Migrant bird and migrant moth sightings by Paul Bowyer

31st December

2011-12-31T12:50:00.004Z

Lesser Yellowlegs Brue Estuary

At Weston STW the Bewick's Swan still present behind Warren Farm and a Greylag flew in from the east and landed with the swans.

30th December

2011-12-30T13:58:00.002Z

A dull day from the heavy cloud with a 7mph WSW. Temperature 8 degrees. At Brean the Black Redstart was relocated around the caravans adjacent to the car park. On the down 2 Stonechat, 2 Bullfinch and 10 Redwing. A flock of 200 Teal flew distantly around Weston bay.
At Weston STW 2 more Stonechat found on the Axe bank whilst further up river 4 Goosander were found.
Purple Sandpiper count at Anchor Head now at 5

29th December

2011-12-29T15:25:00.002Z

Strong overnight westerly winds soon died down early morning averaging 22mph then dropping to 16mph. A brief visit to Sand Point produced small vismig counts involving 45 Dunlin, 70 Black-headed Gulls, 50 Herring Gulls, 3 Common Gulls, 2 Curlew and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls heading west. Heading east were 25 Shelduck.

27th December

2011-12-27T14:18:00.002Z

High pressure building over the southern half of the UK forming mid-level layered cloud and a light 7mph southerly wind. Temperatures a mild 11 degrees. Along the river Axe 2 Green Sandpipers and 2 female Goosanders. Overhead a notable west and south passage of gulls included 600 Herring, 150 Common, 2 Lesser Black-backed and 300 Black-headed. A single Snipe seen flying high south-west. Redwings also recorded heading south in small groups.

24th December

2011-12-24T14:22:00.002Z

Winds over the last week have been mainly westerly bringing mild temperatures with frequent fronts. On wednesday night an arrival of Redwings noted with a count of 100 around Milton alone. Big numbers of Black-headed Gulls seen passing through from the east. Today a Woodcock flushed from fields in the Brean area, a Black Redstart at the fort and at least 15 Golden Plover amongst 900 Lapwing. At Weston STW still 300 stock dove, 1 Brambling, 80 Pochard. The Bewick's was still with 55 Mute Swan. Last weekends Fieldfares have moved on after stripping the hawthorn bushes.
Black Redstart at Anchor Hd this afternoon.

weekend 17th/18th

2011-12-18T10:25:00.001Z

Bleadon level is attracting good numbers of birds moving through the country. Most notable being Fieldfare and Stock Dove. With the Fieldfare are much smaller numbers of Redwings and Blackbirds. Stock Dove numbers an impressive 300 with just a few Woodpigeons amongst them. Numbers seem down on Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Skylark but this could all change with a cold snap. 1-3 Water Pipits recorded yesterday on the Axe whilst the fields behind Warren Farm still holding 50ish Swans. Viewing was a bit more difficult so I couldn't tell if the Bewick's Swan was still present. The Bean Goose seen briefly in flight and the regular Barn Owl put in an appearance at dusk.

13th December

2011-12-13T16:36:00.002Z

A Sand Point sea watch failed to produce anything of interest this morning. Birds on the move during a 45 minute count included 15 Kittiwake, 20 Common Gull, 25 Shelduck, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 10 Black-headed Gulls, 20 Dunlin.

Bean Geese

2011-12-12T13:39:00.004Z

Tundra Bean Goose

I managed to catch up with the Bean Goose this morning and achieved much better views. The neck appears shorter and thicker than taiga Bean and the peaked forehead is more fitting for Tundra Bean so I'm going for Tundra Bean in the photo. The legs although not visible in the picture were bright orange and the mantle looked brown in the field eliminating confusion with Pink-footed Goose. Tundra Bean numbers have been steadily rising in the UK since the 2nd of December with the biggest numbers occurring in Aberdeenshire, Clyde, Norfolk and Northumbria. The birds arrivals can be easily explained by examining weather systems throughout the month with many days showing winds coming from their breeding grounds in the Arctic Tundra.

The Ring-necked Duck was still present this morning. I saw the Mute Swan flock had risen to 53 but was too far away to see if the Bewick's was still present.

11th December

2011-12-11T19:36:00.004Z

Spotted Sandpiper

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

The Ring-necked Duck, Bewick's Swan and Bean Goose were all still present at the Sewage Works this morning.

10th December

2011-12-10T18:50:00.006Z

Bewick's Swan

Bean Goose

A clear night with a full moon and reduced winds. Vismig at Sand Point produced no sea birds making their way back down the channel. Total birds on the move included 20 Curlew, 22 Shelduck, 20 Linnet, 11 Goldfinch, 7 Rock Pipit, 2 Teal, 8 Meadow Pipit.

Weston STW held some good birds starting with 3 Short-eared Owls (A.Hockey). A juvenile Bewick's Swan (M.Ponsford) was with 50 Mutes and a Bean Goose (M.Ponsford) gave distant scope views. The Ring-necked Duck was still present.

7th December

2011-12-07T15:19:00.006Z

Kittiwake

Strong winds overnight from midnight onwards. By morning the direction was consistently north-westerly at Sand Point. Movement was fair but the lack of sea bird variety was noticeable. Recorded this morning were 46 Kittiwake involving birds moving both up and down channel. Heading down were 2 Black-headed Gull, 126 Shelduck, 8 Curlew and 50 Dunlin. 20 Common Gulls counted moving in both directions. Totals: 269 individuals, 9 species, 2:10 hours

At Weston STW both the Greylag and Ring-necked Duck still present.

6th December

2011-12-06T14:46:00.002Z

All per B.Blake - The Ring-necked Duck still present at Weston STW along with Merlin and 2 Grey Geese considered to be either Bean or Pink-footed.

5th December

2011-12-05T12:36:00.003Z

Up until the first day of winter at the beginning of the month the lows coming across the Atlantic have been hitting central Europe bringing warmer southerly winds to the UK but recently we've had winds from a cold polar airmass hanging between the UK and Iceland.

