Weston and Brean bird and moth records for 2010 by Paul Bowyer unless otherwise stated.

Chart of collated data for migration in October

A list of locations of suitable berry trees for Waxwings:
Appsley Close
Tesco car park in Weston town centre
Florence Grove
Oldmixon Crescent
MacDonalds at junction of Winterstoke Rd/Herluin Way
Bridge Road
Fallowfield
Savernake Road
Locking Road by Chelswood Avenue
Ebdon Rd by Crematorium
The Scaurs (by car park behind library)
Broadway (Tesco Express)
Cornwallis Avenue

30th December

Brean Down: A duck fest off the down this morning: 1,000+ Teal, 180 Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 100 Mallard and a best of all a drake Goldeneye. Vismig over the down involved 20 Skylark and a couple of Linnets. Thrushes on the down slightly lower than previous days. A Chiffchaff was calling briefly by the car park.

29th December

Garden moth trap: 2 Winter Moth. Axe Estuary: 360 Teal and 4 Blk-t Godwit.

28th December

Brean Down: Most of the snow and ice now gone thanks to rising temperatures to 8 degrees and overnight rain. Little expectations on this foggy morning but turned out rather interesting with another Brean tick, a Little Grebe in Brean Down Cove. On the other side of the down an impressive flock of 1,500 Teal. The flock didn't appear related to the birds on the Axe Estuary.

27th December

A thaw today with overnight temperatures rising to 2 degrees. Brean Down and Weston STW failed to produce anything of interest this morning. The Lapland Bunting at the latter site appears to have gone. 38 Waxwings in trees by McDonalds on the junction of Winterstoke Road and Herluin Way early morning. This site held 10 birds yesterday. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find any berry laden trees to hold the birds until January 1st. A Blackcap singing in Charter Road this morning.

26th December

Brean Down: -8 degrees and clear skies. 1 Redhead Smew with a Goldeneye in Brean Down cove plus 5 Goosander (2 drakes). A Waxwing flew over the fort calling eventually flying out to sea towards Flat Holm.

Weston: 1 Waxwing Cappell Close and 10 Waxwings at the juncton of Winterstoke Road and Herluin Way by MacDonalds.

Smew Mergellus albellus Brean Down 26th December 2010

25th December

30 Waxwing south over Charter Road

24th December

Weston: c.40 Waxwings feeding on a Rowan in a front garden on Florence Grove this morning. The Waxwing influx has co-incided with the arrival of many Redwings that are stripping the berry trees at a fast rate.

24th December

Weston town: 91 Waxwing feeding on a Rowan in Florence Grove.

23rd December

Weston STW: 1 Lapland Bunting associating with a flock of c.120 Skylark

Oldmixon Crescent: Still 3 Waxwing present along with an increased number of Redwings

Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Weston STW 23rd December 2010

22nd December

Waxwings: 17 Oldmixon Crescent and Per P.Gay: 3 by the Mercedes Garage along Bridge Road.

21st December

Oldmixon Crescent: 37 Waxwings at the south end of Bridgwater Court.

19th December

22-23 Waxwing on Savernake Road.

Sand Bay: 1 Brambling north

14th December

4 Waxwings on the Queensway commuting to a Rowan on Savernake Road

13th December

60 Waxwings: 31 on the Queensway feeding on Fallowfied and 29 at The Scaurs.

Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Queensway, WSM 13th December

Waxwings Bombycilla garrulus Queensway, WSM 13th December

12th December

Brean Down: 1 Snow Bunting over calling, male Black Redstart, 10 Skylark, 3 Stonechat,

Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros Brean Down 12th December

Per P.Gregory: 5 Waxwings at the bottom of Hollow Lane by the Nut Tree Pub.

11th December

Weston Woods moth trap: 10 December Moth, 3 Feathered Thorn, 2 Winter Moth

Garden moth trap: 1 Cypress Carpet, 1 Red-line Quaker, 1 Light Brown Apple Moth, 1 Winter Moth.

 

10th December

1 Waxwing over my house calling.

9th December

Weston woods moths: 1 Scarce Umber, 1 Mottled Umber, 3 Winter Moth.

Scarce Umber Weston Woods 9th December

5th December

Brean Down: 9 Goosander NW over the back of down mid morning. Per J.Packer 2 Black Redstart and a Woodcock.

4th December

25th November

Weston STW: All per A.Clark: 1 Bearded Tit on UV pools and the Goldeneye still at uphill boating lake.

24th November

Anchor Head: 7 Purple Sandpiper (A.Clark)

Sand Point: Merlin (A.Gibbs)

Weston woods moths: 1 Winter Moth

Weston STW: Bittern near R.Axe flew towards STW (Berrow Birds).

22nd November

Weston STW: 1 Siberian Chiffchaff very elusive calling occasionally and showed very briefly.

20th November

Brean Down: Cloudy with a strong NE wind feeling cold. 1M and 2F Common Scoter at the Fort until 9:15 when they flew SE. Also a Blackcap by the reservoir and a small influx of Blackbird noted

19th November

Sand Point: All per N.Workman: 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Dartford Warbler

Garden moth trap: 1 Feathered Thorn

15th November

Brean Down: sunny with virtually no wind. A Yellowhammer in/off the sea was the highlight of the morning. Other vismig 25 skylark, 1 redpoll, 1 siskin. A male Blackcap was a surprise find near fiddlers point as there are very few birds on the down now until early spring.

14th November

1 male Hen Harrier past Anchor Head (A.Clark)

13th November

Brean Down: Partly cloudy with a 11mph WSW wind. The day after the big blow was an opportunity to watch birds making their way out the channel. Sea watching started off at 8:20 and was quiet with just 4 cormorant, 20 Herring Gulls and a Common Gull through. At 9am it all changed when suddenly a group of 22 Pomarine Skuas with a small skua sp flew north. Gull numbers picked up totalling 170 Herring, 30 Common 30 Black-headed Gull and 10 LBBG. A single Gannet flew west. Other vismig included 30 chaffinch, 15 Greenfinch, 10 Goldfinch, 400 Starling, 100 Woodpigeon.

Uphill: Goldeneye on boating lake (A.Clark)

Garden moth trap: Silver Y, Cypress Carpet, Emmelina monodactyla, Light Brown Apple Moth, Tachystola acroxantha, Blair's Shoulder-knot.

12th November

Brean Down: Strong WSW wind dying down throughout the morning. 1 Great Northern Diver flying very fast upriver just after 9am about 30M above the sea. 1 Great Skua down river around 8:30 and 5 Kittiwakes. A Turnstone on the Axe Estuary and a Little Owl by the reservoir.

11th November

Strong SSW wind changing to SW by mid morning with intermittent showers. Anchor Head between 11:00 and 13:00 12 Common Scoter up channel in a single flock, 4 Kittiwake (1up, 3 down), 12 Dunlin down channel (5 and 7), 20 LBBG up channel, 2 Common Gull up channel, 2 Shelduck up channel.

Garden moth trap: Silver Y

9th November

Weston STW: 100% cloud cover with rain and a strong NE wind. 5 Greylag over Brean sluice towards the Axe Estuary (per S.Hale). Also 2 female Goldeneye on the UV pools.

7th November

Brean Down: A wind swing from yesterdays light westerly to a moderate northerly bringing a temperature drop. Partly cloudy with some light rain early morning only. 700 Woodpigeon throughout the morning. Some coming in/off the sea and descending rapidly when reaching the fort. The sound of the wings cutting through the air as they descended was fantastic. 1 Firecrest with the accelerating call/song at the back of Brean Down Farm. Other vismig besides the pigs included 1 Swallow, 7 Brambling, 4 Redwing, 300 Starling, 100 Chaffinch, 20 Skylark, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Siskin, 2 Stock Dove and a juv Kittiwake flying upriver about a mile out from the fort.

6th November

Brean Down: Very little vismig this morning. 20 Skylark and 20 Chaffinch west over the down. A Dartford Warbler present along the bottom footpath roughly north of the trig point.

31st October

Brean Down 31st October: All per C.Constance: 7-10am today. 405 Starling, 780 Woodpigeon, 884 Chaffinch, 21 Brambling, 36 Linnet, 11 Siskin, 10 Goldfinch, 1 Reed Bunting, 7 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Skylark,1 Pied Wagtail.Weather light drizzle and low cloud cover brisk E-SE wind.All birds heading east coming in from Wales. Also 1 male Firecrest

28th October

Brean Down: Per C.Constance 8-10am: 1400 starling, 536 chaffinch, 12 brambling, 130 meadow pipit, 2 rock pipit, 12 siskin, 30 linnet, 30 goldfinch, 20 greenfinch, 2 pied wagtail, 1 skylark, 5 redpoll. All heading NW.

Garden moth trap: Large Wainscot

27th October

Brean Down. All per C.Constance 8-11am heading NW: 1,500 starling, 490 chaffinch, 11 brambling, 210 meadow pipit, 1 rock pipit, 14 siskin, 122 linnet, 1 redwing, 1 common buzzard, 20 goldfinch, 5 greenfinch, 1 pied wagtail, 1 reed bunting, 24 skylark, 2 redpoll.

Garden moth trap: 2 cypress carpet, 1 large yellow underwing, 1 lesser yellow underwing, 1 setaceous hebrew character, 1 common marbled carpet, Blair's Shoulder-knot

Weston woods moths: acleris ferrugana/notana, 7 feathered thorn, 7 november moth, 1 yellow-line quaker, 2 Green-brindled Crescent

24th October

Brean Down: Sunny cloudless day with a light to moderate NNW wind. 2 Firecrest (pos 3), 7 Brambling, 25 Reed Bunting, 5 Pied Wagtail, 35 Goldfinch, 15 Greenfinch, 1 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, 20 Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff, 250 Chaffinch, 100 Starling, 5 Redpoll, 10 Siskin, 3 Woodpigeon, 30 Meadow Pipit, 2 Wheatear, 20 Linnet, 1 House Martin.

Steep Holm: Great Grey Shrike reported on Birdguides.

Sand Point: Per A.Hockey Merlin, pale Common Buzzard and Chiffchaff

Garden moth trap: 1 Merveille du Jour, 1 Feathered Ranunculus.

23rd October

Brean Down: Moderate SSW wind and heavy rain/hail. Before rain stopped play: 500 Lapwing over fields to the south of the down. 100 chaffinch west, 25 meadow pipit west.

Garden moth trap: red-line quaker, pale mottled willow, blair's shoulder-knot, tachystola acroxantha, light brown apple moth, common marbled carpet, feathered ranunculus

22nd October

Sand Point/Middle Hope: Cloudy with a light SSW wind. Migrants here included: 175 chaffinch, 550 starling, 4 chiffchaff, 5 song thrush, 3 skylark, 5 greenfinch, 30 woodpigeon, 5 brambling, 3 siskin, 1 juv swallow, 3 pied wagtail, 1 stock dove, 1 merlin, 2 rock pipit, 1 reed bunting, 6 coal tit, 25 goldfinch, 1 mistle thrush, 1 redpoll, 150 fieldfare and a redwing. A liitle owl was heard at the priory

21st October

Brean Down: All per R.MusgrovePomarine Skua1 dark phase down channel, 1 Firecrest by farm, 36 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 1 Mistle Thrush, 4 juv Swallow, 4 Brambling, 7 Siskin, 225 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch, 140 Starling, 1 GS Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail and a Golden Plover.

Sand Bay/Point: 500 Chaffinch, 350 Starling, 23 Fieldfare, 25 Skylark, 1 Wheatear at the point. 18 Dunlin in the bay whilst at Banwell Estuary 1 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit present.

Weston STW: 30 Pochard and 10 Gadwall on UV pools.

20th October

Not much around the local patch this morning. I was pleased to get this Whooper Swan roosting on the sand bars on the Parrett Estuary

18th October

Brean Down: A wind swing to WSW this morning. Vis mig: 8 Brambling, 4 Reed Bunting, 150 Chaffinch, 2,200 Starling, 25 Greenfinch, 10 Meadow Pipit with around 50 grounded, 10 Linnet, 40 Woodpigeon, 1 Swallow, 9 Siskin, 5 Pied Wagtail, 11 Skylark, 1 Wheatear, 1 Merlin around the fort, 1 GS Woodpecker attacked by 2 Peregrines as it came in high off the sea, 1 Redpoll, 1 Mistle Thrush.

