Western Sandpiper at Normandy Marshes.

Saturday 9th October 2021.

The Western Sandpiper eventually showed well to the amassing crowd on Normandy Marshes (centre between two Dunlin).

Since the early part of this week, while I was away in Devon, a small sandpiper species was found at Normandy Marshes, near Lymington. At first, the bird was thought to be a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper and lingered all the time with a flock of Dunlin on the small islands on the reserve. However, some doubt crept in and Western Sandpiper could not be ruled out. The arguments raged all week on its ID when eventually, it was decided that it was a winter-plumage Western Sandpiper; a first for Hampshire.

More photos of the Western Sandpiper at Normandy Marshes. The bird showed well at first and then flew to another island. Clearly smaller and leaner than the Dunlin and much paler in the face.

Fortunately for both Andy and myself, the bird lingered into Saturday and though it was seen briefly at first within the nearby harbour feeding with Dunlin on the mud, it disappeared and then, roughly around midday the bird was showing again. It was allegedly among a big flock of Dunlin on one of the islands, but despite a good search through them, I was doubting that the sighting was reliable. Despite a few more flocks of both Dunlin and Ringed Plovers coming into  land on the islands from the incoming tide, there was still no sign of the bird, despite a good number of birders present and then it popped out.

From top to bottom: Brent Geese swimming in the harbour; Greenshank and a Kingfisher all keeping us entertained while we waited for the Sandpiper to show.

A smaller, thinner and most certainly paler wader came into view behind the main flock of Dunlin and I was quickly telling others that the Western Sandpiper was now showing very well. I quickly took as many photos of the bird as possible as it busied itself walking around by the waters edge then joining the Dunlin on the grassy area. Without warning, the bird then flew away from us but fortunately landed on the same island but out of view. After a while, Andy and myself joined the other birders over on the south side of the reserve and eventually, the bird popped out  and I managed to grab some film footage of it. The bird never got any closer but through the scope and in this superb light, one could clearly see all the distinctive features of the bird.

From top to bottom: Dunlin & Turnstone; Ringed Plover and a view of the reserve looking north-east.

This was only my second ever Western Sandpiper, after one was seen many years ago off Brownsea Island, Dorset and of course, not only a ‘year-tick’, but a very good Hampshire ‘tick’. It was a ‘lifer’ for Andy, his fourth ‘lifer’ of the year. I met one of the ‘Lazee’ birders, Andy Tew and another chap whose name I forgot, but met a few weeks back at Warblington while watching the Glossy Ibis. It was nice to get another point of view about the bird and also catch up on recent sightings. No doubt, we will probably meet again.

An appreciative crowd of birders enjoying the Western Sandpiper today at Normandy Marshes. I am in the photo with the blue baseball cap. Photo by Andy Tew. 

It was very busy with the bird life on the reserve, with waders present including the Dunlin as well as Ringed Plover, numerous Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatchers, Curlew, 2 LIttle Stints, Turnstone, at least 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank; though we failed to see the Curlew Sandpiper that was present. Can't win them all. A showy Kingfisher performed well, seen catching fish from a small post on one of the islands. Wildfowl were in good numbers including Teal, Wigeon and an awful lot of Canada Geese! A small flock of Brent Geese were swimming in the harbour with a few Great Crested Grebes nearby and at least four Little Grebes were seen swimming on the reserve. Below, some film footage of the Western Sandpiper.

Not that much in the way of passerines, though good numbers of both Meadow Pipit and Skylark enjoyed the islands. I did hear a Yellow Wagtail passing overhead, but failed to pick it up and a Wheatear was reported here too, which we failed to see. A really good day’s birding, especially picking up a very rare bird on our travels. Interestingly, a Long-toed Stint was reported at Swillington Ings, West Yorkshire, which will keep the ‘twitcher's’ very happy indeed!

  

Large Wainscot added to my moth Life List.

Friday 8th October 2021.

The Large Wainscot by my moth box this morning.

And so, we said goodbye to East Prawle for another year but not before I checked out the moth box I had on overnight while my wife finished packing! An overcast start to the morning, the ground was very wet again and yet another good showing of moths to go through, with a few more lovely surprises. Yesterday’s Clifden Nonpareil was still present where I left it yesterday, in a gap within the brick wall near the box, but still dry too and a little wary when I went to pick it up. I decided to leave it alone and concentrate on what was on the grass.

