Expectation Postponed

I think I know too much. Following a seven-month social media hiatus I signed up with Bluesky more than six months ago, moving almost overnight from oblivious to well-informed. Consequently I am all too aware that Yellow-browed Warblers have arrived in force, and now Hawfinches too. And moth-wise there has been quite an influx of various migrants. My Bluesky feed keeps me abreast of the joyous news, as fellow birdwatchers and moth folk reap their enviable harvest. Meanwhile, I...er...patiently wait my turn...

To be fair, I think I blew a good Hawfinch opportunity this morning. And I definitely blew one yesterday, arriving a bit late at the West Bay vis-mig watchpoint to news that a Hawfinch had gone through earlier. This morning's was worse. A little group of Chaffinches went over, and it was only as they were going away that I noticed the bigger bird. I could get nothing on it, and even Tom with his image-stabilised 14x50 super-bins couldn't clinch it.

Yellow-browed Warbler though, not a sniff.

Actually it has been great to join Tom for some West Bay vis-migging again, and be reminded just how rubbish my hearing is nowadays. At least I can see okay though, and was quickly onto yesterday morning's vis-mig first for the site. Considering the long list of rare and scarce species that might have fitted that category, the Black-tailed Godwit left me feeling a bit short-changed. Still, it did look very incongruous flying over the clifftop fields.

Distant vis-mig Jay catching the sun this morning.

Apart from cocking up a probable Hawfinch this morning, we were treated to a very nice highlight in the shape of a female Cirl Bunting. Likely it had arrived overnight and roosted in the clifftop bushes, then around 07:45 popped out and perched up, calling repeatedly. The call is rather high-pitched, so needless to say I could not hear it. The recorder picked it up though. And my eye did alright...

The light was a bit poor, but here is the Cirl Bunting, mid-call.

This was my second West Bay Cirl, and I guess the species is increasingly becoming a realistic possibility anywhere along the West Dorset coast. Our bird stuck around for a few minutes before dropping out of sight. Quite possibly it moved on.

Female Cirl Bunting through a twiggy veil at West Bay.

Finally, I should get recent moth news up to date...

Last night Portland Bird Observatory trapped countless migrant moths of umpteen species, including 244 Rusty-dot Pearls - their highest total this year. Here is my migrant catch from last night...

One Rusty-dot Pearl.

The garden trap has yet to produce a single Gem, Delicate or Radford's Flame Shoulder, let alone Clancy's Rustic or White-speck. Still, while I am waiting for these migrant species to do the decent thing there are other moths to look at, even if few and far between just now...

This worn Red Underwing turned up on Monday night. The garden's second...

...it was very popular with the granddaughters on Tuesday.

Also on Monday night, and at the other end of the size spectrum, this Ilex Leaf-miner Phyllonorycter messaniella was new for the garden.

Dark form of Box-tree Moth, always a smart one.

Feathered Ranunculus from Wednesday night, amazingly camouflaged on this weathered concrete slab...

...and showing its feathered antennae here.

A nicely marked Blair's Mocha from last night. Even though it is a bit worn there are still all sorts of pink and apricot shades going on. Lovely.

It is relatively mild still, so the trap is out again tonight. My expectations are low, but you never know. For example, this morning there was another new-for-garden moth in the catch...

Mottled Umber. Quite common I think. However, it is basically a winter moth. And the trap isn't out much in the colder months, so it's no great surprise that we haven't seen one of these before.

Mottled Umber - a beautifully marked moth.

I shall close with a random photo taken at West Bay this morning...

Sitting on a post just off the end of the West Pier was this Cormorant. Its gular pouch geometry drew me like a moth to MV. I could not help myself.