirals another butterfly made the headlines for the island when a Large Skipper was identified, the first here since the 1980's.

 The cast of other butterflies included 6 Small White, a large White, 4 Small Tortoiseshell and the prize we all look out for in June, a Hummingbird Hawk Moth joining the Large Skipper to  feed on the Valerian above Niffy bay.

 

 

 

 

  Photos PSW, SRW

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