Thursday 6th February

A low high tide reduced the number of waders in The Bight, with the Peregrine again present and making a couple of attempts to capture one of them. Counts included 700 Dunlin, 175 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 27 Ringed and 25 Grey Plover, 23 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Sanderling.

Elsewhere four Red-throated Diver flew south offshore early morning, two Little Grebe were back trilling at the Main Pond, four Pheasant were by the Visitor Centre and two Chiffchaff were on site.

Other Wildlife: Today’s good weather encouraged more insects to be active, including some first appearances of the year, although the first Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax was one of few insects on the wing. 

Common Dronefly Eristalis tenax - Alan Keatley

Bugs in sheltered areas included a few Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina, the leafhopper Mocydia crocea and the groundbug Peritrechus geniculatus.

Green Shieldbug Palomena prasina - Alan Keatley

Peritrechus geniculatus - Alan Keatley

Mocydia crocea - Alan Keatley

Beetles on the beach included the ground beetles Bembidion lunulatum and Demetrias atricapillus, with the tiny clover weevil Ichnopterapion virens hiding under cover.

Bembidion lunulatum - Alan Keatley

Demetrias atricapillus - Alan Keatley

Ichnopterapion virens - Alan Keatley