A half hour sea watch this morning produced 17 Kittiwakes flying up river close in in small parties. 200 Dunlin went down river distantly and a trickle of Common and Black-headed Gulls through.

The 1st winter drake Ring-necked Duck remains at the sewage works for it's 3rd day.

4th December

2011-12-04T17:33:00.002Z

Ring-necked Duck

Greylag Goose

A 1st winter drake Ring-necked Duck was found yesterday at Weston STW along with Greylag. Both were still present today.

3rd December

2011-12-03T11:47:00.002Z

Scarce Umber

Strong West and WSW winds overnight that had already dropped by first light. Three fronts went through overnight raising temperatures to 11 degrees. A trip to Sand Point to intercept any birds blown up the channel making their way back down started off quite bleak. From 8:15 to 9:15 no sea birds just 5 Shelduck, 5 Curlew and 2 Black-headed Gulls. Then a single flock of 96 Kittiwake flew down channel about mid-channel. They then started spiralling upwards to a height of around 100M and headed off north-west towards the Welsh coast. A single Guillemot came out with the Kittiwakes but continued following the coastline heading south after passing the point. 2 more Kittwakes casually made their way down river some time later one of which was half heartedly pursued by a Merlin. The Merlin continued towards the Welsh coast. It would now seem that Merlins are quite happy flying back and forth across the estuary to hunt on both sides. Totals for the morning: 30 Black-headed Gull, 6 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 98 Kittiwake and a Guillemot.

2 Moths in the garden trap last night one of which was my first garden record of Scarce Umber.

29th November

2011-11-29T16:21:00.002Z

Waved Umber

December Moth

Winter Moth

Low pressure over the south-west keeping temperatures up to an unseasonal high of 14 degrees over night. A front went through before dusk on 28th after that it remained cloudy and dry. In the morning strong SSW winds with some light rain.

Mothing last night produced Dark Sword-grass, Plutella xylostella, Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Silver Y and 7 Udea ferrugalis. Also a Waved Umber, December Moth, 7 Winter Moth, Cypress Carpet and Angle Shades.

No sea birds recorded in a brief sea watch early morning but 280 Dunlin and 3 Grey Plover went through.

27th November

2011-11-27T11:28:00.005Z

Common Gull

Strong over night winds initially SSW changing to Westerly by morning. Winds died down quite considerably between 8:30am and 9:30am. At Sand Point a Great Northern Diver flew down channel close in as I was arriving at the Point. Heading down channel: 95 Dunlin, 55 Shelduck, 7 Common Gull, 20 Black-headed Gull and 25 Curlew. Also of note a Skua sp harassing a Gull mid channel and a female type Merlin in/off the sea from the North-west flew straight through. Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls moving in all directions but didn't give the impression of migrating so not counted.
Mothing not over quite yet. An hours trapping on Brean Down last night yielded Silver Y and Feathered Thorn. A migrant in December could still be on the cards.

26th November

2011-11-26T11:49:00.003Z

Windy conditions today from the successive Atlantic lows. The associating fronts generally quite weak as they reach the south-west. This morning at Brean a Short-eared Owl on the Axe Estuary was my first patch record since May 2008. Also on the Axe 60 Curlew, a unusually high count of 10 Cormorant, 13 Wigeon and 80 Teal.
A mass departure of birds since last Sunday left the Down virtually birdless, just a couple of Blackbirds and a Robin left. By the farm a Blackcap and Chiffchaff heard and a female Black Redstart in the Cove made up the passerine highlights. Checking a couple of stubble fields on the way back produced good numbers of Pied Wagtails and smaller numbers of Meadow Pipits. One field held 240 Lapwing.

25th November

2011-11-25T17:50:00.003Z

Last nights temperatures remained in double figures with a strong SSW wind and little cloud. I trapped at Brean giving up after an hour having had little results. A Dark Sword-grass was the only migrant along with Dotted Chestnut, Mottled Umber and Angle Shades. An early morning visit to Axe Estuary produced 240 Oystercatcher, 200 Dunlin, 60 Teal and 10 Wigeon.

New moth for Weston

2011-11-24T09:34:00.003Z

Acleris sparsana

An Atlantic low pressure system to the north starting to dominate over yesterdays high with mid level layer cloud building and winds picking up to 13mph SSW. Temperatures set to stay in double figures for the rest of the day and night.

There was virtually no vismig at all this morning and would have been none at all had it not been for 3 Curlew down channel at Sand Point. Very few birds on the ground. A Goldcrest, Bullfinch and Chiffchaff were the only migrants.

A micro caught on 21st that I forgot about until yesterday turned out to be Weston's first Acleris sparsana. There is a lot of Beech in Weston Woods suggesting this species is quite likely to have been overlooked.

23rd November

2011-11-23T10:53:00.004Z

Yesterday the frontal system started to break up as high pressure began to build bringing brighter conditions and a colder night dipping to 5 degrees. I didn't run the trap last night but the previous night a Mottled Umber caught was a garden first.

Birdwise 3 Purple Sandpipers were at Anchor Head at lunch time yesterday (G.Pudney).

21st November

2011-11-21T14:55:00.002Z

A weather front hanging over the UK is bringing heavy cloud and some light rain at times along with reduced visibility from low light levels. Temperatures hanging around 11 degrees and light easterly winds. A quick visit to the Axe Estuary on the rising tide produced good numbers of Dunlin but variety was down on yesterday with only a Turnstone of note. This species remains a rarity in Weston despite being common in all surrounding coastal sites.

20th November

2011-11-20T12:52:00.005Z

Barn Swallow in this mornings fog

A foggy morning with a light ESE wind feeling quite warm with temperatures around 11 degrees. First bird news came from Weston STW when the Bittern was re-found early morning making at least it's third day. A juvenile Swallow was on wires by the Brean Down Inn pub is my latest record for this species. On the Down the only vismig involved 4 Rock Pipits south. Grounded migrants were in good supply with many Blackbirds possibly numbering 80 birds with much smaller numbers of Song Thrush and Redwing. Robins were also plentiful with 40-50 birds present easily outnumbering the summering numbers. Bullfinch numbers were well above average with at least six seen. A Turnstone was heard at the fort whilst at the back of the down the Axe Estuary held 1000 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover, 20 Lapwing, 150 Redshank. The long staying Wheatear could not be relocated but the Chiffchaff was still present calling regularly. A visit to Anchor Head drew a blank with Purple Sandpiper.