Garden moth trap: 2 Angle Shades and a Yellow-line Quaker (new for garden).

17th October

Brean Down: Clear sky and a light NE wind. 2,600 Starling mostly in 2 flocks of 1,500 and 1,000, 55 Chaffinch, 4 Brambling, 6 song thrush, 8 pied wagtail, 10 siskin, 7 greenfinch, 1 redpoll, 45 meadow pipit, 30 skylark, 1woodlark(c.constance), 6 reed bunting, 14 goldfinch, 7 woodpigeon, 12 linnet, 30 golden plover, 1 coal tit, 2 curlew, 2 mistle thrush, 1 yellowhammer, 1 g.s.woodpecker in/off the sea and landed on the rocks at the fort, 20 swallow,. Grounded: 1firecrest, 1dartford warbler, 1 wheatear.
Also, per C.Constance: 40+ Swallow,4 Lesser Redpoll,16 Greenfinch,41 Skylark,1 White Wagtail, 3 Pied Wagtail,1 Grey Wagtail all flying in off sea.Also 1 female Blackcap,6 Goldcrest and 1 Firecrest showing well on the bottom track.

16th October

Brean Down: bright and sunny with a moderate northerly wind. 677 birds from 14 species. 175 chaffinch, 25 siskin, 200 starling, 30 greenfinch, 30 goldfinch, 12 skylark, 4 pied wagtail, 80 meadow pipit, 45 linnet, 50 swallow, 4 reed bunting, 2 Twite flew NW at 8:50 and then flew back towards the Axe Estuary, 1 grey wagtail, 19 cormorant south in 2 groups consisting mainly of immatures. Lots of colletes hedera around ivy this morning.
Twite sightings in the last 10 years for Weston: 1 south over Uphill 14th October 2007, 2 at Brean 29th October 2002.

Sand Point: Firecrest per P.Gregory

Weston STW: The 1st winter drake Scaup still present plus 2 drake Ring-necked Duck x Tufted Duck hybrids that have been present for about a week.

Garden moth trap: Silver Y, 2 Large Wainscot and Beaded Chestnut.

Weston woods moths: Green-brindled Crescent, Feathered Thorn, Brick, Red-line Quaker, Grey Shoulder-knot, 2 very late Copper Underwing and 3 November Moth confirmed by dissection.

15th October

Sand Point: Overcast with a slightly stronger northerly wind than yesterday. Again the numbers going through overhead on the decrease. 4 Swallow through, 4 Chiffchaff present and a female Pintail at the point. Elsewhere a small influx generally around Weston was noted of Blackbirds, Goldcrests and Coal Tits.

Garden moth trap: An upturn in moth numbers. Green-brindled Crescent gave me my 106th lifer of the year. Red-green Carpet and Large Wainscot were garden year ticks bring the macro garden total to 192 for the year.

14th October

13th October

Brean Down: 100% mid-level cloud and a light NE wind. Again much quieter this morning with birds going through on a much broader front, further complicated by migration height ranging from ground level to very high, being heard only. Count ended early at 8:30 compared to the previous two days at 9am when there was a lull. Count today involved 616 birds of 12 species: 82 Chaffinch, 79 Linnet, 192 Meadow Pipit, 66 Siskin, 41 Goldfinch, 5 Pied Wagtail, 5 Reed Bunting, 122 Starling, 1 Redpoll, 4 Skylark, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Swallow. Also recorded 3 Wheatear, 1 male Black Redstart around the car park, 1 Jack Snipe at the Axe Estuary. A rattle was heard several times from a Snow Bunting/Lapland Bunting which appeared to be coming from a grounded bird but I couldn't pin it down

12th October

Brean Down: Partly cloudy and NE wind this morning not as strong as yesterday. Vismig again down with 3,454 birds involving 21 species:
442 Meadow Pipit, 361 Chaffinch, 17 Pied Wagtail, 1660 Starling, 76 Skylark, 1 Curlew, 3 Redwing, 6 Brambling, 3Lapland Bunting, 45 Greenfinch, 81 Siskin, 147 Linnet, 3 Mistle Thrush, 106 Goldfinch, 1 Ring Ouzel, 53 House Martin, 9 Song Thrush, 1-2 Coal Tit, 2 Reed Bunting, 436 Swallow, 1 Stock Dove. Also 4 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap.

Garden moth trap: 1 Lunar Underwing, 1 Beaded Chestnut

11th October

Brean Down: Strong NE wind with only partial cloud cover today. Visibility up on previous 2 days over 4 miles. Today main movements appearing from the west having apparently come in/off the sea from Wales involving 7,540 birds of 19 species. Also a good movement north from Berrow: 615 Chaffinch, 5 Brambling, 4 Redwing, 3 Song Thrush, 682 Meadow Pipit, 211 Linnet, 5160 Starling, 20 Pied Wagtail, 40 Greenfinch, 68 Goldfinch, 80 Black-headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 49 Siskin, 51 House Martin, 248 Swallow, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Curlew, 8 Skylark, 1 Lapland Bunting, 1 Ring Ouzel, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Woodcock flushed by the trig point, 1 Hobby at the fort, 1 Wheatear. Also, a good passage of Red Admirals heading east.

Weston STW: Scaup still present.

10th October

Brean Down: Strong ENE wind and 100% cloud with visibilty around 400yards. Good vis mig this morning involving 9,317 birds of 22 species between 7:30am and 11:30am: 36 Pied Wagtail, 8,500 Starling, 3 Redwing, 164 Mipit, 405 Chaffinch, 3 Common Gull, 60 Black-headed Gull, 30 Oystercatcher which included a Barwit, 37 Siskin, 2 Ring Ouzel, 8 Song Thrush, 9 Linnet, 1 Brent Goose later attacked by a Peregrine, 27 Skylark, 6 Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Greenfinch, 2 Crossbill, 6 Swallow with the first not appearing until 11:15
Per Craig Constance: Brean Down today 10am-1pm. spp included 1Woodlarkseen in flight calling along with 2 Skylark for good comparison,1 ad male Ring Ouzel near steps, 24 Siskin, 8 Linnet,1 30+ Skylark,1 Brambling,6 Swallow,6 Pied Wagtail,3 Mistle Thrush,2 Song Thrush,4 Goldcrest,1 Stonechat 3 Raven and a steady passage of Meadow Pipit and Chaffinch flying east/south east along the Down.throughout our walk.

Garden moth trap: 1 Sallow

9th October

8th October

Brean Down: Light easterly wind, partly cloudy with some fog. Last nights big departure in the Netherlands had little effect on Brean although the Song Thrushes and Mistle Thrush may have been a result of this movement. Vismig: 7 Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 40 Siskin, 30 Chaffinch, 20 Reed Buntings, 150 Meadow Pipit, 50 Goldfinch, 20 Pied Wagtail, 20 Swallow, 1 Redpoll. 4 Wheatear and 4 Chiffchaff on the deck.

Garden moth trap: Caloptilia rufipennella

7th October

6th October

Axe Estuary: 460 Redshank, 3 Knot, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit

5th October

Middle Hope: Cloudy with a moderate SSW wind. 60 Dunlin upchannel. All heading west: 140 Starling, 50 Chaffinch, 10 Greenfinch, 15 Pied Wagtail , 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Curlew, 2 Skylark, 2 Redpoll and a Sand Martin heading south.

Weston STW: The Greater Scaup still present on the UV pools (3rd day).

4th October

Brean Down: Partly cloudy with a light northerly wind. A small amount of vismig with the best being a Tree Pipit, 2 Redpoll and 8 Siskin. Otherwise just a few Chiffchaffs and 2 Wheatear.

Weston woods moths: Trapping between 7:30pm and 10:30pm 1 Beaded Chestnut, Copper Underwing sp, Brindled Green.

3rd October

Weston STW: Heavy rain this morning. A Greater Scaup on the UV pools was the only bird of note today.

Greater Scaup Aythya marila Weston STW 2nd October 2010

2nd October

Brean Down: Light to moderate southerly wind with some high cloud. Most vismig over the east end of the down. 1 Crossbill, 1 Redpoll, 6 Chaffinch, 2 Starling, 100 House Martin, 110 Swallow, 30 Meadow Pipit, 4 Skylark, 15 Siskin, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 10 Pied Wagtail, 10 Linnet.

Weston STW/Axe: 4 Grey Heron north, 20 Lapwing, 300 Swallow south, 2 Sand Martin south, 10 House Martin south.

Axe Estuary: 20 Wigeon, 100+ Teal, Bar-tailed Godwit

Sand Bay: 3 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit

garden moth trap: 2 Sallow, Beaded Chestnut.

29th September

Axe Estuary: 1 Grey Plover, 1 Knot.

Garden moth trap: 1 Silver Y, 3 Large Ranunculus, 5 Blair's Shoulder Knot, Carcina quercana

28th September

Sand Bay/Point: 100 Dunlin, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit. Vis mig included 10 Skylark, 60 Meadow Pipit, 150 House Martin, 200 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 5 Reed Bunting, 10 Chaffinch, 80 Goldfinch, 1 Snipe, 1 Siskin

27th September

Brean Down: An impressive 3,500 House Martins on the wires by Brean Down Farm. Otherwise it was a quiet morning for the down.

Garden moth trap:L-album Wainscot, Blair's Shoulder-Knot (year tick)

26th September

A stray off patch to Brue/Parrett Est: 70 Knot, 700 Redshank, 20 Turnstone, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 7 Wheatear and a Little Stint

Little Stint Calidris minuta Parrett Estuary 29th September 2010

25th September

Sand Point/Sand Bay: 1 Hobby, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew Sandpiper. Also per P.Gregory 3 Siskin, 1 Redpoll and 2 Wheatear.

Per S.Hale: Weston STW: 4 Little Grebe, 8 Gadwall, 82 Mallard, 3 Shoveler and a Cetti's Warbler. Bleadon Level fields: 42 Mute Swan, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Snipe, 26 Skylark, 10 Meadow Pipit, 2 Wheatear and 3 Reed Buntings.

24th September

Sand Bay: 8 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew Sandpiper this evening

Axe Estuary: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 9 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit

Garden moth trap: 1 Pine Carpet new for garden, Dark Marbled Carpet, Riband Wave, Common Marbled Carpet, Cypress Carpet, 6 Feathered Ranunculus, Lunar Underwing, Canary-shouldered Thorn.

23rd September

Axe Estuary/River Axe: light southerly wind and heavy cloud left over from last nights heavy rain. 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sand, 50 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 400 Redshank, 5 Knot, 5 Wigeon, 170 Oystercatcher, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Snipe in from the north, 1 adult winter Mediterranean Gull.
Also on the Axe per JPM via S.Hale the heavy passage of hirundines continuing today and a Hobby.

Garden moth trap: 2 Large and 3 Feathered Ranunculus

22nd September

Middle hope: Another morning of light southerly winds. A Common Swift south, 200 Swallow, 70 House Martin, 50 Meadow Pipit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 wheatear, 3 siskin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redpoll and 310 redshank on Banwell est.

Garden moth trap: 1 Rush Veneer

21st September

Brean Down: Very light variable winds with some fog viewable around various coastal stretches. 1 Firecrest, 3 Wheatear, 1 Whitethroat, 35 Chiffchaff, 30 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker at the fort, 4 Siskin. The Firecrest was with the long-tailed tit flock which is where i found most of the chiffchaffs and blackcaps. 50 Teal in Weston Bay.

Garden moth trap: Treble-bar and the first Black Rustic of the year.

20th September

Garden moth trap: 2 Large Ranunculus, Lunar Underwing, 2 Silver Y

19th September

Sand Bay: High tide this evening 1 Grey Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull the highlights.

Garden moth trap: Mompha bradleyi the best catch.

18th September

Sand Bay/Point: In the bay over this evenings high tide 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover, 184 Curlew, 3 Knot, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 140 Dunlin, 40 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone and 6 Ruff that flew north out to sea over Sand Point.

