(Chalkhill Blue, Comma, Dolichovespula media, Nowickia ferox, Athalia spp, Harebell all from QECP and Cormorant, Little Egret, Volucella inanis, Leptura quadrifasciata, Volucella zonaria, Common Terns, Redshanks and a Common Sandpiper from TH).
The four horsemen of the 'wildlife apocalypse', Covid19, arthritis, August and heat have all combined over the last couple of weeks to make it pretty joyless being out.
Locally, bird life has been very thin with just a one observer, one day Citrine Wagtail as a stand out. A prebooked TH outing (masks in hides now) was pleasantly quiet peoplewise and produced decent views of the female Marsh Harrier and two Kingfishers, both firsts since before the start of lockdown, plus the autumn's first Yellow Wagtail and a nice roadside Water Rail; three more of the latter were heard. At least two juvenile Sparrowhawks were calling continuously from the usual clump and this year's Kestrels were hunting together over the meadow. One or two Silver-washed Fritiliaries washed up and down the boardwalk on a couple of dates.
Many 'mothers' have attracted loads of Jersey Tigers whilst trapping which ought to prompt me to put mine out tonight whilst this hot, dry weather lasts; sadly all my garden moths info for the last three years held in spreadsheets was lost due to a factory reset on a tablet - I'd foolishly forgotten that I'd never backed up to an external device. Doh!!
Thankfully last night's decision to hold off on the moth trap was a good call as it rained hard at least twice during the night.
Another pre-booked visit to TH on Thursday was quiet with just a single Wheatear in the meadow, the first this year. MF's earlier Black Tern and Whinchat had both gone into hiding. Various heard onlys included Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, Bearded Tit and the juvenile Sparrowhawks. The juvenile 'European' Blackwit was present along with a couple of Common Sandpipers and a Dunlin and the single Great Crested Grebe chick was still bring fed by parents. Volucella zonaria was on Water Mint and a Helophilus trivittatus was also seen, but little else.
A non birding outing today saw a flyover Grey Wagtail in town and a Red Kite out towards the windmill.
