Thursday 11th June

Heavy rain passed through in the early hours and the day started with a leaden sky and a fresh northeasterly.  Predictably unproductive, the sea only produced a Great Northern Diver; also small flocks of distant auks, a dozen Fulmar, seven Sandwich Tern, seven Common Scoter and some Gannet.  A Rock Pipit over the seawall was the first report here in about a month; breeding pair(s) occur nearby along the coastline towards Dawlish.

The mid-morning high tide pushed in 228 Oystercatcher, 40 Sanderling, four Great Black-backed Gull and single Ringed Plover and Dunlin.  The resident Slavonian Grebe and a new 2s (3cy) Mediterranean Gull were in the estuary.

A Cuckoo and two Raven were on Warren Point.

Wildlife news: Variable Longhorn Beetle Stenocorus meridianus was a new species for the site. A cluster of 16 Pyramidal Orchid spikes were flowering on Warren Point. Regular butterflies Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood were seen.  Aptly named, drabness of adult Dingy Flat-body Depressaria radiella, isn't shared by its showy features at the larval stage, and close inspection of Hemock Water-dropwort heads found one of these today. 

Variable Longhorn Beetle Stenocorus meridianus - Alan Keatley

Pyramidal Orchid - Warren Point - Alan Keatley

Dingy Flat-body Depressaria radiella on Hemlock Water-dropwort - Alan Keatley