Swifts

A very quiet day on the peninsular, where first thing it was much colder than of late. It took  just a few minutes to clear last nights poor moth catch, though a Brown-line Bright-eye was new and overdue. At the ARC  9 Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Little-ringed Plovers, 2 Dunlin and Common Sandpiper were the highlights, among the usual Lapwing and wildfowl.

 Willow Warbler in The Moat

A walk around The Moat found just 2 Willow Warblers and another 4 in the trapping area also a Peregrine. A movement of Swifts and Hirundines today, c250 Swifts over the trapping area and 30+ Sand Martins.

 The windmills at Bolougne as seen from the fishing boats this afternoon.

The Swift movement continued this afternoon during a 90 minute sea watch from the boats where 300+ left for the continent. The visibility was amazing with french coast clearly visible, Napoleons Statute and Bolougne windmills could easily be seen, through the scope cars and lorries travelling on the A16 could be seen. The trouble with such good visibility there are usually few sea birds to be seen and today was no different, with barely a handful of Gannets and Terns. 

Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden

Late afternoon while sitting in the garden listening to the cricket, 1,000+ Swifts head south along with c400 Sand Martins and 150 Swallows. The Budleia attracted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, several each of Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Meadow Brown, Large White  and a large Skipper.