Thursday 28th August

An Osprey circling The Bight at high tide disturbed the waders from their Finger Point roost and they didn't start to settle until the tide started to go out, numbers of terns and small waders continue to reduce, but some may have left when flushed.

A Little Stint was the pick of the waders with counts including 189 Redshank, 173 Ringed Plover, 109 Dunlin, eight Sanderling, three Bar-tailed Godwit, three Greenshank, two Grey Plover and two Knot.

Grey Plover - Dave Jewell

Also in the estuary 60 Sandwich and 14 Common Tern with five Mediterranean Gull. Elsewhere three Willow Warbler were on site and a Buzzard was by the Main Pond. 

Other Wildlife: The highlight was the discovery of the rarely recorded barkfly Propsocus pulchripennis, possibly the first Devon record of this saltmarsh and tideline specialist. Also, on the tideline a few of the scarce rove beetle Bledius spectabilis. 

Propsocus pulchripennis - Alan Keatley

Bledius spectabilis - Alan Keatley

Apart from a strong passage of 50+ Large White, there was few butterflies on the wing, a Brimstone Moth was in the tunnel with a Rough Strawberry Root Weevil Otiorhychus rugosustriatus.

Rough Strawberry Root Weevil Otiorhychus rugosustriatus - Alan Keatley

Brimstone Moth - Alan Keatley