As expected, the weather is still coming from the south west with no conditions for a fall of migrants or for seawatching either.
The moth trap continues to provide some good stuff as compensation...
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| Clockwise from top left - Phyllonorycter oxyacanthae, new for me, the most worn Convolvulous Hawk-moth ever, but is still a Convol, and in the trap too. Ni Moth, the first for VC68 and Phyllonorycter geniculella. |
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| Clockwise from top left - Red Underwing, rare here, Delicate, only my 3rd, Evergestis extimalis, becoming more regular in the garden and Vine's Rustic a southern species on the move North. |
Birds have generally been slow, locally, this last few weeks as a result of the weather, so yesterday we took a short trip south to the Druridge Bay area for a couple of birds Ive not seen for a while. First stop was at Druridge Pools were a nice juvvy Pectoral Sandpiper showed quite well on the Budge Fields. When birding the bay was a regular patch for me, I always said Id never twitch another Pec as you could often find one for yourself, but these days we dine at the peasants table in the pond-free north of the county, so Pec Sand is quite a big deal! Here is a short video clip of the bird -
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| A poor hazy digiscoped attempt but you can see what it is... |
Moving north from Druridge up to Hauxley NWT reserve where a juvenile Turtle Dove has taken up residence for a few days. It took a bit of searching for but eventually it was wandering around on the path like a town centre pigeon. Unfortunately flushing could not be helped as visitors walked around to the hides, most scarcely giving it a glance. Philistines! This moulting youngster is my first Turtle Dove in the county for over 20 years and the way things are going it might be my last. A great bird to see...
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| Juvenile Turtle Dove, Hauxley NWT Reserve 20/09/26 |
