Ortolan!

This mornings Convolvulus Hawkmoth

This morning my fifth Convolvulus Hawkmoth of the year was on the wall above the moth trap, it is still in the same place as darkness falls.

 This morning

Early morning from Hanson saw 5 Great White Egrets, a Greenshank and 3 Pintail among the 100s of eclipse wildfowl. The hide was shut most of the day to allow the reserve staff and volunteers to clear the vegetation in front the hide, an excellent job they did to. 

This afternoon

 This morning

This afternoon

Reed Warbler nest in front of Hanson

As I drove along the approach road near the lighthouse my first 12 Brent Geese of the Autumn flew west. Around the area several Common Redstarts and Spotted Flycatchers were seen, along with a few Blackcaps, Common Whitethroats and Wheatears.

Wryneck in the Desert

A very slow early afternoon sea watch which produced 2 Balearic Shearwaters and a couple of Yellow-legged Gulls was interrupted by by news of a Wryneck south of the trapping area. The bird was soon seen though did not give good photographic views in the time I was prepared to stay with it, a party of 5 Tree Sparrows over were a bonus.

Whinchat in the Desert

15.00-16.20 from the fishing boats with AJG:

Balearic Shearwater: 1W
Gannet: 31W
Yellow-legged Gull: 1
Mediterranean Gull: 2 around
Sandwich tern: 437W
Common Tern: 70W
Arctic Tern: 1W
Sand Martin: 37 out
Swallow: 156 out
Ortolan Bunting: 1 flew over the fishing boats towards the Lighthouses.  
Harbour Porpoise: 5+
Grey Seal: 1
Common Seal: 1

Yellow-legged Gull at the fishing boats