9th July

Efforts to spirit some early departing migrants out of the now well established crops in the Crown Estate Field for the first time this 'autumn' drew a probably predictable blank, so what happenings there were on the bird front were much as in recent days. A Grey Heron passed over at the Bill where 56 Common Scoter, 22 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Whimbrel passed by on the sea; elsewhere, 16 Dunlin, a Mallard and Grey Plover were at Ferrybridge, where 2 Sand Martins also passed over.

The millpond-calm conditions off the Bill resulted in a veritable rash of sightings of 'other' sealife, with 7 Harbour Porpoises, a Basking Shark and an Ocean Sunfish spotted during the course of the morning.

The was no great change on the moth front, with immigrant numbers continuing to drop away after their small peak a few days ago; 2 more Small Marbleds were the immigrant highlight at the Obs, with a flurry of wetland species providing the principle interest among the strays putting in appearances: singles of Reed Smudge Orthotelia sparganella and Bulrush Cosmet Limnaecia phragmitella were trapped at the Obs, whilst singles of Bulrush Veneer Calamotropha paludella and Silky Wainscot turned up at the Grove.

Chalkhill Blues are now on the wing in some quantity - these were above Church Ope Cove today © Ken Dolbear: