September Fair

Sunday night's trap tally was almost double that of Saturday. Why? Heat is why. And, following a very warm Monday in which the working me melted a bit, tonight might be even better. But before I get all excited about moths, some birds...

A Friday afternoon jaunt to Cogden produced a couple of Whinchats, included this poser.

Also a cracking Wheatear on the beach. Not all autumn Wheatears are drab things.

Hopefully I will get back to some West Bay birding soon, but poking around the wonderful habitat at Cogden has been good for the soul. Migrants are at a premium still, but Saturday afternoon was a bit more productive, with at least 5 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Wheatears, 3 Chiffs, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Redstart. Talking of Redstarts...

I've seen quite a few local Redstarts now, but am yet to nail a really nice photo of one. They are by far and away the trickiest species to get close to. Well, they are for me. You would think the 'sit and wait' approach ought to work, but it never does. Several times I've stumbled across a Redstart, then tucked myself away to let it settle down and show me its little routine, but one of two things always happens. Either it simply never reappears (which is what Saturday's bird did) or it does indeed settle down, but half a mile up the hedge. They seem to know exactly the range that will guarantee tenth-rate photos yet keep me dangling there in hope. One day, maybe...

Spotted Flycatchers are rarely such a tease...

Spotted Flycatcher. One of at least five in the same general area.

It's been some time since the last NQS gull content, so here's one that caught my eye at Cogden Beach on Saturday...

I'm pretty sure the one on the left is a Lesser Black-backed Gull, with those long wings and lots of juv feathers still. I never did see it fly, nor even its open wings.

Can you tell I haven't had a gull fix in a while?

Obviously I was hoping to encounter something like a young Yellow-legged Gull, but any port in a storm seems an appropriate cliché.

And so, the Moth Diary...

 

Thursday night, 31st August

96 moths of 38 species; three new for year and for garden. All the new ones were micros. One avoided the camera (Epinotia nisella, thankfully not a scarce or difficult one) but the other two did not...

Same moth, different angles. I really like the Caloptilia group, so am especially pleased with this one. It has a look-alike - C. alchimiella - and the two are tricky to separate, but my ID has had the thumbs-up from Dorset's verification team. Just four other Bridport area records on the Living Record map.

And this one has just five other Bridport area records on the Living Record map.

By comparison with the above micros, Blair's Mocha is dirt common: #23 for '23.

This Scorpion Fly sp. was a whacky bit of bycatch.

Friday night, 1st September

A bit feeble, with just 38 moths of 20 species, but one was the charismatic, new-for-garden star of the previous post: Prays ruficeps, with its unremittingly black wings and rufi ceps.

Also this, caught on a sugary fence post...

The third Marbled Green this year, following four last summer.

Saturday night, 2nd September

Better, with 63 moths of 32 species; one new for year.

Pale Eggar. We caught just one last year too, coincidentally also on 2nd September. There are something like 25 Bridport area records on the Living Record map, which is less than the 30-odd records of Clifden Nonpareil. Recently I've been making that comparison quite a lot. Loads of species are locally scarcer than that beautiful creature. Amazing.

Pale Eggar - satellite view.

Common Wainscot is indeed common, but this one was so perfect I couldn't help myself.

I was hoping to capture the subtle furriness of the wings in this shot. Not sure I've quite managed it. Whatever, Common Wainscot is a lovely moth.

Sunday night, 3rd September

Despite a clear and moonlit night, it was warm: 117 moths of 44 species. Only one was new for year, but there were a couple of other treats...

A 3.5mm speck. We caught three of these last year too. Not a common moth in Dorset, and there is just one other Bridport area record on the Living Record map. With a massive London Plane on the green across the road, I think we have an advantage.

Another speck. This is our fifth of 2023, and we had one last year too. There are just three other Bridport area records on the Living Record map.

Despite a good chilling, not chilled. One angry Snout!

The garden's second Gold Spot. Pick your own superlative.

He he! Promise I won't do this next year! Two last night: Blair's Mocha #24 and #25. Last year's tally was 20, and there is still plenty of time to catch some more.

Despite its battered condition, this late Sharp-angled Carpet was worth a snap. Our second this year, following a single in 2022. According to the Dorset Moths website, Sharp-angled Carpet occurs at low density in the county. There are just six other Bridport area records on the Living Record map (from four sites) and once again I find myself comparing the numbers with Clifden Nonpareil...

As I type, it is once again clear and still outside, but warm. The trap is out. Here's hoping...