Thursday 30th April

A low tide visit saw 10 Whimbrel and two Grey Plover still feeding in The Bight with three Swift and a House Martin overhead, No obvious migrants in the bushes although half a dozen Whitethroat were well spread through the reserve.

Other Wildlife: Another windy day with a strong easterly during the morning, especially along the beach where several of the tiny rove beetle Aleochara grisea, normally found under seaweed, were blown into areas of sheltered sand. Also blown onto the beach a Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa, a Strawberry Root Weevil Otiorhychus ovatus and the saltmarsh fly Hydrophorus oceanus.

Thistle Tortoise Beetle Cassida rubiginosa - Alan Keatley

Strawberry Root Weevil Otiorhychus ovatus - Alan Keatley

Aleochara grisea - Alan Keatley

In more sheltered areas, a not unexpected new species for the Recording Area, Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus on Hawthorn near the Entrance Bushes. A species that has expanded its westward from a restricted range in the south east to areas of Devon in recent years.  

Box Bug Gonocerus acuteangulatus - Alan Keatley

In Dead Dolphin Wood, the orange ichneumon wasp Ophion obscuratus, usually only recorded here at light and a couple of Marmalade Hoverfly, a species few in number so far this year. A Silver Y was further evidence of insect migration.

Ophion obscuratus - Alan Keatley

Marmalade Hoverfly - Alan Keatley

Silver Y - Alan Keatley