24th August 2021

 Weather:  E force 1 increasing 3 later

 Sand Martins continued to move through today, there were over 60, and about half that number of Swallows arrived to briefly keep the island birds company.

Seven Wheatears were around the island but again there was just a single Willow Warbler present. An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen in the vicinity of Little Eye among the many hundreds of Black-headed Gulls in the area at the moment. Ten Gannets, 4 Guillemots, 2 Shags and 4 Great Crested Grebes were logged on the sea, while 30 Sanderling were among the waders. Three Common Frogs were out and about.

Most spectacular of the insects was this burying beetle Nicrophorus investigator

Butterflies seen included 2 Red Admirals, a Small Tortoiseshell, only 4 Small Whites today but in recompense a Painted Lady showed up. Items from the moth trap below:

Gold Spot

Flame Shoulder

Some distraction from the wildlife came in the form of a RAF Hercules making a low pass of the island.

Photos CJW