Brean Down: 700 Meadow Pipit including 300 (200 and 100) flying out to sea from the fort. 200 grounded and the rest north over the down from Berrow. 1 Ring Ouzel east, 2 Tree Pipit out to sea from the fort. 1 Wheatear, 1 Reed Bunting north, 1 Grey Wag, 400 Swallow south. 2 Bar-tailed Godwit on Weston beach and 20 Teal.

Weston STW: Sedge Warbler, Wigeon and steady passage of Swallows south.

Garden moth trap: Silver Y

17th September

Middle Hope: Clear sky with a moderate NNW wind. Quiet here with 3 Wheatear grounded, 4 Grey Wagtail west, 1 GS Woodpecker east and 7 Meadow Pipit (2W, 5E).

Garden moth trap: Treble-bar, Dark Sword-grass, Rush Veneer, Silver Y, 2 Feathered Ranunculus, Light Emerald, Common Marbled Carpet.

16th September

Garden moth trap: A Dark Sword-grass the highlight of last nights catch. Also a Feathered Ranunculus.

15th September

Anchor Head: 1 Manx Shearwater down channel at 8:30.

Garden moth trap: Feathered Ranunculus. Red Underwings have been sighted around Weston a lot lately with one near Summerlane Pools by Morrisons (A.Hockey), one on a lamp post along Locking Rd (J.Bowyer) and 4 in the trap in the last 5 days.

13th September

Middle Hope/Woodspring Bay: 81 Meadow Pipit west, 3 Tree Pipit west, 1 Wheatear and a Whitethroat. In the bay 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Black-tailed Godwit.

12th September

Sand Bay/Point: Wheatear, Redpoll and 2 Dunlin.

Axe Estuary: Juv Arctic Tern over towards Berrow (P.Gregory)

AHoney Buzzardheading towards Weston airspace from Clevedon at 1pm (R.Hunt).

Garden moth trap: 2 Red Underwing, Silver Y, 2 Angle Shades.

11th September

Sand Bay/Point: Hobby, Barwit, 150 Curlew, 3 Wheatear, Light Emerald

Weston STW: Ruff, Knot, 380 Redshank, 2 Greenshank and a steady passage of Swallows over heading south.

Garden moth trap: Feathered Ranunculus,Clepsis consimilana

10th September

Sand Bay/Point: 1 Curlew Sand with 150 Dunlin. 7 Raven at the point .

9th September

Sand Bay/Point: The Wryneck still present showing briefly in flight at 18:30. 4 Bar-tailed Godwit in the bay.

Sand Bay/Point: 3 juvenile Shag flew down channel at 07:50 very close in. 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit.

Garden moth trap: 2 Silver Y, 1 Red Underwing, 1 Frosted Orange

3 immature Shags Sand Point 9th September 2010

8th September

Adult Yellow-legged Gull Sand Bay 8th September 2010

Photo: A montage of shots of yesterdays gull that I've id'd as Yellow-legged Gull. The size, shape and colour made this bird stand out, none of which show particularly well without comparison. However the photos do seem to show some signs of Yellow-legged in the primaries and in my mind I can see P10,9 and 8. P7 is missing, P6 isolated and P5 emerging showing a black band. P10 and 9 do match other pictures of YLG.

Sand Bay/Point: 1 Wryneck, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 1 Tree Pipit. In the bay 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Whimbrel and several small waders that annoyingly kept flying up and down the length of the beach. Also a small passage of Curlew up river and 4 Mute Swan about a mile and a half out to sea drifting up river. Why fly when you can get the tide to carry you up!

Weston STW: 1 Ruff on the River Axe.

Brean Down: Bright sunny day partly cloudy with patchy fog and a light variable wind. Quiet here this morning. A Grasshopper Warbler in subsong at the fort, 8 Wheatear scattered along the length of the down and 3 Spotted Flycatcher along the track to the farm.

7th September

Sand Bay: Adult Yellow-legged Gull this evening and 5 Curlew Sandpiper.

The Ruff still on the river Axe.

6th September

Weston STW: This evening Hobby, Greenshank, 4 Snipe, 20 Sand Martin and a Tree Pipit.

Garden moth trap: Bordered Beauty new for the garden.
Garden macro year list = 176
Garden micro + macro life list = 316

5th September

Sand Bay: This afternoon 3 Barwit, 4 Knot, 4 Curlew Sand, 87 Dunlin, 21 Ringed Plover

Garden moth trap: Emmetia marginea new for garden was the only catch of note.

4th September

Brean Down: Bright day with some high cloud and a light ESE wind. 1 Whinchat, 2 Redstart, 3 Spotted Flycatcher and 8 Wheatear (5 at fort). Also 100 House Martin hawking over the down and a small number of Swallows in off the sea.

Weston STW: 1 Ruff and a juv Med Gull on the river Axe. 2 Pochard, 3 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler on the pools.

Sand Bay: 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 21 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Ringed Plover

Per P.Gregory: Goshawk north over house (Worle) at 17:30 and juv Hobby 45 mins later. At sand point/middle hope this morning: 8 yellow wag, 2 redstart, 3 whinchat, 6 Wheatear, 2 tree pipit, 200+ house martin.

Garden moth trap: Old Lady, Toadflax Pug, Rosy Rustic, Cydia splendana, Garden Rose Tortrix.

3rd September

Sand Point: Nothing to report on the bird front. APhyllonorycter messaniella found in the car park

Garden moth trap: Nephopterix angustellanew for the garden.

2nd September

Brean Down: Bright sunny day with a light easterly wind. In off the sea from Wales were 4 Yellow Wagtail, 60 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, 16 Goldfinch. North over the down 4 Tree Pipit. Grounded 21 Wheatear (12 at the fort), 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Goldcrest. Also 2 Turnstones south past the fort.
In addition to my Brean Down sightings per A.Hockey: 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Bullfinch, 3 GS Woodpecker and continuing passage of Swallow and Sand Martin.

Weston STW: A Pochard and 4 Shoveler.

1st September

Brean Down: Bright sunny day with a light easterly wind. 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Redstart, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Tree Pipit, 7 Wheatear, 4 Chaffinch (in off the sea from Wales), Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Willow Warbler, 40 Blackcap, 15 Chiffchaff

Sand Point/Middle Hope: All per A.Hockey: 1 Spot fly, 2 Whinchat, 14 Wheatear, 3 Whitethroat, 5 GS Woodpecker over, Grey Heron in off sea, a scattering of Blackcap and Chiffchaff plus a steady passage of mainly Swallow and a few Sand Martin.

Weston STW: 4 Shoveler, 2 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and the Ruff still present on the Axe.

Garden moth trap: Light Emerald, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Dusky Thorn, Silver Y, 2 Yellow Shell, 5 Cypress Pug, 7 Willow Beauty, 2 Lesser Yellow Underwing, Rosy Rustic. And finally a garden year tick of Chinese Character (2nd for garden).

31st August

Sand Point: A bright sunny day with hardly any wind. A pickup in migrants this morning most notable a small fall of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Also seen 5 Wheatear, 4 Tree Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Great Spotted Woodpecker and per P.Gregory a Yellow Wag
A returning visit by P.Gregory later in the day to Middle Hope recorded: 10+ Yellow Wag, 3 Whinchat, 2 Redstart, 10 Wheatear, Spot Fly.
During the evening at Sand Point 60 Curlew flew up channel.

Weston STW: Ruff, Common Sandpiper, Juv Med Gull and 3 Yellow Wagtails heading south-west.

Garden moth trap: Only notable aParornix finitimella(confirmed by dissection on 1-9-10)

30th August

Sand Point: Wryneck flushed by a grockle at 4pm on south slope above the style. It flew into cover and not seen by 5:40. A Whinchat and Greenshank also present.

Weston STW: 2 Ruff amongst 380 Redshank on the river axe plus a Common Sandpiper. 2 Wigeon on the UV pools the first of the season.

Garden moth trap: Burnished Brass and Diamond-back Moth amongst the usual suspects.

29th August

Sand Bay/Point: 13mph westerly wind. 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers in the bay this morning.

Garden moth trap: Cydia pomonella, Small Square-spot, Yellow-barred Brindle. An Old Lady moth in D.Agassiz garden.

28th August

Sunny day with a 9mph westerly wind.

Sand Bay/Point: 1 Curlew Sand, 1 Knot, 4 Sanderling, 120 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Tree Pipit, 1 Common Sandpiper.

26th August

Weston STW: A brief visit late morning, 3 Greenshank and a Green Sandpiper

25th August

Sand Bay/Point: Over high tide this morning: 94 Dunlin, 37 Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling. Sand Point was extraodinarily quiet with no vismig at all.

Garden moth trap: Rusty Dot Pearl,Dipleurina lacustrata, Spilonota ocellana, Currant Pug

24th August

Anchor Head: 2 Fulmar north between 7 and 7:40.

Garden moth trap: A Spectacle caught on Sunday 22nd in the garden was dissected last night and has been id'd asDark Spectacle.

23rd August

Weston STW: Rain for most of the night leading on to a cloudy wet morning and 8mph SSW wind. 1 Green Sandpiper, 6 Swift and a Common Snipe

Sand Point: Wind picking up by lunch time to a strong WSW. In 1 hour early afternoon Arctic Skua down channel and 3 Kittiwakes up channel

Garden moth trap: 2 Canary-shouldered Thorn, Phoenix, Small-dusty Wave, Orange Swift present but nothing new for year.

22nd August

Weather: A calm morning with a light SW wind.

Brean Down: 10 Wheatear and a Whinchat. 200 Swallow and 50 House Martin west, 3 Sand Martin south.

Weston STW: A light phase Honey Buzzard south at 11am and a Black-tailed Godwit briefly on the UV pools before flying high south.

Garden moth trap: Dusky Thorn was the only new for year. A Jersey Tiger was caught overnight in D.Agassiz garden.

Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Weston STW 22nd August

Jersey Tiger D.Agassiz garden Weston-super-Mare 22nd August 2010

21st August

Sand Point: Drizzle overnight clearing by 9am, remaining cloudy with a light southerly wind around 5-6mph. Redstart, Tree Pipit west, 40 House Martin west, Sandwich Tern west, 5 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Willow Warbler, 20 Whitethroat, 10 Chiffchaff.

River Axe: 1 partial summer Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, 5 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper

Garden moth trap: A good haul but no real noteworthy catches. I received a text this morning from David Agassiz who had Small Ranunculus in his garden trap.

Small Ranunculus D.Agassiz garden Weston-super-Mare 21st August 2010

20th August

Garden moth trap: Small Square-spot, 2 Square-spot Rustic, Angle Shades,Pyrausta despicata, 2 Leek Moth, Garden Pebble.

Garden macro year list on 20th August stands at 174 beyond the reach of my Weston bird year list.

19th August

Sand Point: 2 Redstart, 1 Wheatear

Garden moth trap: Rosy Rustic, Small Waved Umber, Yellow-barred Brindle, Common Wainscot, Svensson's Copper Underwing, Phoenix

18th August

Sand Point: 1 Redstart

Garden moth trap:Ptocheuusa paupella, Coleophora lineolea, Lathronympha strigana,Diamond-back Moth, Dark Sword-grass, Square-spot Rustic

17th August

Weston STW: 3 Swift, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Shoveler, 1 Common Sandpiper

Garden moth trap: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Currant Pug, Celypha lacunana.

16th August

Sand Point: Cloudless day with 7mph NW wind. Calmer conditions over night were ideal for migrants but with no fronts passing through many will have passed overhead. 100 Swallows heading north. Other migrants recorded were Grey Wagtail, Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, Garden Warbler (1 seen yesterday per A.Hockey) and several Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff.

Garden moth trap: Saltern Ear (Dissected), Shark, Burnished Brass, Common Wainscot, Poplar Hawk-moth, Phoenix, 2 Spectacle, 10Camararia ohridella, 3 Copper Underwing (one of yesterdays was Svensson's), Common Carpet, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 2 Silver Y.

15th August

Sand Point: 5 Wheatear, 60 House Martin, 20 Swallow

Weston Woods: Lesser-spotted Pinion

Garden moth trap: upper: Straw Underwing, Gold-spot, Swallow Prominent, Cypress Pug. Lower: Garden Tiger, 2 Copper Underwing, Cypress Pug, Yellow-barred Brindle.