19th November

2011-11-19T14:45:00.003Z

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Brean Down: Singles noted of Crossbill, Stock Dove, Redpoll, Chiffchaff and Wheatear.

18th November

2011-11-18T09:26:00.003Z

Mottled Umber

Silver Y

Weather: Southerly wind with some light rain around mid-night. Temperatures hovering around 12.5 degrees C. Sunset currently around 16:18hrs.

Brean Down. Single 125W MV ran between 11:40pm and 2:40am: 1 Pearly Underwing, 5 Silver Y, 6 Rusty Dot Pearl, 1 Rush Veneer, 3 Dark Sword-grass, 3 Turnip. Non-migrants included E.postvittana, Brick, Black Rustic, Angle Shades, Feathered Thorn, Yellow-line Quaker, Mottled Umber, November Moth and a Chestnut sp that avoided capture. 15 species in total

17th November

2011-11-17T14:05:00.001Z

Garden moth trap: Plutella xylostella in the trap this morning.

Casablanca

2011-11-16T14:28:00.002Z

House Bunting

Zitting cisticola

Spoladea recurvalis

Geranium Bronze

A few images from Casablanca

15th November

2011-11-15T15:06:00.001Z

12th November Middle Hope: 4 Snow Buntings (J.Jones)

13th November Middle Hope: 1 Great Spot, 1 Crossbill, 1 Siskin with the Goldfinchs in the car park, 1 Redpoll, 1 Blackcap. A bit of Chaffinch movement, 100+ in an hour. (P.Gregory)

7th November

2011-11-07T09:46:00.006Z

Steppe Grey Shrike

2 Snow Buntings on Axe Estuary sea wall yesterday (J.Packer) otherwise little of note locally. Woodpigeons have been recorded on the move with the first signs again in the North-west. Yesterday Stainburn recorded 60,000. This morning 50,000 over Berryhill, Staffs. Locally in Sand Bay a flock of 400 dropped into a field adjacent to the bay.

The Steppe Grey Shrike is the bird at The Wall, Shropshire.

News from Norfolk: I had Crossbill over the house this morning and some lapwings past. Seawatching was pleasant yesterday more the arriving duck which were a nice mix of species, plenty of Wigeon and Shelduck and some teal and pintail, but also Goosander, Scaup and Goldeneye with Eider, Long-tailed Duck, red breasted merganser and scoter, even some of the sea ducks were arriving as we had few Eider recently. Some Great Skuas and an Arctic or two I missed some earlier Poms. Lots of Song thrush, Blackbird, Redwings, Robins in pines and some Fieldfare and I flushed a Woodcock

5th November

2011-11-05T12:14:00.003Z

Wheatear

Brean Down: 2 Wheatear (1 nr steps and 1 Axe Estuary wall), 4 Bullfinch and a few flyover Siskins and Redpolls.

Sand Point per P.Gregory: 12 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8 Crossbill

4th November

2011-11-04T09:52:00.003Z

L-album Wainscot

Weather: A changeable night with a brief shower between midnight and 12:30am. After the shower winds from south-easterly swinging southerly and decreasing and cloud cover not enough to keep temperatures up seeing a drop to 12 degrees which looks to be about the cut off point judging by the lack of arrivals.

Brean Down in the wake of the shower: 3 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Silver Y, 1 Dark Sword-grass and a L-album Wainscot.

3rd November

2011-11-03T09:06:00.005Z

Dark Sword-grass

Weather: Brisk South-easterly wind with rain (sometimes heavy) between 12:30am and 1:30am moving northwards. Temperatures between 14 and 15 degrees.

Brean Down: Moths coming in on the leading edge of the front and the trailing with nothing in between: 5 Silver Y, 5 Dark Sword-grass, 1 Gem, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 RDP. A late Brimstone moth caught.

Garden moth trap: 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing, 1 Large Yellow Underwing and a RDP

2nd November

2011-11-02T09:26:00.003Z

Weather: A clear night with light winds and temperatures dropping to around 10 degrees. Wind picking up to a 15mph South-easterly by morning with high level cloud.

Sand Point: 500 Starling, 150 Woodpigeon, 80 Chaffinch, 2 Skylark, 1 Fieldfare, 5 Linnet, 1 Goldfinch. A Merlin hunting around the point and 2 Red Admirals.

Garden moth trap: Large Yellow Underwing.

31st October

2011-10-31T09:09:00.002Z

Weather: Another warm night with temperatures consistently around 15 degrees. With constant cloud cover I'm guessing a trough going through would be undetected on the thermometer. The southerly winds seemed light to moderate extending all the way into France.

Brean Down: 2 The Gem, 2 Pearly Underwing, 2 Dark Sword-grass, 4 Silver Y , 3 Large Yellow Underwing and double figures of Udea ferrugalis. Surprise of the night was Chinese Character.

30th October

2011-10-30T09:15:00.004Z

The Gem

Scarce Bordered Straw

Weather: A warm night hovering around 14.5 degrees, partly cloudy and a consistent 8mph SSW wind. Last nights sun set time: 16:38hrs

Brean Down: 17 Silver Y, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 1 Gem, 2 Pearly Underwing, 11 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, 1 Lesser Yellow Underwing. 16 of the 17 Silver Y came in before 1:30am and the RDP's came in throughout the night. All the other migrants including the underwings came in between 1:30am and 3:30am.

29th October

2011-10-29T15:38:00.004+01:00

Weather: A cold clear night down to 6 degrees, little wind until the early hours of the when light southerlies turned into 10mph southerlies by late morning at which time a tip of an occlusion went through bringing some rain for a period. A slight raise in temperatures between 2:30am and 3am suggested a weak front/trough went through which produced nothing in the garden traps.

