Monday 1st September

The low high tide saw the roosting waders again dispersed by a hunting Sparrowhawk so counts were therefore down, although at least 140 Ringed Plover and 48 Dunlin were in The Bight with 17 Sanderling and a Turnstone on the beach.

Elsewhere single Blackcap and Whitethroat were in the bushes. 

Other Wildlife: The highlight was a Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis near the Entrance Bushes, an unexpected first for the  Recording Area. This declining species has been recorded at Exminster Marshes and on the East Devon Commons. The larvae are typically associated with cattle dung but eggs will also be laid in Rabbit middens so it may be an overlooked resident. A distinctive species and seen well but, in typical robberfly fashion, it flew off on spotting the camera.

Hornet Robberfly Asilus crabroniformis - Alan Keatley

A good selection of hoverflies included Green Glimmer Riponnensia splendens, Yellow-girdled Dasyrsyrphus tricinctus and Stripe-backed Fleckwing D. albostriatus.

Green Glimmer Riponnensia splendens - Alan Keatley

Yellow-girdled Fleckwing Dasyrsyrphus tricinctus - Alan Keatley

Butterflies were dominated by good numbers of Large White with at least 85 around the flower meadows with 25+ Small White. Also, notable a worn second-generation Wall Brown and a migrant Painted Lady. Speckled Wood, Small Copper and Common Blue were still numerous, but the season seems to be over for Gatekeeper.

Common Blue - Alan Keatley

Migrant moths included Rush Veneer everywhere and a couple of Silver Y. Also, on the wing a few Migrant Hawker, a Vestal Cuckoo Bee nectaring on Heather and, on Michaelmas Daisy, a Shiny-vented Sharp-tail Coelioxys inermis.

Shiny-vented Sharp-tail Coelioxys inermis - Alan Keatley