Thursday, 31 December 2015

Moths are still about. On Tuesday morning I was surprised to find a pristine Common Quaker in the trap. I've only recorded this species from late Feb to start of May previously. Yesterday morning there was another Rusty-dot Pearl. Made a regular trip to Dunge yesterday, again in very windy conditions.
There was a Great White Egret on the ARC pit and a couple of Goldeneye. A Chiffchaff showed briefly along the Willow Trail. The rest of the morning was spent at the patch sheltering behind the first hide. There was a continuous procession west of Gannets, Kittiwakes, Auks, and Red-throated Divers past, plus one fairly distant Great Skua-my first this year. A GBB Gull was feeding on a dead Harbour Porpoise on the beach nearby. Back on the reserve after lunch 4 Little Gulls (another year tick) flew past the visitor centre while we drank coffee, and the Long-eared Owl was just about visible in the usual place but deeper in the bush. A Water Rail showed well but briefly in front of the Scott Hide, where 1 Smew was also seen. Two more Great White Egrets were also seen.

 Great Black-backed Gull

 Common Quaker
  

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