Brean Down: 2 Wheatear, 10 Siskin, 5 Redpoll, 15 Skylark, 40 Chaffinch, 3 Bullfinch, 5 Pied Wagtail made up the migrant tally. 5 Red Admiral, 1 Migrant Hawker also seen.

Weston STW: Arrivals noted of 10+ Rock Pipit, 100 Lapwing, 6 Golden Plover. A Merlin, Spotted Redshank and a Spoonbill all on the Axe.

Sand Point: 1 Yellowhammer

28th October

2011-10-28T19:12:00.002+01:00

Cold can clear over night with little wind and fog by morning. A rise in temperatures between 3:30am and 5am.

2 RDP 1 in the trap and 1 on a fence at dusk. Also Merveille du Jour and Satellite.

27th October

2011-10-27T11:22:00.002+01:00

Crown copyright published by the Met Office

Worle: 1 Redstart (A.Hockey)

Mothing: Here at Weston last nights trough came through about 11:15pm bringing just a lone RDP on the leading edge. Unfortunately it must have been quite a deep trough as it rained quite a bit afterwards. The Warm front hit about 2:30am by which time I had already given up. Looking at the charts and weather data you can see that it took 2.5 hours for the warm front to reach Weston from where it is at 12am level with the French coast. These timings could be useful when predicting migrant arrivals in the future.

26th October

2011-10-26T09:35:00.002+01:00

A cool start to the morning with temperatures around 8 degrees, mainly clear sky and a cool 8-9 mph SSE wind.

Sand Bay/Point: 2 Swallows flew south early morning but other than this vismig was almost non-existent. 40 Curlew headed down river most of which ended up in Sand Bay. A trickle of Black-headed Gulls down river also. In the bay 110 Curlew and 110 Dunlin.

25th October

2011-10-25T18:04:00.002+01:00

Just 2 Udea ferrugalis in the garden actinics. A cold night with some heavy rain at times and strong winds. The ferrugalis seem to have come in during the last few hours before dawn.

24th October

2011-10-24T16:25:00.005+01:00

Female Eppirita sp.

Another promising night for the moths but only garden traps ran producing singles of Silver Y and Udea ferrugalis. A fresh Satellite was the highlight on last nights trapping.

22nd October

2011-10-23T15:51:00.007+01:00

Gem Mecyna asinalis
Cosmopolitan

Weather: Mainly clear sky over night with a moderate southerly wind.

Brean Down moths: A very interesting night on the down with a few migrant stragglers in until 1:30am. It all went quiet as the temperature dropped until 3am when a weak front came through lifting temperature and then the main arrival of migrants started spiraling down from the sky. 1 Cosmopolitan, 1 Gem, 1 Mecyna asinalis, 15 Udea ferrugalis, 6 Pearly Underwing, 4 Dark Sword-grass, 4 Silver Y. Other highlights some of which are to be confirmed are Dusky-lemon Sallow, Autumnal Moth, Crescent Dart.

Burnham-on-Sea: A Delicate, Udea ferrugalis and 3 Silver Y

22nd October

2011-10-22T12:50:00.005+01:00

Wheatear

Black Redstart

Weather: Sunny and partly cloudy with a 10+mph wind.

Brean Down: A small amount of passage noted. 15 Redpoll, 10 Siskin, 2 Crossbill, 20 Meadow Pipit, 40 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 20 Goldfinch. Also recorded 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Merlin, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 1 Chiffchaff.

Garden moth trap: The recent southerlies extending down towards southern Europe currently but the cold feel doesn't bring much hope for migrants. Friday night hasn't been productive nationally. The garden trap produced singles of Silver Y, Merveille du Jour, Green-brindled Crescent and Oak Nycteoline.

21st October

2011-10-21T09:14:00.002+01:00

Weather: A wind swing to SSW 9mph with 100% cloud cover.

Axe Estuary 8:15 to 8:45. Rather dull passage today:

37 Black-headed Gulls

10 Woodpigeon

2 Siskin

5 Pied Wagtail

145 Starling

7 Goldfinch

1 Reed Bunting

20 Greenfinch

127 Chaffinch

1 Reed Bunting

1 Brambling

1 Yellowhammer

1 Grey Wagtail

20th October

2011-10-20T11:54:00.006+01:00

Weather: Mainly clear sky with 10% high level cloud and a cold WNW 5-6mph wind

Comment: Many birds travelling at height due to the light winds. Yellowhammers recorded at several UK sites today.

Sand Point 8:05 - 8:50:

3 Mistle Thrush

1 Yellowhammer

6 Reed Bunting

265 Chaffinch

72 Greenfinch

2 Siskin

2 Lesser Black-backed Gull

2 Crossbill

9 Skylark

138 Woodpigeon

3 Goldfinch

183 Starling

2 Curlew

7 Redpoll

1 Song Thrush

1 Stock Dove

2 Brambling

1 Redwing

1 Pied Wagtail

1 Linnet

702 birds, 20 species

19th October

2011-10-19T11:14:00.004+01:00

Weather: Clear sky with a cold 8mph north-westerly wind.

Comments: The pulse from the Baltic has largely gone through now leaving British movers and some Baltic stragglers going through. Woodpigeons in central and north-west England are now starting to move.

Sand Point: Vis mig from 7:45am to 8:30am all heading west

695 Chaffinch

565 Starling

5 Redpoll

3 Siskin

4 Meadow Pipit

3 Brambling

12 Goldfinch

29 Greenfinch

8 Woodpigeon

7 Redwing

1 Redshank

2 Great Black-back Gulls

2 Reed Bunting

9 Lesser Black-back Gulls

1 Pied Wagtail

11 Fieldfare

1 Skylark

1358 birds, 17 species

16th October

2011-10-16T12:44:00.004+01:00

Weather: Light southerly winds overnight swinging south-westerly and strengthening throughout the morning. QNH falling and a weakening cold front through early morning bring some low cloud and very light drizzle clearing by mid-morning bring some sunshine.

