The day started with strong and gusting easterly winds, accompanied by a heavy rain shower that lasted until late morning. After this had passed through, it was a very pleasant day, with a reasonable scattering of migrants on the ground. Wader numbers are on the increase again now that the tides are building, and today's tallies comprised four
Ringed Plovers, 17
Dunlins, five
Whimbrels and one
Common Sandpiper. It is shaping up to be a great year for
Cuckoos on Bardsey, with almost daily records at the moment- today saw another three Cuckoos on the island. Hirundine and Swift passage was relatively poor, with figures including a single
Swift, 10
Sand Martins, 89
Swallows and 31
House Martins. Single
Reed and
Garden Warblers were recorded in the vegetated areas, along with three
Spotted Flycatchers.
Moth trapping has generally been quite poor this year, as it has been across the UK. However, the recent new moon and somewhat milder temperatures is increasing catch numbers in the Nant heath trap, and is also luring in a few smart scarcities. A Water Carpet taken from the moth trap on the 13th is a new species for Bardsey, despite being a common species on the mainland. Today, a smart Bordered Straw was found, which is an immigrant species last recorded on 21 June 2000. In addition, the first few day-flying micro moth species are beginning to appear, such as
Cydia ulicetana and
Esperia sulphurella.
Bordered Straw
Water Carpet
Marbled Coronet
Green Tiger Beetle
Glad it is a good year for Cuckoos this year. Great shots of the Moths. Have a wonderful weekend.
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