Wednesday 1 May 2024

Wednesday 1st May

A quieter day with two Wheatear by the Visitor Centre the only grounded migrants with a few Swallow passing overhead, with local birds feeding over the Main Pond. Also now on territory five Whitethroat and at two of the ponds, three singing Reed Warbler.

Whitethroat - Dean Hall

The low high tide moved hardly anything in The Bight, bar the usual Oystercatcher and four of the lingering Eider. Other waders included at least 15 Whimbrel, mainly on the  beach, some moving to the estuary as the tide came in, and just a couple of Sanderling, also on the beach.

Whimbrel - Dean Hall

Sandwich Tern numbers were also low with only six offshore along with a single Great Crested Grebe.

Other Wildlife: A good selection of invertebrates encountered today including the excellently camouflaged Dune Wolf Xerolycosa miniata. A nationally scarce dune specialist, only a slight movement gave it location away, perhaps why this is the first record here, the only south Devon site, for over 25 years! 

Dune Wolf - Alan Keatley

Also out on Warren Point the first Cinnabar of the year, three Small Copper and a Burdock feeding picture-winged fly Tephritis bardanae

Cinnabar - Alan Keatley

Small Copper - Dean Hall

Tephritis bardanae - Alan Keatley

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