Sand Point: Per P.Gregory: 07:00-11:00. All passage

due west along the Point:
Chaffinch 1340
Starling 1430
Meadow Pipit 53
Linnet 17
Siskin 21
Greenfinch 7
Crossbill 3
redpoll 4
Goldfinch 26
Brambling 2
Pied Wagtail 2
Reed Bunting 2
Skylark 13
Greylag Goose 2
Grey Heron 1
Golden Plover 25
Shelduck 44 up river at height in small groups
Other stuff around:
Peregrine 1
Wheatear 1
Chiffchaff 3
Little Egret 1
Bar-tailed Godwit 1

Brean Down: 1 Yellowhammer, 100 Siskin, 100 Goldfinch, 60 Chaffinch, 10 Redpoll. An influx of Blackbirds and Robins at the back of the down. There were a lot of Robins around yesterday also.

15th October

2011-10-15T16:48:00.003+01:00

The high pressure on 13th over the UK moving over the north sea and creating and easterly airflow to the southern half of Britain on 14th.

Weather: Light easterly wind with clear sky overnight giving cooler temeratures 0f 8 degrees.

Less overnight passage noted from calling birds than the previous night.

Brean Down: 6 Crossbill, 200 Goldfinch, 1 Swallow, 50 Starling, 20 Linnet, 3 Wheatear, 10 Redpoll, 20 Siskin, 5 Skylark. A bird heard calling at the back of the down before the farm was beleived to be Greenish Warbler but unfortunately never showed itself. On the lepidoptera front 30 Red Admirals, 1 Wall Brown, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Speckled Wood and a Silver Y.

14th October

2011-10-14T10:15:00.006+01:00

Merveille du Jour

Pearly Underwing

Dusky-lemon Sallow

Very faded but ID based on head colour and wing shape.

Weather: A light south-easterly breeze with some high level cloud cover and over night temperatures hovering around 14 degrees.

Brean Down: Little evidence of last nights migrant activity this morning instead a good passage off the Welsh coast was noted. 1 Ring Ouzel, 4 Mistle Thrush, 20 Redwing, 10 Skylark, 25 Redpoll, 60 Siskin, 4 Crossbill, 300 Chaffinch, 150 Linnet, 1,200 Goldfinch, 100 Meadow Pipit, 15 Pied Wagtail, 900 Swallow, 500 House Martin, 2 Song Thrush, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Brambling, 5 Greenfinch.

On the moth front 30 Udea ferrugalis, 7 Silver Y, Dusky-lemon Sallow and 3 Pearly Underwing. 1 Merveille du Jour could also have been a migrant. 2 Red Admirals seen during the morning.

Sand Point: Per A.Hockey: 3 Mistle Thrush, 6 Redwing, c.50 Fieldfare, 5 Swallows, 5 Wheatear inc a possible Greenland, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 8 Skylark, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 5+ Goldcrest + a good number of other birds on the move in/off the sea from the North-west.

13th October

2011-10-13T08:59:00.004+01:00

Crocidosema plebejana

Weather: Westerlies dying out overnight as high pressure moves over the UK bring windless morning with fog. Overnight conditions were mostly windless with thin high level cloud and a full moon. Temperatures hovering around 14 degrees.

Redwings could be heard moving through during the early hours of the morning following influxes in the North-east of England. Spurn reported over 8,000 yesterday.

Lepidoptera: Migrants included 15 Udea ferrugalis, 5 Silver Y, 1 Pearly Underwing and 2 Red Admirals. Also a new moth for me Crocidosema plebejana

8th October

2011-10-08T13:55:00.002+01:00

Still nothing to report on the bird front from Weston. Many birds leaving Norway last night but heading south and reaching speeds of 100km/h as they were picked up on radar ascending at dusk and reaching Holland just after mid-night. Any favourable winds from now for the next few weeks will produce falls on the east coast which will filter through the country.

7th October

2011-10-07T13:54:00.004+01:00

Figure of Eight

Common Tern

Nothing to report on the bird front.

Sand Point moths: Figure of Eight new for year.

5th October

2011-10-05T09:42:00.006+01:00

Bedellia somnulentella all over Weston currently

Sadly nothing to report on the bird front.

Migrant Moths: Vestal in the garden, a Small Marbled at Burnham and Dark Mottled Willow at Taunton.

3rd October

2011-10-03T09:54:00.004+01:00

Vestal

Hellula undalis Old World Webworm from Burnham

Brean Down moths: The last of the southerly winds as a wind change to westerly is due to take place. 3 Vestal, 2 Dark Sword-grass, 1 Pearly Underwing, 1 Scarce Bordered Straw, 15 Rusty Dot Pearl, 5 Silver Y the migrant total. Also Yellow Belle, Flounced Chestnut, November Moth agg, Mallow, Oak Nycteoline.

2nd October

2011-10-02T10:40:00.004+01:00

Delicate

Mallow

Sand Point: 1 Wryneck at Sand Point this morning (P.Gregory)

Brean Down: 1 Delicate, 5 Udea ferrugalis, 2 Silver Y

Weston: Dewick's Plusia D.Agassiz garden

1st Ocotber

2011-10-01T09:30:00.005+01:00

Scarce Bordered Straw

Flounced Chestnut

Pearly Underwing

Brean Down moths: 2 Scarce Bordered Straw, 3 Pearly Underwing, 12 Rusty Dot Pearl, 7 Silver Y made up the migrants. Also Dark Arches, Turnip, Cypress Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, Light Emerald, Brimstone, Frosted Orange, Green-brindled Crescent, L-album Wainscot, Pale Mottled Willow, Square-spot Rustic, Common Wainscot, Large Wainscot, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Engrailed, Beaded Chestnut, Lunar Underwing, Autumnal Rustic, Flounced Chestnut, Mallow, Black Rustic, Barred Sallow, Sallow, Garden Pebble, Acleris rhombana, Angle Shades, Vapourer, Feathered Ranunculus, Blair's Shoulder-knot, Mottled Beauty, Green Carpet, The Brick, Vine's Rustic (39 species).

Garden moth trap: 1 Silver Y, Brindled Green.

