At this time of year it's pretty easy to get ahead of ourselves, wishing away the rest of summer for those bumper days of Wheatears and Whinchats or thinking will we trap a Melodious or Aquatic Warbler this week. Indications this morning that there had been another small arrival overnight with Willow and Sedge Warblers being particularly vocal in the Obs garden at dawn, so spirits were pretty high, unfortunately under relatively clear skies they departed pretty quickly. Totals returned at the Bill were lower than the previous few days but it was a very pleasant census nonetheless, Willow Warblers were the most numerous again at around 60 along with 6 Wheatear, 5 Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtails, a Grey Heron and the first returning Redstart. 2 Balearics were seen past the bill along with 9 Meditteranian Gulls, 7 Common Scoter, 5 Black-headed Gulls, 4 Manx Shearwater and a Commic Tern. Ferrybridge numbers remained the same with 64 Dunlin. 29 Ringed Plover, 14 Sanderling, 6 Common Tern, 4 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, and singles of Curlew and Whimbrel.
The overnight moth catch was greatly reduced with a stiff north-westerly setting in early evening, however it still resulted in singles of Marbled Yellow Pearl Evergestis Extimalis, Four-spotted Footman, Gem, Dark Spinach and Maidens Blush.
Firethorn Leaf Miner Phyllonorycter leucographella, Pebble Hook-tip, Willow Warbler, Grey Heron and Chalk Hill Blue (from the weekend). Reap Lane (Firethorn Leaf Miner), High Angle Battery and Portland Bill ©Joe Stockwell and ©James Phillips (Chalk Hill Blue)