My third ever Green-brindled Crescent on the wall of the Cottage. 

A very worn Snout moth. 

I picked up another ‘lifer’ when I discovered my first ever Large Wainscot perched on one of the arms of the chair my box was sitting on. Much larger than the similar looking Common Wainscot, I carefully picked it up using one of my pots and placed it carefully with the other moths. Another cracking moth, a Green-brindled Crescent, was found perched on the wall near the box and that was by chance. I nearly gave up looking over the wall of the Cottage but on closer inspection, I found a few more Lunar Underwing and Feathered Ranunculus sat on the wall and a very late Small Fan-footed Wave.

The following moths were present this morning:

• 1 Green-brindled Crescent
• 1 Clifden Nonpareil
• 1 Large Wainscot
• 1 Snout 
• 3 Common Marbled Carpet
• 9 Feathered Ranunculus
• 35 Lunar Underwing
• 1 Black Rustic
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 4 Beaded Chestnut
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Light Brown Apple Moth
• 1 Dark Sword Grass
• 1 Small Fan-footed Wave

The Small Fan-footed Wave.

So this trip rounded off with a bumper crop of moths and I have to say that this week here has been superb for moths and reasonable for birds. Yes, I was hoping for a rarity this week, especially as someone found a Red-eyed Vireo not too far away from East Prawle, in the Soar Valley yesterday. Surely there was one hiding away along one of those hedgerows? I took Scruff for a walk in the morning and came across a lot of Chiffchaffs along the lane and also a Goldcrest. A few Blackcaps were also present, but I could not find anything more unusual. I did see some birders down below near the coastal path looking interested in something, but all I noticed was the two Roe Deer again.

Becky and myself enjoying an ice-cream yesterday afternoon in Dartmouth. A Grey Wagtail was seen in the town and a pair of Common Buzzards soared high over the harbour.  

This juvenile Herring Gull kept a very close eye on us just in case we dropped any of our ice-creams

This morning, while checking the moth box, I could hear a Ringed Plover calling high overhead, but I failed to locate the bird in the gloom. Also, there were plenty of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Linnets passing overhead and a Chiffchaff could be heard somewhere nearby. As well as the expected lots of Crane Flies, other insects in my moth box included a Common Green Shieldbug and a very impressive Minotaur Beetle. By 9am on the dot, the car was packed and then off we went, but not before we had a lovely cooked breakfast in Kingsbridge to ease one into the long drive back home to Portsmouth.  

The Minotaur Beetle in my hand this morning having spent the night in the moth box.

A drenched worn Clifden Nonpareil added to trip moth list.

Thursday 7th October 2021.

A foggy start to the day in East Prawle. For some reason or another, I was finding moths on the lawn!

It is our penultimate day here in East Prawle and I have to say that I have not found any rare birds (so far) here, the moths have given me a good showing and this morning, yet another quality moth has dropped in near my moth box. This morning, I awoke to a real ‘pea-souper’ here in East Prawle, with visibility down to around 50 yards, but there was a good number of moths not only in the moth box, but also found a lot of bedraggled moths on the lawn! 

The bedraggled Clifden Nonpareil. It was on closer inspection of the upper wing pattern that I could agree with a fellow 'moth-er' that this was indeed a Clifden. Hopefully, it will dry out and become a little more obvious; but a lovely surprise nonetheless.

I was actually making my way back inside the Cottage when I stumbled across a very large moth sitting very wet on the lawn and I quickly got my largest pot out to check it out. It was still alive (thankfully) and on first guess, I was sure it was a Convolvulus Hawk-moth and decided to put a photos on the Migrant Lepidoptera Facebook page and was quickly corrected by a chap on there, who suggested a Clifden Nonpareil (Blue Underwing). On closer inspection, I can actually see the wing pattern on the upper wing, but the moth was too wet to check the under-wing. I consequently, put the moth inside my moth box to hopefully dry out and I shall have a closer inspection later today and then release it. The Clifden, then this would be only my 3rd ever. What a way to end the week here!