29th September

2011-09-29T09:30:00.004+01:00

White-point

Pink-barred Sallow

Barred Sallow

Brean Down: Clear sky with a light southerly breeze. A Redwing south over at 12:30am whilst moth trapping. Moth highlights of the night included White-point amongst the migrants of 3 Silver Y and 2 Udea ferrugalis. A Barred Sallow and Acleris rhombana were the only interesting moths in the garden trap. The Pink-barred Sallow was from D.Agassiz garden on sunday night.

26th September

2011-09-26T09:52:00.002+01:00

Four-spotted Footman

Garden moth trap: Four-spotted Footman (first Weston record since August 1972), Sallow and Dusky Thorn the highlights.

25th September

2011-09-25T08:05:00.011+01:00

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

Frosted Orange

Autumnal Rustic

Weather: Overnight a light southerly wind with some occasional light rain. Temperatures a constant 17 degrees.

Brean Down Moths: 1 Convolvulus Hawk-moth flew in at 1:20am, 12 Silver Y, 4 Udea ferrugalis, 4 Frosted Orange, 3 Green-brindled Crescent, 20 Angle Shades, 2 Light Emerald, Large Ranunculus, The Blackneck, Beaded Chestnut, Autumnal Rustic, Willow Beauty, Yellow-tail, Common Marbled Carpet, Large and Lesser Yellow Underwing, Dark Arches, 5 L-album Wainscot, Large Wainscot, 2 Common Wainscot, Brimstone, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 6 Black Rustic, Lunar Underwing, Snout, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Pale Mottled Willow, Treble-bar, Centre-barred Sallow, Hedge Rustic, Rhomboid Tortrix, Large Fruit-tree Tortrix, Mullein Wave, Turnip. 35 species in total.

24th September

2011-09-24T14:19:00.004+01:00

Clifden Nonpareil

Palpita vitrealis

Slightly overcast with some high level cloud and a light southerly breeze.

Brean Down: Quiet at the down as expected 2 Wheatear, 20 House Martin, 20 Swallow, 10 Siskin, 15 Stonechat. Asmall influx of Red Admirals and dragonflies noted during the morning and a Wall Brown on the wing.

Moth news: A Palpita vitrealis caught by D.Agassiz over night. Sallow, L-album Wainscot, Large Wainscot in my garden trap all new for year. The Clifden Nonpareil was caught at Curry Rivel on 21st Sept.

23rd September

2011-09-23T10:25:00.002+01:00

Rush Veneer

Lunar Underwing

Garden moth trap: Rush Veneer and Lunar Underwing last night both new for the year.

21st September

2011-09-21T19:09:00.003+01:00

Black Rustic

Quiet on the birding front and not much better with the moths although this Black Rustic is the first for the year.

19th September

2011-09-19T11:43:00.002+01:00

Weather: Cloudy with some low level cloud and a moderate north-westerly wind.

Sand Point: Quiet this morning. Most notable was the northerly passage of 200 Swallows, 2 House Martin and a Sand Martin. The northward passage of hirundines has been noted in other parts of the country including Northern England. Why they do this is unknown but my hypothesis can only conclude at this time that the birds are following the paths of the rain that bring milder temperatures and newly emerged insects. Other migrants over the point/middle hope 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Redpoll, 10 Chaffinch, 1 Wheatear.

18th September

2011-09-18T13:14:00.002+01:00

Black Tern

Large and Feathered Ranunculus

Few birds of note on the patch today. The Black Tern still present on the UV pools.

17th September

2011-09-17T06:14:00.007+01:00

Dichrorampha acuminatana

Weather: Cloudy with some overnight rain and a strengthening south-westerly wind.

Thursdays calm dry warm spell was a good for micro moths and on Sand Point many Dichrorampha acuminatana were on the wing with a few Acleris rhombana.

Milton: 1 Tree Pipit south over garden at first light and a Greenshank over just after dark on 15th

Sand Bay/Point: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin, 8 Knot, 4 Sand Martin, 1 Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff

Weston STW: An impressive 10,000 Swallow south-east, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 9 Wigeon and a Black Tern

16th September

2011-09-16T11:28:00.004+01:00

Raven

Weather: Light south easterly wind with patchy high level layered cloud. Forecast - Low pressure from the north-west bringing another change in wind direction and some unsettled weather.

Brean Down: 500 Meadow Pipit (mainly ground with some heading west), 1 Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Chiffchaff, 4 Tree Pipit, 2 Wheatear, 3 Goldcrest 10 Siskin, and a moderate passage of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin off the Welsh coast

15th September

2011-09-15T09:07:00.007+01:00

Juvenile Little Gull - Sand Point 14-9-11

Early afternoon update:

Weather: High pressure building from the south-west bringing clear skies and a light southerly wind. Forecast - As the high moves away a light south-easterly wind for the morning with some cloud.

Brean Down: 9 Raven, 12 Siskin, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Tree Pipit, 10 Chiffchaff, 7 Wheatear, 1+ Willow Warbler, 20 Meadow Pipit, 200 Goldfinch

Also on Brean Down per A.Hockey: 20 Wheatear, 100+ Meadow Pipit, Garden Warbler, steady passage of Swallow including some Sand Martin. A Ring Ouzel also seen at Brean village.

Weston STW: The Grey Phalarope still present on UV pools and a Silver Y found.

Garden moth trap: 1 Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis

14th September

2011-09-14T09:13:00.004+01:00

Grey Phalarope

Axe Estuary: 1 Barwit and 2 Knot

Weston STW: 1 Grey Phalarope and a Black Tern which flew off high west at 8:40.

Sand Point: 1 juvenile Little Gull showing well at the point this evening

Big Swallow movement this morning over Weston Sewage Works. A sample estimate made it about 1,200 and hour. My guess is that these are British breeders that have filtered down the west side of the country, around the Welsh coast to Lavernock Point, Wales where they hop over to Flat Holm island and then over to Brean Down where they continue south-east. This happens every year in head or tail wind conditions and for several weeks finally tailing off to just one's and two's in late October.

13th September

2011-09-13T06:45:00.007+01:00

Yesterdays Black Tern

Grey Phalarope record shot at 300 metres.