14th August

Garden moth trap: Dark Marbled Carpet, Apple-leaf Miner,Ypsolopha scabrellathe only noteworthy captures.

13th August

Garden moth trap: upper trap: Rusty-dot Pearl,Caloptilia rufipennella, Acleris laterana. Lower trap:Pyrausta despicata, Dun-bar. Also 2 Copper Underwing, Cloaked Minor, 3 Lychnis.

12th August

Weston STW over high tide this evening: 30 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 170 Redshank

Sand Point: Quiet again with just 2 Tree Pipits and a handful of Swallows heading north.

Garden moth trap: Swallow Prominent, Ancylis badiana, Leek Moth

11th August

Sand Bay: This evening 60 Ringed Plover and 40 Dunlin on the beach. A movement of Curlew up river with 25 heading off towards Clevedon.

Brean Down: Warm morning with a 6-7mph SW wind. 1 Whinchat, 2 Wheatear and a trickle of Swallows south.

Garden moth trap: 1 Red Underwing, 2 Copper Underwing, 7 Willow Beauty, 1Pyrausta aurata, 1 Square-spot Rustic

10th August

Weston STW: 1 juv Med Gull on UV and 3 Common Sand on River Axe

Sand Bay/Point: Very quiet. 1 Shaded Broad-bar and a Small Fan-footed Wave were the only noteworthy sightings.

Garden moth trap: Orthopgyia glaucinalis, 2 Yellow Shell and 13 Large Yellow Underwing (the highest count of the year so far)

9th August

Banwell Estuary: 1 Greenshank and 160 Redshank over high tide.

Sand Bay/Point: 130 Dunlin, 41 Ringed Plover, 140 Curlew, 45 Oystercatcher. Per A.Hockey a Wheatear on Middle Hope.

Weston STW: 4 Teal, 5 Gadwall on UV pools.

The Oak Eggar being reared in my shed has emerged today.

8th August

Brean Down: 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 40 Willow Warbler scattered over the whole down, 100 Swallow north (not unusual for this time of year). 5 Chalkhill Blue.

Garden moth trap: Iron Prominent, Scarce Silver-lines, Rosy Footman, 3 Willow Beauty, 3 Lime-speck Pug, Silver Y, Agriphila tristella, Pyrausta aurata, 10 Cameraria ohridella. New for the gardenBucculatrix thoracella and Coleophora lineolea

7th August

Sand Bay/Point: 6 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Gull, 20 Chiffchaff, 10 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler. Several Rush Veneer on Middle Hope.

Garden moth trap: 1 White-spotted Pug, Garden Carpet.

6th August

Garden moth trap: Sallow Kitten, Silver Y, 2Oegoconia quadripuncta.

5th August

Weston STW: 2 Shoveler on UV pools this afternoon.

Garden moth trap: Upper: 2 Silver Y, Common Wainscot. Lower: Canary-shouldered Thorn, Least Yellow Underwing, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Carcina quercana, Wainscot sp (probably Smoky).

4th August

Garden: Whimbrel heard over the house at 10pm this evening.

Garden moth trap: Upper: Kitten sp, 10 Silver Y,Cameraria ohridella, Orchard Ermine. Lower: Dark Sword Grass, Saltern Ear, Rush Veneer, Diamond-back Moth,Cydia pomonella, spilonota ocellana, Turnip, Heart and Club.

3rd August

Garden moth trap: Red Underwing,Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, 3 Leek Moth, Common Wave, Copper Underwing, Mottled Beauty, Yellow Shell,Cochylis hybridella.

2nd August

Sand Bay/Point late evening: 6 Curlew up channel. AlsoAgonopterix heracliana, Celypha lacunana, Eucosma cana

1st August

Garden moth trap: Not run last night but the coleophora from thursdays garden trap was confirmed asColeophora spinella.

31st July

Brean Down moths: 10 Annulet, 2 Elachista atricomella, Upoecilia angustana, Helcystogramma rufescens, Acleris aspersana, 8 Pyrausta cingulata, 10 Straw Underwing, 15 Red Twin-spot Carpet, Iron Prominent, Marbled Green, Willow Beauty, Least Yellow Underwing, Scarce Footman, Dingy Footman.

Weston airfield: 3 Sallow Kitten, 4 July Highflyer, Acleris aspersana, Blastobasis lacticolella, Pebble Prominent, Small Waved Umber

Garden moth trap: July Highflyer, 2 pyrausta aurata, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Mottled Beauty, Gothic, Lychnis, pug sp to be confirmed, Timothy tortrix.

30th July

Garden moth trap: Poplar Kitten, White-spotted Pug, Yellow Shell, Copper Underwing, 2xColeophorastriatipennellatype (to be confirmed) +Coleophora spinella,Achroia grisella, Single-dotted Wave.

29th July

Garden moth trap: August Thorn,Bryotropha terrella, Apple Leaf-miner.

28th July

Sand Bay: A Yellow Wagtail flew in from the east and landed in the marsh. A trickle of Swallows west. 1 Ringed Plover

Garden moth trap: A very early Cypress Carpet, Currant Pug, 2 Ruby Tiger, Early Thorn, Leek Moth,Epiblema roborana, Bryotropha affinis, Borhausenia fuscescens, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Pale Prominent, Turnip.

27th July

Garden moth trap: Only 1 trap run last night. Lower: Bulrush Wainscot (third record and all this year), 2 Garden Tiger, Miller, 5 Knot Grass, Diamond-back Moth, Silver Y, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing,Cochylis hybridella.

26th July

Garden moth trap: upper trap: 8 Silver Y, 2Cameraria ohridella, 1 Apple Leaf-miner, 3 Water Veneer. Lower trap: 2 Lychnis, Apple Leaf-miner

25th July

Sand Bay: 2 Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin

Garden moth trap: upper trap: 4 Silver Y, Marbled Green, White-spotted Pug. Lower trap:Limnacea phramitella, Carcina quercana, Blastodacna hellerella, Broyotropha senectella,Small Rivulet, Marbled Green,

24th July

Garden moth trap: upper trap 4 Silver Y, Lychnis, Flounced Rustic,Oegoconia quadripuncta, Blastobasis adustella, lower trap: Bulrush Wainscot, Small Fan-footed Wave, Phoenix, Garden Tiger, Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella), 2 Rush Veneer, 1 Diamond-back Moth,Acleris forsskaleana

23rd July

Garden Moth trap: 2 traps run. Upper trap: 3 Silver Y, 2 Dot Moth, Dagger, Light Arches. Lower trap: Rush Veneer,Agriphila tristella, Swallowtail.

Weston woods moths: Phoenix

22nd July

Sand Point moths: Trapping at various sites around the bay and point last night was generally quiet. Lunar-spotted Pinion, Dusky Sallow, Archer's Dart, White-line Dart, Purple Thorn, Early Thorn, Least Yellow Underwing, Flounced Rustic, Straw Underwing, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Shaded Broad-bar

Garden moth trap:Mompha epilobiella, Grey Pug, Dark Dagger

21st July

Garden moth trap:Epinotia solandriana, a very distinctive moth new for the garden. Also 3 Garden Tiger, Wax moth, July Highflyer, Pale Prominent, Ruby Tiger.

20th July

Garden moth trap: Rain for most of the night but a good catch regardless: 2 Garden Tiger, 4 Poplar Grey, The Fan-foot, Copper Underwing, Drinker, 2Lobesia abscisana, Cnephasia stephensiana, Cabbage, 2 Dot Moth, Common Carpet

19th July

Weston woods: Last nights moth highlights comprised Svensson's Copper Underwing, Dark Umber, Honeysuckle Moth, Engrailed/Small Engrailed

Garden moth trap: Bulrush Wainscot, Square-spot Rustic,pyrausta aurataand the firstBlastobasis adustellaof the year

18th July

In Weston woods this afternoon: Hummingbird Hawk-moth and Pseudargyrotoza conwagana.

Garden moth trap: Haworth's Pug was the highlight of last nights catch.

17th July

Worle Hill: Moth trapping last night produced: Muslin Footman, Agapeta zoegana, Early Thorn, Engrailed, Fan-foot, Snout, Yellow Shell. A Glow Worm was a surprising find.

16th July

Strong winds and heavy rain last night. The only new moth in the garden wasBorkhausenia fuscescens.

15th July

Weston woods: The 6W heath trap ran last night produced Black Arches, Rosy Footman, Mocha, Barred Straw, Clouded Magpie, Dun-bar, Pretty Chalk Carpet.

11th July

Garden moth trap: A couple new for the garden. July Highflyer, Meal Moth (2nd garden record) and Wax Moth.

10th July

Trapping this evening was made difficult with the strong southerly wind. I had to abandon the Estuary to find more favourable conditions in nearby Sand Bay.
Banwell Estuary: Saltern Ear, 3 Silver Y, Wormwood Pug
Sand Bay: 3 Archer's Dart, 1 Sand Dart, several White-line Dart, Blastobasis Lacticolella

9th July

Brean Down: 40W actinic ran at the end of the down last night between 11:30pm and 1am. Plenty of moths but no real surprises: Least Yellow Underwing, Brown-line Bright-eye, Thyme Pug and Rosy Minor the only macro year ticks. Other highlights included Galium Carpet, Purple Bar, Crescent Dart. Micros id'd so far:Cnephasia stephensiana, Cnephasia pasiuana, Recurvaria leucatella, Sophronia semicostella, Coleophora lixella, Agriphila selasella, Ancylis achatana, Monochroa cytisella, Celypha rivulana, Yponomeuta padella, Emmetia marginea, Pyrausta cingulata,Brown China Mark, Small Magpie.

Garden Moth trap: Sycamore, Grey Dagger (examined), Blackneck, Dot Moth, Haworth's Pug.

Garden moth trap: Some quality in the trap this morning. Privet Hawk-moth, Haworth's Pug were new for the garden. Toadflax Pug and Blackneck were garden year ticks. 2 fresh Gothics were probably ones reared in the garden. Also 3 Single-dotted Wave and a Small Dusty Wave.

8th July

Last nights trapping at Weston Airfield/Winterstoke Rd was again rewarding. Highlights were Double Line, Bulrush Wainscot, Dingy Footman, Small Emerald, Fan-foot as year ticks. Others included 30 Clouded Border, 40 Dark Arches, Bordered Beauty, female Ghost Moth

Double Line Mythimna turca Weston Airfield 7th July 2010

30th June

Two new moths today: Sycamore from D.Agassiz garden and Golden Plusia taken by sweep net last night in Weston woods

29th June

Sand Bay/Point: 60 Curlew and 150 Black-headed Gull in the marsh over high tide.

Sand Bay moths last night: 50 Sand Dart, 2 White-line Dart, 2 Shore Wainscot, Cloaked Minor, Broad-barred White, Single-dotted Wave.
Sand Point Moths: 2 L-album Wainscot, 7 Crescent Dart, 3 Browntail, 5 Scalloped Oak, 50 Dark Arches, Chinese Character.

28th June

The Oak Eggar pupated on 26th of June after reaching 65mm. So far, 3Limnaecia phragmitellahave emerged from the Bull Rush heads. Presumably this is what Penduline Tits look for?

26th June

Sand Point: last night a good selection of moths. Year ticks included 2 L-album Wainscot (first for the Bristol region), Crescent Dart, Beautiful Hook-tip, Pretty Chalk Carpet, Barred Straw, Scarce Footman, Coronet, Short-cloaked Moth.

North Worle: The discovery of Lunar Hornets last year has prompted interest amongst the local mothing community. Today I was lucky enough to see my first Lunar Hornet emerge. It spent some time on the trunk pumping up its wings for over half an hour after emerging at 8:45am.

L-album Wainscot Mythimna l-album Sand Point 25th June 2010

25th June

Weston old tip: Dingy Shears, European Corn Borer, Udea Prunalis, Poplar Hawk-moth the more memorable of a mediocre catch.

Garden:Recurvaria leucatellathe only new for year although a Gothic in the trap was the first adult of the year.

24th June

Garden moth trap: 1 Brown Rustic, Clay andAleimma loeflingianathe highlights in the trap.