Another soaked moth found on the front garden lawn - an Angle Shades.

Not forgetting the other moths present, I found a Snout moth by the box last night and a Common Marbled Carpet was fluttering nearby. This morning, there was a variety of moths including a Double-striped Pug, Delicate and at least 3 Beaded Chestnuts. The full list for this morning is as follows: 

• 1 Clifden Nonpareil
• 2 Large Yellow Underwing
• 2 Black Rustic
• 3 Beaded Chestnut
• 4 Feathered Ranunculus
• 2 Large Ranunculus
• 6 Lunar Underwing
• 2 Setaceous Hebrew Character
• 1 Double-striped Pug
• 1 Snout
• 2 Angle Shades
• 1 Garden Carpet

Top photo, a selection of the moths caught this morning in and around the moth box. Middle photo, one of three Beaded Chestnuts. They do vary in colour a lot. Bottom photo, my second Delicate moth of the trip.

Despite the thick fog, I still could hear a few birds calling near the garden including a Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail; though I don't know how long this fog will persist here this morning. We shall see. Like the moths, there could be a grounded rarity just around the corner?

Another good garden watch and a trip to Prawle Point.

Wednesday 6th October 2021.

A pair of Blackcaps popped into the garden early this morning and enjoyed a few berries, including this male bird. 

It was a much calmer morning when the sun arose from the east, with hardly any wind and yet another stunning sunrise over the sea, viewed from the window from our Cottage. Quite amazing. I had the moth box on overnight, but to be honest, I was a little disappointed at the low turnout of moths present. A couple of Dark Sword-grass were the only immigrant moths present among the following: 

• 2 Black Rustic
• 6 Lunar Underwing
• 2 Dark Sword-grass
• 4 Feathered Ranunculus
• 1 Common Marbled Carpet
• 1 Setaceous Hebrew Character

From top to bottom, one of the Dark Sword-grass moths; a selection of the moths present this morning and a superb sunrise again over the sea.

After grabbing a cup of coffee, I went downstairs to view the back garden and the birds passing overhead. As expected, good numbers of Meadow Pipits flew through plus a few Skylarks. The garden got a lot more interesting when a pair of Blackcaps were seen enjoying the garden berries and a few Chiffchaffs dropped in also. One individual was singing somewhere nearby. The Grey Wagtail landed on a nearby rooftop and it was most unusual to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker perched on a television aerial! I am not sure if I have ever seen one do this before.

Both the male (below) and the female Blackcap (above) posed nicely for me in the back garden.

As well as all the usual birds, a small flock of Siskins flew over as did several Linnets and the Raven was seen yet again flying over the fields to the east. As it was such a nice morning, after breakfast, I then made my way with Scruff down to Prawle Point for a nice leisurely walk along the coastline.

Above, the Great Spotted Woodpecker posing on a television aerial and below, another Chiffchaff enjoying searching for insects among the Ivy plants.

I flushed a Common Buzzard from a fence post as I was driving down to the car park at Prawle Point, though only having a split second to see the bird while I negotiated this tricky bit of road. The car park was alive with bird calls including a Blackcap, several Linnets and Skylarks high overhead as I made my way to the coastline path. A quick look over the sea produced a good stream of Gannets heading west and I could also see several Shearwaters passing through, though quite distant and seeing I was not packing my scope, I can only assume they were Balearics. I think I wasted a possible Bonxie sighting too, but the bird was really too distant to be totally sure.

Above and below, Cirl Buntings down at Prawle Point this morning.  

The whole area was alive with birds including good numbers of Cirl Buntings throughout my walk. At least two birds were heard singing, though near impossible to find in all that vegetation, but I did see many others along the way. Yellowhammers were also in good supply and stood out well in the morning sunshine. Another numerous species were the Stonechats. Easily double figures were obtained of this species either on the footpath or in the neighbouring fields. The Cows were in the fields by the footpath, but they did not give Scruff and I any trouble, but I assume the electric fence would probably deter them anyway.

Above, one of hundreds of Meadow Pipits seen this morning and below, this female Kestrel rested briefly to the north of the footpath until moving off west.