Evening update:

Brean Down: 6+ Manx Shearwater lingering distantly off the fort, 1 Fulmar, 1 Gannet and many Swallows on the move. 3 Harbour Porpoise in the rough water off the end.

Uphill: 1 Grey Phalarope at the Axe Estuary scoped from the back end of Brean Down on Uphill beach tideline. Also a Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull with leg irons and an Arctic Tern on the beach with the BHG's

Anchor Head per B.Blake: 4 Manx Shearwater, 1 Fulmar and a close Grey Phalarope all down plus a constant stream of swallows heading down.

19,000 Meadow Pipits south over Spurn today.

Hurricane Katia - Full of hot air

2011-09-12T13:57:00.003+01:00

Arctic Skua

Gannet

Evening update:

Sand Point: A disappointing morning at the point with just 1 Arctic Skua that spent 45mins on a the sea before heading north, 1 Grey Phalarope south close in around the point which was only picked up because it called, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Fulmar, 2 Gannet one of which hung around the point for about 10mins. Other birds moving through were 10 House Martin west, 60 Swallow south, 30 Curlew south, 40 Herring Gull north, 10 Lesser Black-backed Gulls north.

Uphill beach: 3 Arctic Tern

Weston STW: 1 Black Tern

10th September

2011-09-10T08:30:00.003+01:00

Sabine's Gull

The Sabine's Gull still present in Sand bay plus 50 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Knot, 10 Sanderling. (P.Gregory)

Brean Down: 400 House Martin, 1 Tree Pipit

Weston STW: 1 Green Sandpiper and an Arctic Tern

Moth trap: silver Y, 3 Feathered Ranunculus, 1 Bordered beauty

9th September

2011-09-09T11:08:00.003+01:00

Sabine's Gull

Sand Bay: The juvenile Sabine's Gull still present this morning about 100 metres south of the marsh on the mud by the seaweed tide line by a grey barrel.

8th September

2011-09-08T19:39:00.003+01:00

Grey Phalarope

Axe Estuary: 1 Sandwich Tern briefly before being flushed by a trio of fat slags.

Sand Bay: 1 Sabine's Gull on the beach giving excellent views this evening but unfortunately no sign after initial sighting. (N.Workman)

Weston STW: 1 juv Grey Phalarope on UV pools this evening

7th September

2011-09-07T12:59:00.004+01:00

Arctic Tern

Cormorant

Sand Point: 7 Manx Shearwater, 5 Fulmar, 16 Arctic Tern, 2 Common Tern, 1 Little Gull and 8 Dunlin past the point.

Yesterday off Anchor Head per P.Gregory 15:45-17:30 44 Manx Shearwater, 5 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 1 Shag, 1 Great Skua.

6th September

2011-09-06T12:43:00.002+01:00

An overcast morning with the odd brief shower and 17mph SW wind. 20 Sanderling on Brean beach and a 1st winter Yellow-legged Gull flew south along the tideline. At the Axe Estuary 1 Knot, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 55 Ringed Plover and an adult winter Med Gull.

5th September

2011-09-05T12:53:00.002+01:00

Curlew Sandpiper

3 Curlew Sandpipers at the Axe Estuary this morning and 10 Knot in Sand Bay.

4th September

2011-09-04T12:30:00.002+01:00

Spotted Flycatcher

Six-striped Rustic

Common Fleabane

Brean Down: Overcast with a light to moderate NW wind. Heavy overnight rain in the early hours may have had an affect on the bird count today whether it downed them or raised the overnight temperatures causing many insects to hatch as plenty of hirundines were feeding throughout the morning. Totals: 43 Wheatear scattered along the whole of the down, 150 House Martin feeding over the down, 80 Swallow moving west, 1 Willow Warbler singing occasionally, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Stonechat, 10 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap.

3rd September

2011-09-03T16:19:00.005+01:00

Oblique Striped

Apodia bifractella

Hedge Rustic

Brean Down: Warm morning with moderate SSW wind and 100% cloud cover. Quiet on the down 1 Redstart, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and a Parrot sp high north.

At Berrow 3 new moths for me Hedge Rustic, Oblique Striped and Apodia bifractella.

2nd September

2011-09-02T09:11:00.003+01:00

2nd day of Autumn. Brean Down: Light SSW wind with clear overnight sky. Quiet on the down by 8:40am 3 Tree Pipit, 15 Meadow Pipit south, 5 Wheatear, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Crossbill heard at the fort, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a light scattering of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat

30th August

2011-08-30T11:47:00.002+01:00

Sand Bay/Point: Small numbers of Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Sanderling on the beach. 25 Blackcap, 20 Chiffchaff, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Tree Pipit 4 Wheatear and 150 hirundines.

29th August

2011-08-29T19:12:00.003+01:00

Sanderling

5 Sanderling and a Turnstone amongst the Dunlin and Ringed Plover in Sand Bay this evening.

28th August

2011-08-28T11:02:00.004+01:00

Phyllonorycter nicellii leaf mine on Hazel

Very quiet around Weston at the moment. A few waders have been on the move making landfall along the east coasts and filtering through the country but with no suitable freshwater sites on the patch it's going to be grim. Waders counted along the coast included 400 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Sanderling on the Axe and a Bar-tailed Godwit in Sand Bay. Small numbers of Dunlin recorded flying west out of Woodspring Bay and Sand Bay suggesting these birds could well have been overland passage migrants.

A new moth discovered in Weston. This vacated leaf mine of Phyllonorycter nicellii was found in Weston Woods yesterday morning.

25th August

2011-08-25T15:02:00.002+01:00

Stigmella perpygmaeella on Hawthorn

Stigmella microtheriella on Hazel

Some leaf mines discovered whilst walking the dog.

