Migrants, but not birds...

 This autumn has been one of the worst I can remember for bird migration. 

We have had nothing much in the way of easterlies and no seawatching since August. This is largely due to the omnipresent southerly or south westerly winds since the last Bank Holiday. To give this some context, my last Manx or Sooty Shearwater was way back on 18th August. No shearwaters in September! Couldnt imagine it, but there it goes. 

I thought that with our hols being a bit earlier this year I would be home for the Yellow browed Warbler arrivals so have had the garden staked out every single day. Nothing. Not only no Yellow brows, but not a Redstart or Pied Fly and no thrushes either. I am hoping there is time yet, but I fear the high pressure stationed for weeks over the Scandinavian area might have allowed the migrants to move straight continental south so even if the wind does swing East there might not be much left for us to get.  

Time will tell.

So back to the post. These southerlies, have given us some nice weather at least, and off that, a few interesting moths too. Without fear of repeating myself, Northumberland is not good for migrant lepidoptera and North Northumberland VC68 is worst of all, so please don't compare these with catches in the south because it will seem trivial. Captions below...

Delicate - First for the garden and only the 25th County. 

Pearly Underwing -my 5th here.

Bordered Straw - my most wanted as everyone else seems to have had one, but this is my first. A stunner.

Dark Swordgrass -After some barren years, this year has seen an upsurge here with 11 so far. My last were 2 in 2021.

Palpita vitrealis. Well pleased to see one in Suffolk last year, so 2 in my garden this year is mindblowing! Only 17 county records.

Scarce Bordered Straw - only 5 prev records here since 2010 but 3 this year is the best showing so far.