dub-birder: Out of the ether….

Well. Hello. Er, so. Eeeerrrrm it’s been a while. Again. Apologies for my general slackness in updating the blog, to be honest I’ve been out birding, mothing and enjoying life so finding time to sit and upload words and pics through a horrifically slow dongle connection has been low on the priority list.

BUT tis the season of change and there’s a lot to say, and over the coming days and weeks I will hopefully get updates on the go ‘reggers’ to cripple, grip and molest your perceptive capacities.

Right first off birds: The Farnes breeders have nearly all departed, with the last Arctic Tern fledging yesterday while Sandwich Terns remain in very small numbers while all the Auks have f*cked off!

Roseates are heading orf too.

Fulmar chick looking cute.

However as the breeders depart, the migrants arrive! On the sea some good northerly storms at the beginning of August produced good numbers of Storm Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters, Manxies as well as Skuas of both Arctic and Great shapes. A night of Petrel ringing at this time also produced a Leach’s which in the hand near enough disabled most of the team through chronic griptigue.

Stormy getting the treatment.

Leach's eat stormy for breakfast.

Passerine migrants have been thinner on the ground but weirdly a NW storm on 7^th August produced a bonus fall consisting of Whinchat, Tree Pipit (2), Whitethroat, Willow Warbler (3) on Inner Farne. While non-passerine migrants have been repped by Merlin and Black Tern. as well as a 'good few' waders.

Can you find the Chlidonia?

Cheeky Knot.

We then battled the large swell to bird Brownsman, and oh was it worth it! Upon arrival me and Ciaran put our bins up and simultaneously locked onto a stonking Wood Warbler! Also on the island was Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler (8) and Wheatear. But Woody stole the show giving prolonged views just chilling on the wall truly proving it doesn’t have to be rare to totally blow your balls off!

How good is that!!!

Along with migration, the Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies – but you knew that, right?) are also picked right up. Moth Trapping has occurred regularly recently and to date 2314 moths of 81 species have been recorded while another 14 species have been added by casual sightings such as checking nectar sources. Migrant species are disappointingly low in numbers but the locals are maintaining interest. Here’s some pics:

Dark Spinach

Ear Moth species.

Garden Tiger

Wormwood Pug (Ling form for the geeks).

For the haters - Mircos are beautiful! Eudonia lineola

Plain Pug

Six-striped Rustic

Marbled Beauty

July Highflyer

Butterflies, which started slow, are also appearing in larger numbers with a purple patch on the 5/6^th August producing 11 species (none are resident on the islands). The hightlights
were Dark Green Fritillary (8^th for Farnes), Comma (3^rd for Farnes), Meadow Brown and Speckled Wood which were all new for the year while Painted Ladies and Red Admirals were present in large numbers. Stick these pics in your facial space: