21st of August: First Autumn arrivals

This week on Blakeney Point, we have taken down the breeding bird fencing on the western end of the Point. Access is now permissible along much of Far Point. There is no access to the very end of the Point to protect the seals and new-born pups that haul out there. If you walk along the beach at low tide, you may meet either one of the rangers or our lovely volunteers located near the gap in the dunes to provide information on the seals and help you to have a closer look through our telescope.

 

The gap in the dunes towards the end of Blakeney Point (Daniel Wynn)

We are still seeing tern species on the reserve. On the 20^th of August we recorded 50 Sandwich Terns feeding near the Watch House, 13 Common and 3 Arctic in the roost on the beach at low tide. A few juvenile Oystercatchers can still be seen on the marshes near the Lifeboat House aswell.  

Our moth trap this week held some new finds...

 Chinese character moth, 17^th August (Wynona Legg)

The Chinese character moth combines its wing pattern and resting posture to resemble a bird dropping, thus avoiding predation from birds. August is the start of their second breeding season and can be more readily observed in moth traps when adults are attracted to the light.

A Goldspot moth, 17^th August (Wynona Legg)

Goldspots are fairly common across all the counties although they can more often be seen in damp places such as woodland, fens and bogs. They are fairly unmistakable with a distinctive metallic shine and bright golden spots on the forewing.

This week has brought some of the first Autumn migrants to arrive, coinciding with a warm spell of weather and mild easterly winds. A Wryneck was spotted on the 17^th of August in the Plantation. We have seen high numbers of Pied Flycatchers, with a record 44 on the on the 19^th. Other regular migrants include Willow Warblers, Garden Warbler, Reed Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Wheatears and Whinchats.

The most notable migrants so far were two Greenish Warblers on the 18^th of August. An individual was recorded in the Plantation in the morning, with a second observed later in the Shrubby Sea-blite on Far Point. 

 Greenish Warbler in the Plantation (Daniel Wynn)