Overhead, the air was alive with Hirundines with Swallows, House and Sand Martins literally everywhere, whether it be over the fields hawking for insects or low over the rocky shore doing exactly the same thing. Large flocks of both Meadow Pipit and Linnet were enjoying the field's rich insect bounty, but I could not find anything scarcer than these two species among them. Down on the rocks, a few Rock Pipits were joined by Pied Wagtails around the rock pools, but no sign of any Wheatears in the area.

From top to bottom: the eye-catching structure of the rocks below the Weather Station; one of many House Martins feeding over the fields and a large flock of Linnets also in the same field.  

A pair of Kestrels were hunting along the rocky area, but the local Crows did not let them settle as they soon drifted off west. A pair of Ravens soon followed, showing reasonably close as I was making my way back to the car park. Another pair of Siskins flew through and though there seemed to be a lot of Blackbirds around the rocky area to the north, there was no sign of any other thrush species. Surely, both Redwing and Ring Ouzel should be making their way through now? I have to say that I really enjoyed watching the Hirundines flying just feet away from me by the footpath, close enough that you could see all their tiny details of their plumage.

Top photo, the male Stonechat and below, the female. Good numbers of this species were present.

Nearing the car park, I joined a couple of birders checking out the slopes for interesting passerines. More Blackcaps were noted and a few Chiffchaffs too among them, but little else to get the pulse racing. Four species of butterfly seen here this morning were abundant, including Red Admiral, Large White, Small White and Speckled Wood; while a lone Small Tortoiseshell fluttered across a field and landed right next to me but suddenly disappeared into the grass never to be seen again!

Top photo, Gannets streamed through across the sea heading west throughout the morning. Below, one of the pair of Ravens flying west past the rocky outcrop.

A cracking morning walk with Scruff and fingers crossed, I hope to give it another go before we head off home on Friday. Another Stonechat was seen as I was driving back to the Village, while more Hirundines flew low over the hedgerows. Tonight's weather looks to be a bit unsettled, but very little wind as well, so I shall put the moth box out again tonight. Below, a flock of Gannets heading west off Prawle Point. Such underappreciated seabirds and in my opinion, always worth watching.  

A good walk around the Village and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth!

Tuesday 5th October 2021.

This stunning sunrise this morning grabbed my attention at 7.15am as I looked out the kitchen window! 

Because of the heavy rain last night, i didn't put the moth box on overnight, but today, I was blessed with sightings of both Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden and a Common Marbled Carpet while walking the dog through the Village this morning here in East Prawle; so therefore, I got my moth ‘fix’ today!

Top photo, the Common Marbled Carpet seen on a Cottage within the village and bottom photo, the gorgeous Hummingbird Hawk-moth basking in the morning sunshine.

Though there were a few rogue heavy showers today, it was much drier than yesterday by a long shot, though the blustery north-westerly wind persisted all day long, which in turn kept the temperature cool at times. It was lovely when the wind dropped now and then, but it didn't last long. So with no moth box on first thing to check, before breakfast, I then did some birding from the back garden and in two hours, I picked up quite an impressive list of birds.

Top photo, the male Stonechat I saw along the lane near Welles House and below, this male Common Darter was found basking in the sunshine by the Village Pond.

My first Grey Wagtails of the trip here were seen as well as a distant Raven flying over the fields to the east. A Great Spotted Woodpecker showed several times throughout the day (also seen in the afternoon when we had coffee and nibbles in the back garden!) and a flock of 5 Jays flew low over the rooftops heading north. Swallows, Meadow Pipits and a lot of finch species flew over the garden in very good numbers and even a flock of 13 Skylarks passed over. Meanwhile, in the garden itself, a Wren (down to about 3 feet!) two Robins and the local House Sparrows entertained when it went briefly quiet. A Siskin was heard twice, but I failed to see the bird. The list of birds and numbers are as follows:

• 4 Grey Wagtail
• 3 Pied Wagtail
• 31+ Swallow
• 7 Greenfinch
• 1 Pheasant (in fields to the east)
• 50+ Meadow Pipit
• 5 Jay
• 14 Goldfinch (although seen flying over,  most were preening in a nearby conifer)
• 5 ‘alba’ Wagtail
• 3 Linnet
• 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
• 16 Skylark
• 11 Long-tailed Tit
• 8 House Martin
• 1 Chaffinch
• 1 Raven (over fields to the east)

This Starling was singing in the sunshine near the Cottage.

