Moths Butterflies and surprises on the Sea

Privet Hawk Moth 15 May. The first of the season

Green Hairstreak butterfly on the Sycamore tree in the NWT Car Park 16 May.

Roe Deer 16 May. Photographed on the beach at Thornham Harbour, where they spent several hours after being watched swimming ashore from a considerable distance out to sea. A distraction from the line of 10 Gannets that had just passed flying west !

Little Terns 16 May. Photographed on the Beach by the Thornham Harbour channel.

Racing Pigeon 16 May. Holme Bird observatory. A striking looking bird on a quiet day's ringing

Broad Bordered Bee Hawk Moth 9 May

Discovered inside the Observatory Building this scarce moth was a new addition to the Parish list. Photographed and then released - after which it fed on the Buddliea and Wallflowers outside the building for some time before departing. photograph by Sophie Barker

More Ring Ouzel images. 9 May

Female Ring Ouzel 9 May. Staying close to the shelter of the Forestry area on the NWT Reserve

Ring Ouzel

Female Ring Ouzel, Holme Dunes, 2nd May 2010 © Ian Simons

Recently there has been a good series of Ring Ouzel records within the recording area, with a male on 24th April, up to 3 birds 1st-4th May and a female on 9th May. Although migration has generally been slow, there was a glut of notable migration at the end of April, with highlights including a Great-white Egret (24th April), 2 Ospreys (25th and 26th April), 3 Common Cranes (24th April) and 2 Blue-headed Wagtails (25th April), as well as smaller numbers of Tre Pipits, Redstarts, Whinchats and good totals of Yellow Wagtails and Arctic Terns.