Monday 5th August

Seawatching early morning for 1hr 15mins saw six Balearic Shearwater, 110 Gannet, 109 Sandwich Tern, 38 Kittiwake and two Fulmar head SW. Many of the Gannet paused to forage around a dolphin pod and the terns were leaving their estuary roost, many returning later in the day.

Elsewhere two White Wagtail were on the beach, a Swift was overhead and counts from the estuary included 65 Ringed Plover, 49 Whimbrel, 14 Dunlin, 14 Mediterranean Gull, 10 Greenshank, six Bar-tailed Godwit, six Eider, four Sanderling and two Common Tern. 

Other Wildlife: With Common Fleabane in full flower three Fleabane Tortoise Beetle Cassida murraea were found in quick succession, an anticipated new species for the Warren. A further new species for the audit, Large Pine Aphid Cinara pinea was discovered by searching the small Scots Pine in the Entrance Bushes.

Fleabane Tortoise Beetle Cassida murraea - Alan Keatley

Large Pine Aphid Cinara pinea - Alan Keatley

The overcast weather didn't put off other insects with a good selection of butterflies including several Red Admiral, a Small Tortoiseshell and a Brown Argus.  Moths were also on the wing with Silver Y, Dingy Footman, Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis, Red-banded Tortrix Ditula angustiorana and Black-headed Conch Cochylichroa atricapitana, plus multitude of Six-spot Burnet.

Mother of Pearl Patania ruralis - Alan Keatley

Brown Argus - Alan Keatley

 Red-banded Tortrix Ditula angustiorana - Alan Keatley

Dingy Footman - Alan Keatley

There was a good selection of hoverflies including migrant species; Marmalade Hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus, Compost Hoverfly Syritta pipiens, Glass-winged Syrphus S. vitripennis and White-clubbed Glasswing Scaeva pyrastri. More local species included Small Spotty-eyed Dronefly Eristalinus sepulchralis, Slender Melanostoma M. scalare and Spotted Meliscaeva M. auricollis.

Also at least four Common Dolphin were offshore with two Vestal Cuckoo Bee on Water Mint and the first Southern Hawker of the year.

Autumn Ladies-tresses - Alan Keatley