Saturday 9th May

A Sedge Warbler in Dead Dolphin Wood was the only long distance migrant although a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Entrance Bushes was the first for several months. 

Offshore mill pond conditions revealed 12 Great Northern Diver roosting early evening, along with 22 Manx Shearwater, two Sandwich Tern, a 2CY Mediterranean Gull and the female Eider.

Elsewhere 31 Sanderling were on the beach and counts from the estuary over the low high tide included 16 Dunlin, 15 Whimbrel and two Ringed Plover.

Other Wildlife: A new fly for the Recording Area was found by the Main Pond, a Bird Blowfly Protocalliphora azurea. The species has an interesting life-cycle, laying eggs in bird nests, the larvae feed on nestlings and the adult on bird droppings.

Bird Blowfly Protocalliphora azurea - Alan Keatley

Other flies on the wing in the summer conditions included Ferruginous Bee-grabber Sicus ferrugineus, Common Stiletto Thereva nobilitata, the cranefly Tipula lunata and the hoverflies Bumblebee Plumehorn Volucella bombylans and Common Pipizella P. viduata. 

Bumblebee Plumehorn Volucella bombylans - Alan Keatley

Common Pipizella P. viduata - Alan Keatley

Butterflies included the first Small White of the year were mixed in a light passage of Large White, with half a dozen Small Copper and three Holly Blue. Day flying moths included the rapidly colonising Alexanders Straw Aethes deaurana and a Small Yellow Underwing in the Buffer Zone, with Green Longhorn still lekking, Diamond-back, Yellow Shell and half a dozen Cinnabar. 

Small Yellow Underwing - Alan Keatley

Alexanders Straw Aethes deaurana - Alan Keatley

Other records included the water beetle Agabus bipunctatus, two Broad-bodied Chaser and a couple of Blue-tailed Damselfly all away from water.

 Agabus bipunctatus - Alan Keatley