Incredibly and totally unexpected, a Hummingbird Hawk-moth came into the garden and was looking for somewhere to settle on the back wall of the Cottage. After several tries in finding somewhere to roost, it eventually chose an area close to where I was standing and I managed to grab a few nice photos of it with my main camera.

Speckled Wood butterflies were seen along the small bridle-path near Welles House.

After breakfast, I took Scruff for a long walk around the village, kicking off with another walk along the lane by Welles House. I was photographing one of the many Drone Flies that was nectaring on the Ivy plants on one of the stone walls when a chap came up to me curious in what I was photographing. He then told me about the rare Cuckoo Bees breeding in the soft clay down at Prawle Point. I shall keep an eye on them should I take a walk down there tomorrow morning. 

Drone Flies were abundant on the flowering Ivy plants.  

It was fairly quiet down the lane and the usual large mixed flock of large Gulls were in the same field as yesterday, including at least one Lesser Black-backed Gull. Both Skylark and Meadow Pipits were abundant, but there was no sign of the Wheatear from yesterday. On the outskirts of one of the sheep fields, a male and female Stonechat were seen along with several Meadow Pipits nearby. At the end of the lane, I saw a Common Buzzard soaring over the fields, while in the small enclosed pathway, a Chiffchaff was seen briefly and both Speckled Wood and Red Admiral butterflies were basking in the sunshine. 

Common Buzzards have been scarce on this trip here so far, so one drifting over the fields was a nice surprise. 

Walking back, I passed the small pond slowly as i could hear a few Chiffchaffs calling in here, of which at least one or possibly two, i actually saw. This time last year, I had a Yellow-browed Warbler in exactly the same spot, but sadly, nothing that exotic here today. A Small White and Red Admiral butterfly was noted and on the bench, enjoying the sunshine, was a male Common Darter dragonfly sharing the bench with a Noon Fly. A Frog was briefly seen sinking back into the water as I made my way out of the Pond area and back up the road, until doing a right into Town Lane. 

One of the male House Sparrows enjoying feeding on the berries in the garden while being buffeted by the wind this morning.

I walked past one of our most stayed in Cottages, Skippers, and was a bit disappointed to see that it was now being used privately rather than rented out. I was tempted to walk the bridle path to the east for anything like a rarity hiding along there, but seeing all the mud and puddles before me, I quickly changed my mind and walked down the hill and back to the Cottage.  The scent of the flowering Ivy Plants was strong down here and out of the wind, it attracted good numbers of both Hoverflies and Bumblebees, including a Tree Bumblebee enjoying the plants. Sadly, just before I got back into the Cottage, I found a dead Frog missing its head on the side of the road! A casualty of a Cat perhaps?

This Noon Fly was also basking in the sunshine on the same bench as the Common Darter. 

Becky was itching to get out and so we took a drive down to the small village of Torcross, parking up in the large car park by Slapton Ley. Almost immediately, I saw a Sandwich Tern flying along the shoreline over a very calm sea. I had a quick scan over the beach for any Wheatears, but there were none, however, there was a good gathering of House Martins hawking over the beachfront houses, including one adult feeding its youngster on the wing. We had a nice coffee in one of the local Cafe’s then took a drenching from a passing shower on the way back to the car. Before the rain came in, Becky had to feed the ducks and while she did that, I picked out a Chiffchaff and a Migrant Hawker dragonfly by bushes close by. then the rain came and we raced back to the car. 

From top to bottom: Slapton Ley; a juvenile Moorhen among some 'colourful' Mallards and Becky enjoying feeding the ducks! 

We popped into the Farmshop on the way back to the Cottage to pick up something for tonight's tea and then drove back to our Cottage. We spent a nice hour having coffee and nibbles in the back garden, with a very tame Robin coming down to feed close to where we sat as I picked out the birds flying over including the Woodpecker again and the Grey Wagtails and also making plans on where abroad we would like to go in the near future. Precious time with my precious Becky.