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Monday 18th July 2016


Clear, calm and hot today and a decent day for observations to be made with a few notable species.

Migration was under way with totals of 70 Black headed Gull moving South offshore, along with 3 Sandwich Tern, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 2 Sanderling, 1 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover and 1 Cormorant. Briefly, 2 Sanderling on the beach. Other migrants involve 19 Swift, 12 Swallow, 5 House Martin, 4 Goldfinch, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Chiffchaff.

The warmer conditions have resulted in many species appearing for the first time this year including one of the site specialities Aphomia zelleri, (above).


We don't spend a lot of time looking at leaf names in mid-summer but with a couple of examples of Phyllonorycter geniculella turning up in the moth traps in recent years, a quick look at the sycamores revealed this which we are fairly confident was caused by this species minute caterpillar, (above).

Ringing: 12 birds ringed this morning including 5 Starling, 1 Great Tit, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Woodpigeon, 1 House Sparrow, 1 Wren and 1 Dunnock.