23rd June

Winterstoke Rd: 40W actinic ran all night. A good catch including 2 Bordered Beauty, 6 Clouded Border, 1 Pinion-streaked Snout, 3 Riband Wave, Middle-barred Minor, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Common White Wave, 2 Cream Wave, Small Fan-foot, 4 Small Seraphim, Common Footman, Bramble-shoot Moth, Willow Beauty, 6 Mottled Beauty, 1 Treble Bar, Mottled Rustic, 5 Smoky Wainscot, Burnished Brass, Blood-vein, 2 Buff Arches, 15 Heart and Dart, 5 Heart and Club, 2 Large Yellow Underwing, Double Square-spot, 4 Uncertain, Common Rustic, Small Blood-vein, Silver-ground Carpet, Fern, 2 Straw Dot, Cochylis hybridella, 2 Flame, 5 Flame Shoulder. Also, 4 White Plume and 20+ Ghost moth hawking in grass area by Birches.

Garden: Buff Arches and Blue-bordered Carpet new for year.

19th June

Weston woods moths: A good selection of moths despite the brisk northerly wind; Green Silver-lines, Grey Arches, 6 Clouded Magpie, 4 Blomer's Rivulet, 15 Mottled Beauty, 1 Willow Beauty, 1 Green Tortrix, Scorched Wing, 2 Scorched Carpet, 10 Light Emerald, White Ermine, 2 Buff Ermine, Udea olivalis, Coxcombe Prominent, Knot Grass.

Garden moths: Figure of Eighty the only new for year.

15th June

Garden moth trap: Brown Silver-line (new for garden) was the best catch of the night. Also recorded: Eyed Hawk-moth, Elephant Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth, Flame.

Yesterday at Sand Bay during the evening a southerly passage of 50+ Swift noted. Also 40 Black-headed Gulls seen flying distantly north along the shoreline.

14th June

Sand Bay this evening: 4 Curlew, 2 Dunlin and 20 Black-headed Gulls flew in from the east.
Highlights from the last 2 days:
11th June
Weston airfield: Grass Rivulet
Weston Woods: Barred Yellow
Garden: Lime Hawk-moth
12th June
Weston old tip: Dusky Brocade, Dingy Shears, 3 Heart and Club, Common Rustic, Rustic,Eidophasia messingiella, Argyresthia spinosella, 3 Cochylis atricapitana, Lathronympha strigana.
Garden: Poplar Kitten.

9th June

Sand Bay/Point: Last nights moth highlights included Red-necked Footman, Orange Footman, Privet Hawk-moth, 3 Dark Sword-grass, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Sand Dart, White Colon, 2 Scorched Wing, Common Emerald, Smoky Wainscot.

Garden moth trap: First night with dual tube (BLB and actinic) producing Common Swift, Poplar Grey, Middle-barred Minor as year ticks.

6th June

Garden moth trap: 2 traps run overnight. Combined totals Peppered Moth, first 2 adult Large Yellow Underwing, 30 Heart and Dart, marbled minor sp, Mottled Rustic

5th June

Winterstoke road moths: A good collection of moths from the 40W actinic. 2 Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Buff Ermine, Brown Silver-line, Small Seraphim all year ticks. Other highlights included 50 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 30 Straw Dot, 15 Heart and Dart, 10 Light Emerald. The Fern moth taken by sweepnet.

Garden moths: Currant Pug, Freyer's Pug, Pale Mottled Willow, Dark Arches all new for year. Other highlights included The Flame, Diamond-back Moth

4th June

Sand Point: A Siskin circling over the point was an unusual record for the time of year.
Insects: 1 Glanville Frit, 1 Orange-tip, 2 Rush Veneer, 6-spot Burnet, first skippers on the wing.

Weston woods: Last nights results included 1 Lobster moth, Clouded Brindle, Willow Beauty, Small Fan-foot, Small Angle Shades all year ticks. Other highlights included many Pale Tussock, 5 Scorched Wing, 1 Clouded Magpie, 1 Mocha, 2 Ingrailed Clay, 10 Light Emerald, 2 Maidens Bush, Brindled White-spot.

Garden Moth trap: Eyed Hawk-moth, Treble Brown Spot as year ticks. Also Muslin moth, Cypress Carpet

3rd June

Sand Bay moths: Last night a good haul of year ticks including Sand Dart (15), Burnished Brass, Small Yellow Wave, Sandy Carpet, Pebble Prominent, Rivulet, Obscure Wainscot, Brindled White-spot. Other moths of interest were 15 Shark, 3 Elephant Hawk, 2 White Colon, 20 Heart and Dart, Lime Speck Pug, Light Brocade, Small Square-spot.

Garden moth trap: New for year Iron Prominent and Riband Wave

1st June

Sand Point: A Hobby flew in from the south and caught a small passerine then flew inland.

Moth traps run in various locations. Combined results included Galium Carpet, Dog's Tooth, White Colon, Small Clouded Brindle, Brown Rustic, Mottled Rustic, Mottled Beauty, Rush Veneer and Diamond-back Moth which were all new for the year.

White Colon Sideridis albicolon Sand Point 1st June 2010

31st May

Sand Point: 1 Grey Plover
Lepidoptera:Scoparia pyrella, Esperia sulphurella, phyllonoryctersp.

Winterstoke Road:Cochylis nana, Straw Dot

Weston woods: 2 Light Emerald, Engrailed, Clouded Magpie

Garden moth trap: 1 Cinnabar

30th May

Sunny day but windy.
Brean Down: Small passage of House Martins and Swallows north.
Lepidoptera: 3 Speckled Yellow, lots of Common Blue, Wall Brown, Brown Argus, 2 Small Heath, Cinnabar, Green-veined White,Ancylis badiana

29th May

Winterstoke road mothing: 3 Treble-bar, 2 Small Square-spot andParornix betulae and Cochylis nanathe highlights.

Garden moth trap: Spectacle

28th May

Weston woods: Small White Wave caught last night nectaring. In the trap were Scorched Wing, Cream Wave, Common White Wave, Nut-tree Tussock,Epiblema cynosbatella,Phylonorycter maestingella

Garden moth trap: No new for year but 11 Heart and Dart, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Character, Treble Lines and a Turnip Moth.

27th May

Garden moth trap: Heavy over night rain. A fresh Silver Y and a very worn Common Wainscot the only new for year.

Winterstoke Road: 1 Yellow Shell and 6+ Silver Y this afternoon.

26th May

Weston woods: 5 Mocha, Square-spot, 3 Little Thorn, 3 Blomer's Rivulet, 4 Scalloped Hazel, 2 Ingrailed Clay, 1 Common Pug, 3 Oak-tree Pug, 1 Pale Tussock, 1 Nut-tree Tussock, 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character,Ephestia parasitella. Also in the trap 2 larva identified as Common Quaker and Twin-spot Quaker.

Garden moth trap: Red Twin-spot Carpet, White Ermine, Oak-tree Pug.

25th May

Garden moth trap: 4 year ticks today were Green Pug, Pale Tussock, Elephant Hawk-moth, Poplar Hawk-moth.

Winterstoke Rd: Small Eggar larval web discovered this lunchtime.

Larva rearing: The mystery larva has spun itself inbetween 3 leaves to pupate, the Dun-bar has left the leaves to pupate and the Oak Eggar is still feeding on hawthorn.

24th May

Sand Point: Lepidoptera includedPyrausta cingulata, Alabonia geoffrella, Silver-ground Carpet.
Garden moth trap: Chocolate-tip, White-pinion Spotted, Miller.
D.Agassiz garden moth trap: Privet Hawk-moth,Enarmonia formosana, Achroia grisella

23rd May

Garden moth trap: An unusual night with thousands of small flies attracted to the moth traps. Highlights were: Yellow-barred Brindle, 2 Common Marbled Carpet, 1 Treble Lines, 2 Bee Moth, 1Paraswammerdamia nebulella, Pale Prominent, 2 Dagger sp, White-spotted Pug.

22nd May

Sand Point: 1 Redstart, 2 Spot fly, 2 Sanderling in Sand Bay

Sand Point moths from last night: Purple Bar, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Clouded Silver, Netted Pug 3, Marbled minor sp, Broken-barred Carpet, Waved Umber, Flame, Chinese Character, Small Elephant Hawk Moth, Mottled Pug, White Ermine, Shark, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Treble Lines, Brimstone, Green Carpet, Small-waved Umber, Hebrew Character, Least Black Arches, Shears, Lychnis, Cream-spot Tiger, Light Brocade, Flame Shoulder, V-pug, Common Quaker, Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet.

Weston Woods, Clouded Magpie 2, Peach Blossom, Small Phoenix,Syndemis musculana

21st May

Sand Point: Cuckoo seen in flight above the car park
Insects: 1 Yellow Belle, 2 Glanville Fritillary, severalScoparia pyralella, Brown Argus, many Common Blue, Peacock, Small Copper
Garden moth trap: Common Carpet, Waved Umber

Yellow Belle Semiaspilates ochrearia Sand Point 21st May 2010

20th May

Sand Bay/Point yesterday: 1 Cuckoo present all day and a couple of Whimbrel still in the marsh.
Insects: 2Monopis Laevigella, Chinese Character, 2 Brimstone, Double-striped Pug, 6 Green Carpet

16th May

Weston Woods: 2 White-pinion Spotted, Silver-ground Carpet, Clay Triple-lines, Maiden's Blus, Square Spot, Red-green Carpet, Mocha, Common Quaker, Hebrew Character, Waved Umber, Brimstone, 3 Scorchcd Carpet, 3 Little Thorn, Common Pug, Oak-tree Pug

Garden moth trap: 3 Light Brown Apple Moth, White-shouldered House Moth, Turnip Moth, Vine's Rustic, Garden Carpet

15th May

Several year ticks today:

Winterstoke Road: Common Wave,Anthophila fabriciana, Clouded Border, Dichrorampha plumbagana

Weston Woods: Ingrailed Clay,Caloptilia syringella, Merveille Du Jour larva

Garden: Knot Grass, Cyclamen Tortrix

14th May

Two new moths from Ashcombe Park. One pointed out to me which I would never have got:Luffia ferchaultellaand the otherStigmella aurella

13th May

Last night at Sand Bay/Point: 12 Whimbrel, 7 Ringed Plover
Insects:Adela earumurella, Pseudoswammerdamia combinella, Scoparia pyralella, Elachista canapennella, Latticed Heath.

12th May

Mothing around Sand Bay/Point yesterday produced Scarlet Tiger, Lackey and Winter Moth larvae. Trapping for an hour and a half brought in Dark Sword Grass, Spectacle and several Shuttle-shaped Dart. A Common Pug in the garden moth trap last night.

11th May

Middle Hope: Per A.Hockey 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a trickle through of Swallows. A Grasshopper Warbler reeling in Sand Bay last night.

Garden moth trap: An Early Thorn plus 2Tinea pellionellain the house.

10th May

A slightly milder night and a small rise in temperatures but little change in the traps.
Garden Moth trap: 1 Grey Pine Carpet, 1 Dark Sword-grass

9th May

Worle Hill: AWood Warblersinging late morning.

Weston woods: No moths found today although a Pale Brindled Beauty larva on Beech and a Common Blue Butterfly on Worle Hill at rest on grass.

8th May

A slight drop in temperature with an increase in strength of the north-easterly wind.
Weston woods moths: 1 Mocha, 1 Scalloped Hazel, 1 Brindled Pug, 2 Brimstone. During the dayPhyllonorycter maestingellaresting on Beech.

Garden moth trap: 1 Streamer.

7th May

Garden moth trap: Last nights catch: 3 Oak-tree Pug, 1 Cabbage Moth (year tick), Twenty-plume moth, Brimstone, White-shouldered House Moth, Bright-line Brown-eye.

Ashcombe Park: Several Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner on the wing.

6th May

Cloudy, reduced visibility and persistent light drizzle. Brean Down: 1 Garden Warbler and a Wheatear the only migrants of note Garden moth trap: Grey/Dark Dagger, Oak-tree Pug and White-spotted Pug were year ticks.

5th May

Bright sunny day with a light northerly feeling warmer than previous days.
Sand Point: A Garden Warbler singing on north of the toilet block, a Wheatear at the point and a handfull of hirundines over.
Insects:Aspilapteryx tringipennellafound at the point.

4th May

Bright sunny day with a light northerly wind.
Sand Point: A Hobby on Middle Hope
Weston STW: No sign of Tawny Pipit this morning.

