A small arrival of immigrant moths included 3 Silver Y, 2 Diamond-back Moth and a Dark Sword Grass trapped overnight at the Obs. After yesterday's influx Red Admirals remained conspicuous everywhere, with evidence of continuing north-bound passage at the Bill.
Quite apart from being wholly unexpected, the Dusky Warbler showed remarkably well at times © Steve Carey stevecareybirdphotography (still) and Martin Cade (video):
Although there are occasional calls audible on the video footage (and if we get time we'll see what other recordings we got of them) of rather more interest in a UK context was that for a while it started half-heartedly singing:
At the local level, the Egyptian Goose over Ferrybridge was of considerably higher value than the Dusky Warbler (3 records of Egyptian Goose vs 16 Dusky Warblers) © Pete Saunders:
...its occurrence also gave us a chance to dredge out Graham Armstrong's photo of the rather bizarre first record for the island of ten juveniles, also at Ferrybridge, on 10th July 1978 - the circumstances of the discovery of these birds by Messrs Armstrong, Cade and Walbridge is a story for another day! © Graham Armstrong:
And there's nothing like milking the box of ancient photos: whilst searching for the Egyptian Goose print we came across this image of Portland first Dusky Warbler on 27th October 1984 - which, if nothing else, shows that we've refined our in-hand photography skills over the decades © Martin Cade:
Back in the realm of the present the Little Terns are now settling in well at Ferrybridge © Pete Saunders:
Red Admirals are suddenly about all over the island © Ken Dolbear:
Whilst searching for the Dusky Warbler we happened across the little longhorn moth Adela reaumurella in Top Fields; whilst quite common in places further up the island it's either been overlooked or is much scarcer further south - this one's the first we've ever seen south of Southwell © Martin Cade:
