December Moth

The mild weather over the last couple of nights encouraged me to run the trap. I was rewarded with 2 male December moths overnight on the 8th, a species I have hankered after for a while... Also a Common Plume on the 8th and a single LBAM on the 9th.

Just another day on the levs

First thing this morning I dropped in again at Normans Bay for this stunning little bird which now seems very settled. Both pictures and video are early morning and unmodified, no apologies - I like both.

On the sea sifting through the couple of hundred strong Scoter flock proved tricky in the choppy conditions but yielded several of the Velvets' and at least one Eider.
Lookers in the evening produced 3 SEO, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, 2+ Kestrel, but again no Hen Harriers. Stay safe.

Dessie 2 - after the buzz

Depressingly I have had to spend the week at work but was finally able to get out this afternoon and take in some more leisurely time with the first winter male Desert Wheatear. There was no sign Tuesday morning but the bird was picked up early afternoon about a kilometre down the beach at Normans Bay. It then returned to the EA compound near where we had originally found it, enabling LP to catch up with it, and appeared to roost there. Subsequently it seems to have settled around a patch of rough scrub to the west of the Martello tower in Normans Bay and if not pursued will come very close.

On to Horse-eye where a couple of the SEO were putting on a good show until dusk. Also single Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 3 Snipe, single Jack Snipe, 50 Fieldfare, Kingfisher, and 8 Moorhen. Keep it real.