Counts from the estuary included 220 Redshank, 155 Ringed Plover, 95 Sandwich and two Common Tern, 52 Whimbrel, 49 Dunlin, 21 Mute and a Black Swan, 12 Sanderling, 10 Greenshank, eight Mediterranean Gull, four Bar-tailed Godwit and two Grey Plover.
Elsewhere a Green Woodpecker and the Red-legged Partridge were on the Golf Course and an Osprey was off site further up the estuary.
Ringing News: With several new arrivals in recent days over 100 Exe-ringed Oystercatcher are now back for another winter on the estuary.
Other Wildlife: In the warm sunshine migrant moths were active with several Silver Y in the flower meadows, plus a Vestal, Rusty-dot Pearl, Hummingbird Hawkmoth and several Rush Veneer. Also, on the wing, five Jersey Tiger near the station and at least ten Clouded Yellow and fifteen Painted Lady.
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| Jersey Tiger - Alan Keatley |
The tiny braconid wasp Agathis tibialis, a parasitoid of the moth Dark Fleabane Neb Apodia martinii, was with its host in Dead Dolphin Wood. The wasp lays its eggs onto the larvae in Common Fleabane using its long ovipositor. A few male wasps were in attendance with the oviposting female.
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| Agathis tibialis - both Alan Keatley |
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| Dark Fleabane Neb Apodia martinii - Alan Keatley |
Elsewhere on the Dune Ridge a female Sand Lizard and the nationally scarce Dune Wolf Xerolycosa miniata and in, so far, a poor year for hoverflies single Hook-barred Spearhorn Chrysotoxum festivum and Golden-tailed Leafwalker Xylota sylvarum were noted.
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| Golden-tailed Leafwalker Xylota sylvarum - Alan Keatley |
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| Dune Wolf Xerolycosa miniata - Alan Keatley |
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| Hook-barred Spearhorn Chrysotoxum festivum - Alan Keatley |
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