A Windy August which hampered mothing but did bring some nice bits in. The first half of the month brought in new birds and new moths. I found this huge beetle near the moth trap one night, I had seen one the year before but this time round I was able to get a closer look and some photographs. It is a Great Silver Water Beetle, not the sort of thing you'd expect near a moth trap but they do inhabit coastlines along here and get attracted to the light. When it flew off it was like a mini drone taking to the air, you can see the size next to my little finger.
Around the garden or in our neighbours and overhead I saw a few species of dragonfly, Southern,/Migrant Hawkers, Brown Hawker and Common Darters. This male Common Darter was seen with a female on the lawn and looked like it was laying eggs?
These next two moths were both new additions to my garden moth list, the Canary Shouldered Thorn and Twin Spotted Wainscot. The Canary Shouldered Thorn is a favourite with its bright yellow almost furry body.
Once again I was lucky to see a few Pied Flycatchers as they moved through on their way south, such a lovely little bird and one I won't tire of seeing every year hopefully.
The second half of the month saw a movement of birds moving through but also strong windy conditions which gave way to some sea watching. There were groups of wildfowl and waders being blown through the choppy seas with sightings of Skuas and the odd shearwater too. I was able to see a group of 3 Black-tailed Godwits which were new for the patch list, in this photo we have the other Godwit, the Bar-tailed. The Black tailed has a white rump, whereas on these birds the white extends up the back.
This group of Sandwich Terns were resting up on the beach one morning, normally actively feeding as they pass along here.
Smaller birds passing through over land were not matching the numbers of birds passing out to sea but I still managed to see a few nice ones, this Lesser Whitethroat was my only sighting of one this year.
Wheatear had also been a no show bird in the spring just like the Lesser Whitethroat, so a couple of birds in front of me on the cliff one morning was a welcome sight even if it was for the briefest moment.
A young bird and adult Blackcap were a nice sight as they moved and fed in the bramble.
As the summer draws on I now check for the large Convolvulus Hawkmoth, watching the Nicotina plants every time I ventured out in the garden in the hope one was feeding on this favourite flower of theirs, and approaching the end of the month I got one, but this time not on the plants but resting up next to the moth trap.