3rd May

High pressure to the west of Ireland looks set to stick for a few days leaving us with colder temperatures and northerly winds.
Anchor Head: 2 Gannet north, 1 commic tern north
Sand Bay: 50 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plover
Weston STW: ATawny Pipit in fields along the bumpy track leading to the sewage works this evening near the middle owl box per M.Ponsford.
Weston woods: SeveralAdela reaumurellaon the wing on a sycamore. Also on sycamore manyMicropterix tunbergella. I also saw my first ever Bee-fly.

2nd May

Sand Bay: This evening 12 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 5 Knot.

Garden moth trap: Only one moth in the trap this morning, a Chamomile Shark.

1st May

Sunny and partly cloudy with a light south-westerly wind.
Sand Point: Sea watching per P.Gregory: 5 Gannets up channel and 5 drake Common Scoters down channel and 2 Arctic Tern up channel. Otherwise still 20+ Whimbrel in the bay, a Tree Pipit over (A.Hockey) and aGarden Warbler singing by the toilet block.
Insects and plants: Several Small Copper and Speckled Wood on the wing. Many pyrausta purpuralis. A Six-spot Burnet larva found near the point. A Green-winged Orchid on the slopes.

30th April

Anchor Head: 4 Manx Shearwater and 6 Fulmar past in brief search early afternoon.

29th April

Foggy start with a light south-westerly wind.
Sand Point: Quiet bird wise with 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swift over. Hirundines were heading west; 4 Sand Martin, 10 House Martin, 40 Swallow. 24 Whimbrel in Sand Bay and a Siskin over.
Insects: 2 White-pinion Spotted andCaloptilia syringellaall found at rest. Looking for day flying moths is proving very successful at the moment.

Weston Woods moths: A good overnight catch; 5 Lunar Marbled Brown, 2 Nut-tree Tussock, 2 Scorched Carpet, 1 Water Carpet, 2 Engrailed, 1 Waved Umber, 1 Red-green Carpet were the highlights.

Garden trap: Early Thorn, Bright-line Brown-eye, Flame Shoulder the garden year ticks.

28th April

Bright and sunny with a strong southerly wind early morning dropping as the temperature rose.
Sand Point: A quiet morning for the birds. 45 Goldfinch flew west off the point. Sand Martin, House Martin and Swallow also moving west off the point. 20+ Whimbrel still in the bay joined by a Bar-tailed Godwit. A Siskin flew overhead and 2 Reed Warblers were new in.
Insects: Pyrausta cingulata on the wing this morning plus Incurvaria masculella seen in small numbers. A Brimstone and several white sp butterflies

Garden trap: 1 Streamer and White-shouldered House Moth were new for garden year list.

Pyrausta cingulata Sand Point 28th April 2010

27th April

A foggy morning with a light northerly wind picking up by mid morning.
Sand Point: 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Grasshopper Warbler plus a handful of House Martin and Swallow through.
A Hobby over Sand Point this evening performing some impressive aerial displays. 43 Whimbrel in the marsh.Elachista rufocinereaat the point.
Insects included 2 Orange-tip and c.30Pyrausta purpuralis

Weston Woods moths on a clear calm night and a nearly full moon: 1 Coxcomb Prominent, 1 Lunar Marbled Brown, 1 Engrailed, 1Diurnea fagella, 1 Chestnut, 1 Early Thorn

Garden Moth trap: 1 Brimstone, 1 Double-striped Pug, 1 Least Black Arches, 1 Twenty-plume moth, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Early Grey

26th April

Weston STW: Per M.Ponsford an Osprey seen heading north. Last seen over the heronry heading towards the centre of Weston.

25th April

Cloud and fog with over night rain and a southerly wind.
Brean Down: 1Wood Warbler, 7 Gannet up channel, 16 Whimbrel up channel, 3 tern sp up channel, 1 Yellowhammer in/off the sea at the fort, 6 Yellow Wagtail over, 5 Tree Pipit over, 9 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 1 Swift, 10 Sand Martin, 15 House Martin, 200 Swallow, 1 Redpoll.

Anchor Head: 2Arctic Skuaup channel, 2 Sandwich Tern up channel, 12 Gannet (11+1) down channel, 1 tern sp up channel, 3 Great Crested Grebe down channel later found on water off the end of Brean Down.

Sand Point: per P.Gregory and P.Marshall via S.Hale: 1 Common Tern up channel, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Tripit, 1 Wheatear, 1 Redpoll.

Weston woods moths: Purple Thorn, Least Black Arches and Garden Carpet new for the year.

Garden moth trap:Least Black Arches(garden tick), Shuttle-shaped Dart, Tachystola aroxantha all new for year.

24th April

Mainly clear sky with a light southerly wind.
Brean Down: A mini fall of common migrants arrived after dawn: 40 Blackcap, 40 Willow Warbler, 4 Redstart, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Tree Pipit, 3 Yellow Wagtail north, 4 Sedge Warbler, 4 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Redpoll, 100 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 1 White Wagtail. 2 Pied Flycatcher (per Birdguides).

Sand Point: Combined report from P.Gregory and A.Hockey: 21 Whimbrel flew NE, 2 Ring Ouzel, 1 Whinchat, 1 Swift, 12 Tree Pipit and lots of common migrants

Weston Airfield: 1Wood Warblersinging in birch trees by Winterstoke Rd, 3 Orange-tip and 3 Pyrausta purpuralis on the wing.

Weston woods: 1Wood Warblerin Quercus ilex near the water tower this evening.

Garden moth trap: 1 Powdered Quaker the highlight.

23rd April

Brean Down: Clear morning with a light easterly wind. 2 Redstart, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 2 Whimbrel

Sand Point D.Gibbs via S.Hale: 2 Ring Ouzel, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Whinchat and 1 Redstart in sand bay, 13 Whimbrel together plus singles and 15+ Wheatear.

Weston STW: 11 Swift and a Grasshopper Warbler per A.Hockey

22nd April

Brean Down: Clear sky and a light NNE wind making it feel much warmer this morning. 1 Cuckoo, 3 Tree Pipit, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Wheatear and a small influx of Willow Warbler and Blackcap. Overhead 2 Redpoll, Ringed Plover, smaller numbers of Linnet and Goldfinch than previous days.

Middle Hope: This evening 4 Whinchat, 1 Pied Flycatcher and a female Redstart. 6 Whimbrel flew up river.

21st April

Brean Down: Clear sky with a very cold northerly wind. A quieter morning: 1 Black Redstart singing for 5 mins, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit, 100 Goldfinch north, 2 Siksin north, 1 Redpoll north, 4 Wheatear. 5 Whimbrel flew towards Axe Estuary. Sand Martin and Swallow trickling through.

Garden moth trap: 1 Muslin Moth

20th April

Brean Down: Clear sky with a light northerly wind. Much warmer than yesterday. 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Tree Pipit north, 110 Goldfinch north, 30 Meadow Pipit north, 10 Sand Martin north, 15 House Martin north, 30 Swallow north, 4 Wheatear, 4 Grasshopper Warbler. A distinct lack of Willow Warblers compared to the last two days.
Per R.Musgrove: Between 9 and 12: 1f Ring Ouzel, 1m Redstart, 1m Pied Fly, 30 Willow Warbler.

A clear night but slightly colder and windier than the previous 2 nights:
2 Engrailed, 2 Brindled Beauty, 1 Hebrew Character, 3 March Moth, 2 Common Quaker, 1 Caloptilia semifascia, 1 Water Carpet

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Brean Down 20th April 2010

19th April

Brean Down: A mixture of altostratus, altocumulus and some patchy fog with a cold 9mph south-easterly wind. Recorded: 6 Grasshopper Warbler, 20 House Martin, 10 Sand Martin, 40 Swallow, 4 Tree Pipit, 3 Wheatear, 5 Redpoll, 1 Sedge Warbler.
On a separate note, with the mention of several Common Redpolls on Bardsey in the last few days, it is likely that the Redpolls we get every year at this time are Common Redpoll also. The numbers are small now, building up later in the month into May. These birds differ to the ones that pass in autumn which are typicalcabaret.

Sand Point per C.Jones sightings included a Cuckoo, Black Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and 6 Whitethroat. This evening 28 Whimbrel went through high over in a line.

Weston woods: 1 Pied Flycatcher this evening per A.Clark

18th April

Bright sunny day again with a light variable wind.
Brean Down: 11 Wheatear, 3 Common Redstart, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Sedge Warbler, 40 Willow Warbler, 3 Sand Martin, 5 Whitethroat, 20 Swallow, 5 Redpoll, 2 Tree Pipit, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Whimbrel. Per P.Marshall a Red Kite over the down at 11:15am

Sand Point: Per P.Gregory: 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Whitethroat, 10 Swallow, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Wheatear, 4 Siskin, 5 Willow Warbler, 1 Whimbrel. Per C.Jones via S.Hale a Black Redstart seen late morning

Garden moth trap: 6 Early Grey, 4 Hebrew Character, 3 Common Quaker, 1 Clouded Drab.

Common Redpoll Carduelis rostrata/islandica Brean Down 18th April 2010

17th April

Brean Down: Bright sunny day with a drop in wind speed to a mainly light northerly biased wind. 1 Black Redstart, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Redstart, 30 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 5 Redpoll, 6 Swallow, 1 Tree Pipit, 1 Black Swan, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Wheatear.

Sand Point: Per P.Gregory: 1 Brambling, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Sand Martin, 10 Swallow, 1 Siskin, 25 Willow Warbler.

Virtually no wind and a temperatures to 5 degrees by 2am when the trap was inspected.
2 Brindled Beauty, 3 Brindled Pug, 10 March Moth, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Scorched Carpet, 1 Water Carpet, 1 V-pug, 2 Common Quaker, 1 Chestnut, 1 Early Grey, 1 Early Thorn, 1 Clouded Drab, 1 Diurnea fagella

16th April

Sand Point: News per A.Hockey of a Black Redstart near the point. Also per Adrian: 2 Whitethroat, 1 Wheatear, 10+ Chiffchaff and a few Swallow through.

Brean Down: Clear sky with a 10mph NNE wind. A 2 hour vis mig count between 6:30 and 8:30am produced a northward movement of the following:
4 Tree Pipit, 
9 Redpoll, 
40 Linnet, 
76 Goldfinch, 
43 Meadow Pipit, 
37 Swallow, 
1 Sparrowhawk, 
2 alba wagtail, 
3 Chaffinch, 
2 Greenfinch, 
4 Collared Dove, 
5 Shelduck, 
Siskin
4 Wheatear were present, 2 of which came in from the south just after 8am.

14th April

Sand Bay:Cloudy with a 13mph NNE wind. 12 Swallows north, 1 Yellowhammer north, 1 Redpoll north and 100+ Goldfinches over.

12th April

Weston woods moths: Run this evening from 8:30 to 11pm. 1 Early Thorn, 1 Engrailed, 1 March Moth, 1 Double-striped Pug, 1 Common Pug, 1 Dotted Chestnut, 1Diurnea fagella

11th April

Bright sunny day with a 13mph NE wind.
A much quieter day: 1 Yellow Wagtail over. 5 Redpoll 2 of which landed by the reservoir. Some vis mig north mainly Goldfinches plus Meadow Pipit, Linnet and a single Swallow.

10th April

Clear sky with the odd altostratus cloud early morning and a very light 3mph NE wind. A pretty good morning in all: 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Common Redstart, 1 Black Redstart, 1 Wheatear, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 5 Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 20 Willow Warbler

Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Brean Down 10th April 2010

Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus Brean Down 10th April 2010

Actinic and blacklight running over night produced: 1 Brindled Beauty (garden tick), 4 Hebrew Character, 1 Common Quaker, 2 Clouded Drab, 1 Early Grey, 1 Light Brown Apple Moth, 2 Emmelina monodactyla

Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria Garden 10th April 2010

9th April

Middle Hope: Light variable wind with a mixture of altostratus and altocumulus. A small number of Willow Warblers around at first light, a Red-legged Partridge by the Ancient Fort and a couple of Redpolls were the only birds I found noteworthy. P.Gregory had a Red Kite flying north over Sand Bay which then headed east over Middle Hope at 8am. A Grasshopper Warbler reeling (P.Gregory).

