Saturday 20th June

The first Tawny Owl of the year was calling occasionally from the Golf Course early morning, with it or another also calling from the mainland.

In the estuary two Grey Plover were in The Bight and two Common and a Little Tern were with Sandwich Tern on Bull Hill mid morning. 

Elsewhere the Yellow-legged Gull was on the beach and the first juvenile Black-headed Gull was off Langstone Rock.

Yellow-legged Gull - Alan Keatley

Year List addition:

155. Tawny Owl

Other Wildlife: In contrast to yesterday the predominantly overcast conditions saw fewer flying insects although a couple of scarce Warren species, a Golden Cuckoo Wasp Pseudomalus auratus in the Entrance Bushes and a Brown Chafer Serica brunnipes on the Dune Ridge, following on from one to light last night.

Brown Chafer Serica brunnipes  - Alan Keatley

Golden Cuckoo Wasp Pseudomalus auratus - Alan Keatley

Overnight 190 species of moth were recorded to light, many were freshly emerged included a number of local specialities such as White Colon, Channel islands Pug, Archer's and Sand Dart, Shore, Obscure and Silky Wainscot, Bordered Sallow, White Satin, Crescent Plume Marasmarcha lunaedactyla and Sandhill Knothorn Anerastia lotella.

Sand Dart - Luke Harman

Archer's Dart - Luke Harman

White Colon - Luke Harman

Other records included six species of hawkmoth, Gallium Carpet, Double Square-spot, Common, Grass and Small Emerald. There were also new species for the Recording Area, the widespread Hawthorn Moth Scythropia crataegella and the more local Marbled Knothorn Acrobasis marmorea.

Marbled Knothorn Acrobasis marmorea - Luke Harman

In addition to the Brown Chafer, a couple of Summer Chafer Amphimallon solstitialis, a Common Burying Beetle Nicrophorus vespillo, the Sea Aster pictured winged fly Campiglossa plantaginis and a Coastal Silver Stiletto Acrosathe annulata.

Coastal Silver Stiletto Acrosathe annulata - Luke Harman