We only went to Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve as somewhere for a walk but it was nice to see plenty of birds after the relative dearth in the Peterborough area recently. Apart from the Brent Geese, Little Egrets, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwits there we quickly found Curlew Sandpiper, Little Stint, Spotted Redshank and Knot but it was extremely windy so anything other than wildfowl and waders keeping its head down.
Then heading along the road to the sea wall a small party of Ruff flew from the meadows and onto the freshmarsh nearvy. There was a small wader with them that sparked my interest so I scoped the flock on the deck and picked up this Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Not all that easy to get good views at it was being chased around the vegetation on an island until it had had enough and flew off on its own. Frustratingly there was not another birder in sight and no way of getting a message to the visitor centre so I reported the news to Birdguides and caught Karen up to continue the circuit.
An hour later I was meeting birders arriving to see the bird and of course there was no sign so it was relief when I got home and found that it had been relocated, back on the grassland, a couple of hours after my first sighting. Among those relocating it were the current and former county recorders, John Badley and Steve Keightley and through them I have this photo by Steve.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis, juvenile with 2 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Another non-lep at the moth trap last night. Curculio weevils are a bit tricky but with the aid of a bit of magnification you can see the shape of the segments on the antennae confirming the ID. The inset picture below comes from here and shows the Acorn Weevil (C. glandium) on the left and this species on the right.
Our annual pilgrimage to the far west of Cornwall yielded a excellent haul of wildlife images. This post very nearly didn't happen due to the mysterious case of the disappearing SD card. The card then miraculously and happily appeared at the bottom of a very unlikely rucksack on our return. Phew!
The wildlife was dominated by a strong passage of Manx Shearwaters over the sea on several days but the only Balearic Shearwater to show, which landed very close to the house and well within filming range, unfortunately left before I could fire up the equipment. Otherwise the highlights were an amazing Ocean Sunfish, several Basking Sharks, a single Harbour Porpoise and a couple of playful Grey Seals that approached the canoe near the Minack Theatre. I'm sure one was purposely surfacing just behind the boat and expelling air suddenly to try and make us jump.
Ocean Sunfish Mola mola
You get an idea of scale as this medium sized Basking Shark passes the Pilot Gig 'Brisons' just off Sennen Cove.
Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus
This Slow Worm appeared on the path in front of us during a long walk in the Bosigran Farm area between Zennor and Pendeen.
Slow Worm Anguis fragilis
One of the more intriguing beasts was this tiny, early instar nymph of a scarce bug spotted by Alex while climbing in the idilic, secluded cove of Green Bay near Porthcurno. It really is very small indeed but rather distinctive with the spiky and hairy legs and antennae and striking colouring. It is a specialists of soft cliffs and dunes.
Boat Bug Enoplops scapha, 2nd instar nymph
The Emperor Moth is striking enough as an adult, but as a caterpillar it is a mean, green, eating machine.
Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia, larva
OK, some more insects. No pics of the Red Admirals, Clouded Yellows and Painted Ladies that were around the coasts (and over the sea at times) though I'm afraid.
Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Field Grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus
Oh yes, and birds. Sennen Cove has had increasing numbers of Mediterranean Gulls every time I return and this year there were 30 or so. Here are a few in different plumage states and a Kittiwake, a species that joined them in varying numbers on the shoreline.
This genus of sawflies is difficult to identify to species but I've read that the arrangement of teeth on the ovipositor of the female can be used and, happily this is a female. The USB microscope has revealed some detail so posting this on the offchance that someone has the necessary literature and can help.
Another addition to the garden moth list. Quite a common moth so surprising it hasn't turned up before. A rather distinctive little fella with the characteristic ypsolopha 'headstand' resting posture but a more individual upturned and divided wingtip.
A couple more insects identified with the help of the little USB microscope. The first is a possibly scarce leafhopper dependent on elm. Unfortunately deceased, but the closeup shows the three spurs on the tip of the hind femur typical of the genus. The only other species has no all-green form.
The fearsome large red ichneumon is a common species, one of two with these yellowish markings around the head and thorax. The other differs in the distance of the ocelli (the black 'eyes' in the middle of the head) from the occipital carina (the faint brown suture line at the back of the head) and the shape of the abdomen.
Not a huge catch but some properly scarce moths among them. Black Arches is a real favourite with those amazing antennae and the striking black and white 'plumage'. It is a woodland species so can be unusual in less arboreal gardens and this is only the second here. Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix however is a garden first and a moth I've only ever recorded once before elsewhere. There was also a third for the garden in the shape of a Tawny Speckled Pug but I didn't get a photo unfortunately.
Alder Spittlebug is a common froghopper but it was interesting to see this pair in cop. Speckled Bush-cricket appeared in the garden as well as out in the wider 1km square where there were also Lesser Marsh Grasshoppers. List creeping up to 456.
Although I've not had anything like enough time available to make a serious attempt at the 1000 species in 1sq km challenge I have been keeping the list going, mainly with the contents of the moth trap. It is now on 438. Among the moths are usually some other identifiable insects and a new toy has helped pin down one of these. The flower bug Lygus pratensis is very similar to others of the genus, all of which are rather variable in colour and markings. According to this source they can be distinguished on the basis of the tiny hairs on the corium (base of the wing area). Although it is a red data book species it has spread a lot throughout southern Britain and is probably a lot more common now. In any case it was a nice subject for my new USB microscope toy which is just up to the job of picking out the necessary detail.
Lygus pratensis
On a slightly different tack I also came across a party of 6 larvae mining a sorrel leaf in our veg patch recently. A rather large larva that turns out to be this leaf-mining fly that feeds on docks, etc.
Recent moth trapping sessions in the garden have produced a few new records including this pale wave species. Purple Throrn is just a great moth. A few turn up every year but this year the first generation in spring did not appear so it has been nice to get a few of the second generation in summer.
Ruddy Carpet was another garden first. A rather attractive moth when fresh, unfortunately this one turned up on a night of heavy rain and as a consequence is well past its best unfortunately.
Lots of Crossbills being seen at the moment so I took a lunchtime dash to Southey Wood. Didn't see any but did find at least 3 of these huge butterflies.