Garden moth trap: 1 Clouded Drab, 2 Hebrew Character, 1Emmelina monodactyla

8th April

Brean Down: Per A.Hockey: 20+ swallow, 10 sand martin. 15+ chiffchaff, 1willow warbler & 3 blackcap.

Garden moth trap: Hebrew Character, Common Quaker and a garden tickDiurnea fagella

7th April

Middle Hope: Overnight wind swing to a light north-easterly and mainly clear sky. An influx of Blackcap noticeable. Otherwise just 4 Sand Martin and 4 Swallow through.

6th April

Middle Hope: Altostratus cloud cover with a strong SSE wind. A mini fall recorded: 20 Willow Warbler, 3 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail and 6 Swallow. P.Gregory had a Tree Pipit.

5th April

Middle Hope: cloudy with a 16mph southerly wind making it warmer than yesterday. 2 Tree Pipits (1 at St Thomas's head and 1 in Sand Bay). 2 Wheatear (1 on Middle Hope and 1 in Sand Bay).

Garden moth trap: 2 Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Double-striped Pug and an Early Grey

4th April

Brean Down: Sunny day with a 13mph WNW wind. A quiet morning: 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin and a Water Pipit north (Brean Down tick).

3rd April

Cloudy with a brisk SSE wind. Again very little of note around with just a Tree Pipit (photo 1, photo 2) by St Thomas's Head and 11 Swallow flying up river

2nd April

Weston woods moths: 10mph southerly wind with some light rain overnight. 6W actinic again with a white sheet pulled in 100+ moths: 40 March moth, 25 Hebrew Character, 30 Small Quaker, 8 Diurnea fagella, 5 Twin-spotted Quaker, 4 Clouded Drab, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Dotted Border, 1 Shoulder-stripe, 1 Early Grey

Garden moth trap: 2 Hebrew Character, 1 Dotted Border (garden tick).

31st March

Strong westerly winds overnight into the morning. Cloudy but dry with rain clearing by morning.
Anchor Head produced little between 8am and 9am but picked up a little after that. Totals for the morning included: 3,000+ Herring/Lesser Black-back Gulls west, 3 Common Gulls south, 2 Black-headed Gulls south, 4 Curlew south, 1 Yellow-legged Gull north, 2 Gannet south, 3 Fulmar (1 south, 2 north) and 6 Common Scoter seen flying north and south.
The Scoter, initially a flock of 5 flew south at 9am and then half an hour later 6 flew north and then south a couple of minutes later.
The Yellow-legged Gull was an interesting bird. It was quite obvious even at distance. The large size and slower wing beats more like Great Black-back noticeable but wings not as broad making it look long winged. The mid-grey mantle and upper wings prevented confusion with Herring or Lesser Black-back. In today's light, Herring looked pale silver grey and Lesser Black-back looked blackish. There were traces of a broad tail band giving it the age of 3rd winter. It was the only gull flying up channel so perhaps storm driven?

30th March

Cloudy with a strong southerly wind with rain coming after mid-morning.
Middle Hope: 1 female Ring Ouzel, 35 Swallow east, 40 Meadow Pipit (heading east and west), 1 Siskin, 70 Curlew west, 10 Shelduck west, 15 Goldfinch west. Grounded: 10 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap. Over the high tide 4 Snipe came out of the marsh.
Per M.Taylor: 6 Purple Sandpipers at Anchor Head, also a couple of Swallows through. A Willow Warbler heard singing in town.
A half hour sea watch off Anchor Head at lunch time produced 2 Fulmar.

Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus Middle Hope 30th March 2010

29th March

Weston woods moths: A mild night with spells of rain sometimes heavy. Recorded with the 6W heath trap and a sheet: 20 March moth, 5Diurnea fagella, 2 Engrailed, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Early thorn, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Dotted Border, 1 Small Quaker, 2 Chestnut

Garden moth trap: 1Eudonia angustea, 2 Early Grey, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Common Quaker.

28th March

Cloudy but bright with a light westerly wind. Some vis mig over the point this morning heading west: 1 Redpoll, 1 Siskin, 50 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet. 20 Meadow Pipit grounded. A handful of singing Chiffchaff and a Blackcap.

Garden moth trap: 1 Hebrew Character and an Early Grey.

27th March

Per D.Webber: Male Redstart seen at 1-30pm today, along the drove from Old Bleadon Railway Station to S.T.W. about 300 metres from first gate past the house and 30+ linnet in stubble field.
7 Purple Sandpiper still at Anchor Head.

26th March

News from D.Gibbs via S.Hale: 3 Sand Martins, a Wheatear and 3 Chiffchaffs. 2 Stonechat and a female type Merlin also present. At Sand Point, c.20 Chiffchaffs noted.

25th March

Weston woods moths: A mild and damp night. Trap left from 8pm until 4:30am. 56 moths recorded: 35 Small Quaker, 10 Hebrew Character, 4 Dotted Border, 1 Pale Brindled Beauty, 2 Engrailed, 3 March Moth, 1 Chestnut.

Garden moth trap: 1 Clouded Drab, 2 Early Grey, 2 Hebrew Character, 1 Light Brown Apple Moth.

24th March

Middle Hope: Cloudy with light rain and a 10+mph SSE wind. At Middle Hope a mini fall: 1 Wheatear, 2 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 15 Chiffchaff and a Siskin. 30 Meadow Pipits grounded.
Thanks go to Steve Hale for the tip off.

Garden moth trap: First Early Grey of the year for the pathc and a Hebrew Character this morning

22nd March

Little news today but a singing Chiffchaff and singing Blackcap behind the Renault garage this morning and 2 Wheatears on Weston airfield this morning per D.Webber.

21st March

Sand Point: A quiet morning with 2 or 3 Sand Martins through and a Chiffchaff singing by the toilet block. AWoodcockflushed from Weston Airfield this afternoon.

Weston woods moths: Clear sky and a slight drop in temperatures overnight to 6 degrees. Nothing new in the trap for the year. Highlights were another Engrailed plus Acleris ferrugana/notana, Small Quaker and Twin-spotted Quaker.

Garden moth trap: Mompha divisella/bradleyi found during the afternoon in the bathroom window.

Mompha bradleyi (Determined by D.Agassiz) Garden 21st March 2010

20th March

A mild night of 10 degrees minimum with a 10mph southerly wind. Rain was forecast but it turned out to be a dry night. Results were: 4 Shoulder-stripe, 1 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1 Small Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character, 1 Acleris literana, 6 Dotted Border, 1 Chestnut sp, 1 Chestnut.

Garden moth trap: 1 Angle Shades and 2 Hebrew Character.

19th March

Sand Point: Partly cloudy with a 7mph SW wind. Combined totals with myself and Adrian Hockey: 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatear, 4 Sand Martin. A Great White Egret was seen heading towards Sand Bay/Weston just after 11am (H.Taffs)

A mild night again with light rain finished 10 minutes before I set the trap up. Caught by 3:30am were 1 Engrailed, 1 Red-green Carpet, 1 Shoulder-stripe, 1 Dark Chestnut, 1 Chestnut, 1 Twin-spotted Quaker, 4 Tortricodes alternella, 9 Dotted Border, 5 March Moth, 1 Hebrew Character.

Engrailed Ectropis bistortata Weston Woods 19th March 2010

Garden Moth trap: 3 Common Quaker, 1 Light Brown Apple Moth, 1 Hebrew Character.

18th March

Weston moths: I tried trapping in a small patch of wood near Weston Hospital last night that contained some Birch. Results were a little disappointing: 1 Double-striped Pug, 3 Hebrew Character, 2 Dotted Border, 7 March Moth.

17th March

Sand Point:Cloudy with light SW wind and intermittent light rain. 2 Wheatear (one at ancient fort and 1 on Middle Hope), 85 Meadow Pipit grounded. 3 Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler feeding in the big pine tree by the house. Vismig included: 30 Woodpigeon from the east then drifted south, 2 Blackbird south, 3 Redpoll west, 4 alba wagtail east, 6 Jackdaw south and 5 Raven south.

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Sand Point 17th March 2010

Weston woods moths: A mild night with temperatures only dropping as low as 5.5 degrees in the night. In the moth trap were: 4 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1 Small Quaker, 1 Common Quaker, 4 Hebrew Character, 2 Dotted Border, 1Tortricodes alternella, 12 March Moth, 1 Satellite, 2 Dark Chestnut, 1 The Chestnut, 2Acleris ferrugana/notana, 1Emmelina monodactyla

In the garden trap: 2 Hebrew Character.

13th March

Weston Woods moths: A mild night with some cloud and temperatures still at 4.7 degrees at 4:30am. I used an 18W blacklight in the woods this time for a comparison with the 6W actinic. This is the first time I have used my mains inverter running off a car battery which kept the trap happily running for 8.5 hours. Results were: 30 March Moth, 1 Satellite, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Hebrew Character, 3 Dotted Border, 1Tortricodes alternella, 3 Acleris ferrugana/notana (ferrugana the more likely).

Acleris ferrugana/notanaWeston Woods 13th March

10th March

Weston STW: 1 female type Merlin by the model racing circuit

Merlin Falco columbarius Weston STW 10th March 2010

Cloudy with temperatures dropping to 4 degrees by 4am. Less in the trap than I was expecting.
Weston woods moth trap: 1 Shoulder-stripe, 2 March Moth, 3Tortricodes alternella, 2 Dark Chestnut, 1 The Chestnut, 1 Dotted Border.

9th March

Clear bright and a cold North-East wind.
Sand Point: A small amount of passage recorded of birds moving east: 31 Dunlin, 3 Brambling, 2 Siskin, 3 Rock Pipit, 2 Greenfinch, 5 Goldfinch, 10 Meadow Pipit and a Redpoll. Yesterdays wagtail sp was still present in the bay which I now consider to be a female Pied Wagtail.

7th March

A cold start to the morning of -2 degrees and a 9mph easterly wind with clear skies. It remains quiet whilst the high pressure sits over us.
Sand Point: An increase in Meadow Pipits in the bay, a trickle of gulls up river and 2 Greenfinch in/off the sea were the only migrants of note.

6th March

A serene morning with light N-N-Easterlies.
Sand Point: Very little of note on the move with just 100 Dunlin east, 1 Siskin east, 6 Collared Dove east (including 4 in/off the sea at the point. A Chiffchaff calling by the toilet block had the typical call uttered by wintering birds so not considered to be a spring migrant.

Weston woods moths: Weather not as predicted but still produced a few good moths. Temperatures started off at 6 degrees, dropping to 4 degrees by 4:30am when I picked the trap up. The forecast cloud rolling in by mid-night and rising overnight temperatures was only just starting to arrive by 7am.
In the trap were: 1 Satellite, 3 March Moth, 9 Dotted Border, 2 Tortricodes alternella, 1Acleris cristana, 3 The Chestnut, 2 Hebrew Character andAcleris kochiella.

5th March

The 2 dark bellied Brent Geese found by Andy Clark on the 3rd were refound by Andy today. The green area that they graze in front of Black Rock is no longer there but despite this the birds were feeding in a creek between the river and Black Rock.

3rd March

High pressure building over the last couple of days has brought more settled conditions. Coupled with light easterlies, birds have started to move. Moving east at Sand Point were 25 Meadow Pipit, 13 Siskin, 4 Golden Plover and 60 Lesser Black-back Gulls. Pushed out of the marsh on a 13.2 metre tide was 9 Common Snipe and a Water Rail.

2nd March

A foggy start but soon cleared to a bright sunny morning with a light ENE wind. Fog prevented clear views of anything being pushed out of the marsh by the 13.3 metre tide. What could be seen was Water Rail, 25 Rock Pipit and a Water Pipit. 70 Golden Plover flew east over the bay and a Siskin was heard over.
The Water Pipit although not as obvious as last years was picked out by the paler underparts than the Rocks. The contrast between the greyish head and the brown mantle was noticeable in the field.
The Barnacle Goose was still on the Axe Estuary at mid-day.

Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta Sand Bay 2nd March 2010

1st March

Calm conditions with light variable winds and clear skies following the recent low pressure that moved up the English channel. A Ruff on the Axe Estuary per P.Gay also a Barnacle Goose on the mudflats. Other waders included Knot, Golden Plover with good numbers of Dunlin and Redshank.
Almost forgot to mention a Blackcap singing in Weston this morning on the dog walk circuit.

Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis Axe Estuary 1st March 2010

28th Feb

Mild overnight temperatures dropping to 5 degrees by 2am.
Weston woods moth trap: 1 Pale Brindled Beauty, 1 March Moth, 4 Tortricodes alternella, 8 Dark Chestnut, 3 The Chestnut, 5 Dotted Border. In the garden I was pleased to get my first garden tick of Early Moth.

26th Feb

Strong westerly winds touching 30mph at times and intermittent showers meant productive conditions for sea watching.
Sand Point: 22 kittiwake flew upchannel at the point 9:45.
Anchor Head between 10:30 and 12:30 115 Gannet (most down channel including a single flock of 60), 40 kittiwake upchannel in a single flock and 6 fulmar (5 down, 1 up). Of note the sea birds seemed more numerous when the showers were present. Gull movements were noticeable this morning with a westerly passage of mainly lesser black-back gulls. Herring, Common and Lesser Black-backs were being blown upchannel in small numbers along with the sea birds.

25th Feb

Weather was good last night for moths so I put the trap out in the woods again. Although cloudy I could still see the moon. Temperatures started at 7.7 degrees dropping to 6.5 degrees by 2am.
Weston woods moth trap: There was nothing new for the year in the trap but the numbers were certainly up. 36 moths were caught: 10 Dotted Border, 10 Tortricodes alternella, 4 The Chestnut, 4 Dark Chestnut, 3 Pale Brindled Beauty, 3 March Moth and a Spring Usher. A tortrix sp managed to escape before I could pot it. In the garden trap another Dark Chestnut was caught.

22nd Feb

A mild night for the first half just dipping below 3 degrees by 1am. A few spots of rain when I put the trap out but by mid-night the rain was more persistent. I put the 6W actinic out in Weston Woods again from 7pm until 12:30am and recorded 1 Dotted Chestnut, 1 March Moth, 11 The Chestnut, and 2 Tortricodes alternella. Even the moth trap at home produced a moth, a Dark Chestnut.

Dotted Chestnut Conistra rubiginea Weston Woods 22nd February 2010

21st Feb

3 degrees, partly cloudy with the odd light shower and a light WSW wind. Again rather quiet. The Axe Estuary produced 900 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 30 Golden Plover and 15 Teal whilst at Weston sewage works 70 Pochard, 45 Tufted Duck were on the UV pools. A trickle of gulls overhead plus 200 Lapwing with a further 30 Golden Plover north.

20th Feb

A bright sunny day 0.5 degrees with a 7mph WSW wind. February seems to the be quivalent of July in migration terms as very little seems to be going on at the moment. A trickle of Black-headed Gulls, Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull and a Siskin past the point. In Sand Bay 100 Dunlin and 14 Knot on the beach were joined by a further 120 Dunlin that flew in from the east. These and the 20 Curlew that flew in from the same direction were probably local movements from the surrounding coast. Wintering Rock Pipits in the marsh are down on last year with only 20 counted.

18th Feb

Dark Chestnut in the house

16th Feb

Went out last with the 6W actinic heath trap and located it on a slope amongst some mature oak. Weather overnight was good with a light south-westerly wind with occasional light rain and temperature of 3 degrees at it's lowest. I ran the trap from around 7pm until 1am. Moths caught were: 1 Spring Usher, 2 Pale Brindled Beauty, 1 Dotted Border, 2 The Chestnut, 1 Tortricodes alternella.

Spring Usher Agriopis leucophaearia Weston Woods 16th February 2010

6th/7th Feb

Mothing was average with friday night producing just 9 The Chestnut and a White-shouldered House Moth with the trap further into the woods. On saturday night I returned to the usual spot and got 4 Early Moth and 2 The Chestnut moth. Walking around the woods showed several different trees species that could be good for moths. On the circuit I heard several Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming along with a few Nuthatches and a Treecreeper.

Nuthatch Sitta europaea Weston Woods 7th February 2010

5th Feb

Weston woods moth trap: 18mph South-south-easterly wind and 7 degrees. Heavy rain was forecast for 3 hours starting at mid-night. Not brilliant conditions but as I have rarely trapped at woods before I decided to give it ago anyway. Last nights catch resulted in 1 Early Moth and 5 The Chestnut.

3rd Feb

Weston Woods moth trap: Overnight temperatures were forecast to remain quite high. In reality the night started off at 6 degrees progressively dropping to 3 degrees by dawn. Not bad temperature wise and enough to get the moths going. 1.5mm of rain between midnight and dawn.
The trap produced 3 Early Moth (Theria primaria) and 5 The Chestnut moth (Conistra vaccinii).

2nd Feb

09:00 on 02/02/10. 6.5°C. Cold. Dry. Wind 6.6 mph NNE. Rain today 1.1 mm.

Weston Woods : 6 The Chestnut, 2 Mottled Umber, 1 Dark Chestnut

Mottled Umber Erannis defoliaria Weston Woods 2nd February 2010

31st Jan

Weather: -1 degrees, partly cloudy and a 4mph W wind.
Axe Estuary: 1 Green-winged Teal still present (R.Musgrove)

30th Jan

Weather: 0 degrees, no cloud and a light NW wind.
Axe Estuary: 1 Green-winged Teal with 120 Eurasian Teal, 1 Purple Sandpiper with Ringed Plover on beach, 1,000 Dunlin and 5 Sanderling.
Anchor Head: 3 Purple Sandpiper. 45min sea watch rather fruitless with 2 Shelduck and a Curlew past.
River Axe: 1 Green Sandpiper and a Goosander.

Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis Axe Estuary 30th January 2010

29th Jan

Weather: 7mph NW wind with 3.8mm of rain overnight. temperature hovering around 6 degrees.
Weston STW: 1 Drake Scaup on the UV pools and 60 Pochard.

Weston Woods : 14 The Chestnut, 1 Mottled Umber

27th Jan

Weather: A change in weather in last 24hrs. 6.5 degree rise in temperature, wind swing from SW to NW clearing out the heavy cloud.
Anchor Head: 1 Great Northern Diver north at 08:15
Weston: A Blackcap heard in Chesham Rd North and a Mistle Thrush in Ashcombe Park.

Weston Woods : 8 The Chestnut, 2 Mottled Umber and a White-shouldered House Moth

23rd jan

Weather: Partly cloudy with a light variable wind. 1 degree.
Weston Wood: 1 singing male Firecrest presumably the wintering bird from Ashcombe Park.
Sand Point: Very little movement with just 2 Shelduck and 2 Curlew. In Sand Bay 20 Grey Plover, 10 Knot and 200 Dunlin.
River Axe: Bittern (A.Clark)

Garden moth trap: Winter Moth
Weston Woods moth trap: First location moth trap of the year. Actinic run overnight produced 1 Mottled Umber and 3 Chestnut.

22nd jan

moths
Garden: Large Yellow Underwing and Angle Shades caterpillar

18th Jan

Weather: Cloudy, 9 degrees and 9mph south-westerly wind.
Axe Estuary: Present this morning were 2 Avocet, Green-winged Teal, 480 Eurasian Teal, 2 Sanderling, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit.

17th Jan

Weather:
Axe Estuary: A Green-winged Teal, Smew and 2 Avocet here over the mornings high tide.

16th Jan

Weather: Cloudy with bright intervals. Temperature up to 7 degrees by late morning and a 10mph SSE wind.
River Axe: High water levels but a Green Sandpiper still present plus the Bittern.
Weston STW: 45 Pochard on UV pools. Also 15 Rock Pipit, 1 Jack Snipe in the marsh. 25 Gadwall on the non-tidal Axe. Over head 14 duck sp. 50 Redwing, 8 Golden Plover, 30 Lapwing, 10 Meadow Pipit.
Axe Estuary: A report of an Avocet here today (B.Montgomery).

13th Jan

Weather: Cloudy with overnight snow into this morning, 1 degree and 6 mph ESE wind
Not much coverage today but 100+ Redwing in Ashcombe Park at first light.
The Bustard was watched this afternoon in fields on the Somerset side of the Axe.

12th Jan

Weather: Cloudy, 1 degree and 20 mph ESE wind
River Axe: 5 Goosander (2 drake), 1 Green Sandpiper
Axe Estuary: A Spotted Redshank by the yacht club mid morning (D.Webber). 2 Black-tailed Godwits and good numbers of Dunlin this afternoon.
Weston STW: An Otter seen at the sewage works this lunch time.

11th Jan

Weather: Cloudy, 1 degree and 5 mph ENE wind
River Axe: A Bittern flew up the River Axe mobbed by crows this morning.
Weston STW: A wing tagged Great Bustard in fields by the sewage works this lunch time having flown in from the somerset side (B.Blake)

Bittern Botaurus stellaris River Axe 11th January 2010

10th Jan

Weather: Cloudy with light snow, 0 degrees and 12 mph NE wind
River Axe: 2 Green Sandpiper, 6 Goosander (4 drake), 1 Kingfisher, 3 coot, 14 shoveler, 11 gadwall, 4 tufted duck, 30 mute swan, 28 cormorant, 1 Jack Snipe (B.Blake) and 5 Pochard. Also heading west were 1,050 Woodpigeon and 23 Stock Dove.
Weston STW: 1 Brambling, 60+ Skylark, 300 Wigeon on the tidal side of the Axe. A Barn Owl hunting over fields east of model racing track (D.Nevitt).
Axe Estuary: 2,600 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Golden Plover.
Garden: A delight to see a small number of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding on small berry bush in my normally birdless garden.

9th Jan

Weather: Sunny, -2 degrees and 13 mph NNE wind
River Axe: 3 Green Sandpiper, 20 Common Snipe, 2 Goosander, 1 Kingfisher.
Weston STW: 2 Jack Snipe showing well in rhyne, also 4 water rail.
Axe Estuary: 1 Black-tailed Godwit and a Sanderling (Per B.Blake) amongst c.1000 Dunlin.

8th Jan

Weather: Cloudy, 0 degrees and a 10mph NNE wind
Early morning update..
River Axe: 1 Green Sandpiper, 21 Common Snipe, 3 Little Egret, 4 Little Grebe, 5 Goosander (1 drake), 4 Redshank, 12 Teal, 1 Kingfisher.

7th Jan

Weather: Sunny, -8 degrees and a light northerly wind
River Axe: 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Redshank, 10 Teal.
Weston STW: In half an hour a light southerly passage of 35 Skylark, 70 Lapwing, 4 Redwing and a Curlew. A Woodcock flew low north over Accomodation Road.

6th Jan

Weather: Heavy snow and brisk northerly wind.
River Axe: 5 Goosander (1 drake), 1 Green Sandpiper, 15 Common Snipe, 2 Little Egret, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Redshank, 8 Teal.
Anchor Head: All per A.Clark - 1 Black Redstart. 70 Lapwing plus Redwings and Song Thrushes coming in/off the sea.
Weston STW: 30 Fieldfare on berries. Pochard numbers down to 14. Shoveler numbers down to <10. Wigeon c.80.

5th Jan

3rd Jan

Anchor Head: 7 Purple Sand

Bleadon Hill: 1 chiffchaff

Axe Estuary: 4 Sanderling

2nd Jan

Weather: -2 degrees, sunny , 8mph WSW wind, 1018mB
Sand Point: Evidence of migration this morning with 750 Dunlin heading down channel in 8 groups. Also 113 Woodpigeon in a single flock flew down channel.
Sand Bay: 1 Black-tailed Godwit with Redshank and a Knot with 1,300 Dunlin.
Brean Down: Only 1 of the Black Redstarts could be found. 20+ Golden Plover with good numbers of Lapwing.

1st Jan

Weather: -1 degrees, sunny , 6mph N wind, 1009mB
Axe Estuary: 1 Sanderling, 1 Great Black-back Gull, 400 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 165 Snipe, 3 Jack Snipe, 50 Rock Pipit, 30 Skylark.
River Axe: 1 Green Sandpiper
Weston Wood: 1 Firecrest with tit flock (A.Clark).

Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus Axe Estuary 1st January 2010