The antics of House Martins were the first thing to catch the eye and imagination this morning, as hundreds of them flew over Durlston. The flitting movement of their wings and the regular banking enabled the white rump to be easily seen, this feature makes these birds unmistakable.
Also flying past were a few Sand Martins, as they darted overhead their chin strap could just about be spotted. These birds starting their long trip to Africa.
From the Tamarisk came a constant movement of Chiffchaffs, these birds removing insects delicacies from amongst the soft green fronds. Joining them was a flock of Long-tailed Tits, the chattering of this group heard above the others, the buzz of the wings adding to the action.
The call overhead of a flock of Meadow Pipits switched my attention as did the undulating flight of 2 Grey Wagtails as they went towards the lighthouse. Other reports of 2 Tree Pipits calling as they flew over added to the migration list.
Last night our visiting moth trappers had a good haul including a number of migrant moths, the highlight perhaps the 13 Convolvulus Hawk-moths, large grey moths with pink stripes. Rarer still was the Clifden Non-pareil, also known as the Blue Underwing. Dark Swordgrass, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Pearly Underwing also in identified.
Much of the land has now turned brown after the long warm sunny summer, but still a few flowers with Herb Robert, Red Clover and Rest Harrow adding splashes of pink, Black Knapweed and Dwarf Thistle purple and Yarrow, Wild Carrot, Burnet Saxifrage and Autumn Lady’s Tresses white flowers to the mix.
A few butterflies spotted first thing including Meadow Brown, Small Heath and an Adonis Blue, wings closed and only spotted as I was looking closely at the Red Bartsia flower alongside. Painted Ladies and a few Clouded Yellows were around yesterday as was a Hummingbird Hawkmoth buzzing around the Escallonia flowers
Resting on the large leaves of the Old Mans’ Beard, which is covered by the wispy white flowers and fluff was our largest and possibly the easiest to identify hoverfly Zonaria Volucella