24th August

2011-08-24T12:42:00.004+01:00

Parornix anglicella on Hawthorn a bonus NFG

Phyllonorycter quercifoliella

Acleris rhombana

Weston moths 22nd August: I ran a trap in several locations on 22nd with varied results. Highlights below

Weston Woods:

Clouded Magpie 2

Phyllonorycter quercifoliella 1

Sand Point:

Mocha 1

Acleris rhombana 10

Galium Carpet 1

Sand Bay:

Nutmeg 1

Archer's Dart 50

Tawny-speckled Pug 1

Burnished Brass 1

Magpie 1

Coleophora sp

Canary-shouldered Thorn

23rd August

2011-08-23T21:33:00.003+01:00

Eudemis profundana

Sand Bay/Point: 10 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Whimbrel

22nd August

2011-08-22T16:31:00.004+01:00

Eucalybites auroguttella a feeder on St John's Wort

Garden moth trap: Udea ferrugalis new for the year and the first migrant for some time. Low pressure has been building in the Bay of Biscay and currently over France where it's due to reach us tonight. With it a warm front will bring rain and perhaps some interesting birds and/or moths. Fingers crossed.

A good night for micros

2011-08-20T20:34:00.003+01:00

Epinotia ramella

Epinotia nisella

Cochylidia rupicola

Good conditions saw in increase of moths in particular some nice micros.

18th August

2011-08-18T09:05:00.004+01:00

Scalloped Hook-tip

A fall of hirundines this evening due to the prolonged spell of rain with 100 over Weston including 30 Swift and 100 over Sand Point. The latter site also hosted a Wheatear and a Whimbrel.

Sand Point 14th August: 1 Great Skua (B.Britton)

Weston STW: There are a number of potential new moths for Weston at the sewage works in particular the spread of a number of Wainscots from the Berrow area so I tried for an hour last night whilst the temperatures were still warm enough. A single MV ran bringing in a small flurry for 20 minutes it soon died down. Oak Eggar and Poplar Hawk-moth were nice to see making up the best of a poor catch and then flew in a Scalloped Hook-tip. This moth is common nationally but largely restricted to Somerset locally. There is a report of one at Brean Down in 2000 but the validity of this record is uncertain.

17th August - Weston Moth List

2011-08-17T15:18:00.006+01:00

Weston moth list since the beginning of time now online: Weston Moth List I make it 834 species. Too far off to reach 1,000 in my life time or is it?

Sand Bay/Point: 5 Yellow Wagtail, 26 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin and a Turnstone on this mornings high tide.

Worle Hill moths: 3 Annulet, 1 Bordered Pug the highlights.

Coleophora saxicolella

2011-08-16T12:32:00.005+01:00

Coleophora saxicolella

Coleophora saxicolella female genitalia plate

Another Coleophora saxicolella caught on 5th August. The larval foodplant is Orache and Goosefoot which could be present at Weston airfield where I caught last years saxicolella.

13th August

2011-08-13T18:49:00.004+01:00

Vapourer larva on rubus

Coleophora probably either glaucicolella or alticolella

Gynnidomorpha vectisana

Eucosma tripoliana

Mothing at Sand Bay yesterday evening in the marsh produced a few Saltmarsh specialities featured above. The larva although distinctive doesn't seem to fit anything in my book. It was found last weekend feeding on rubus.

10th August

2011-08-10T17:09:00.003+01:00

Presumed Stigmella alnetella or glutinosae mine on Alder

Weston STW: 4 Common Swift and a Greenshank (A.Hockey)

Sand Bay: Vacated larval mines found this morning on Alder look to be either Stigmella alnetella or glutinosae

8th August

2011-08-08T15:38:00.004+01:00

Autumn Ladies Tresses

Middle Hope: 1 Wheatear and 6 Raven (A.Hockey)

Bit quiet on the moth and birding front currently but this Autumn Ladies Tresses was one of many at Sand Point yesterday, one of the last Orchids of the year to flower.

6th August

2011-08-06T17:43:00.003+01:00

Bordered Pug

Brean Down: 10 Sand Martin and a handful of Swallows south.

Garden moth trap: Another new garden tick, this time a Bordered Pug. A Swallow Prominent was also trapped overnight.

5th August

2011-08-05T19:43:00.003+01:00

Welcome garden addition of Antler Moth

Small Ranunculus larva

Garden moth trap: Overnight winds consistently WSW all night so it was a surprise to get an influx of moths from the Mendips. The give away clue was a very welcome garden tick of Antler Moth and Slender Brindle. It may be possible that the previous nights rain had caused a dispersal so it will be worth checking conditions leading up to future dispersals. This is the third such event to happen this year. Also of note 7 Silver Y in the trap, the single highest overnight count of the year so far.

4th August

2011-08-04T17:18:00.003+01:00

Merrifielda leucodactyla

Udea lutealis

Garden moth trap: Prolonged periods of rain overnight. 5 Silver Y, my 9th Small Ranunculus and 2nd Archer's Dart of the year were the highlights. The coleophora on 2nd August posting was determined as C.lineolea.

Mendip Mothing

2011-08-03T12:26:00.004+01:00

Narrow-winged Pug

True Lover's Knot

Schreckensteinia festaliella

Zeiraphera ratzeburgiana

Grass Emerald

Another good night on the Mendips. A dozen new species for me including: Grass Emerald, Dotted Clay, True Lover's Knot, Satin Beauty, Narrow-winged Pug, Udea lutealis, Zeriaphera ratzeburgiana, Mompha raschkiella, Schreckensteinia festaliella, Merrifieldia leucodactyla. Other highlights included 3 Antler Moth, Larch Pug, and Fox Moth larvae.

2nd August

2011-08-02T14:06:00.008+01:00

Oxyptilus laetus

Svensson's Copper Underwing

Coleophora lineolea

Garden moth trap: Svensson's Copper Underwing, Red Underwing, Oxyptilus laetus, Coleophora lineolea,

1st August

2011-08-01T19:07:00.004+01:00

Atlas Moth the largest moth in the World

Dioryctria abietella

Garden moth trap: 3 NFG's last night Dioryctria abietella, Dog's Tooth and Rosy Minor.

31th July

2011-07-31T20:05:00.003+01:00

Archer's Dart

Garden moth trap: Highlights were Archer's Dart and Bulrush Wainscot.