Gyr Crakes
@gyrcrakes
Mark Lawlor - birder and naturalist in Guernsey
My 2800th species in Guernsey - the rather fine Dermestes undulatus beetle - found under a dead rabbit on L'Ancresse Common.
Nightjar drawing - migrant seen in the dark at Icart headland in the spring.
A new species for me - Mocha. At the garden trap yesterday, only a couple of previous Guernsey records.
Second Latin of the summer, and this one in the garden. New for this site in Guernsey. There seems to have been a few on the isle this year.
Thrift Clearwing feeding on the local form of Rock Sea-lavender (L. b. sarniense) here in Guernsey.
Tube-shots of Latin and Sciota rhenella, caught on the cliffs at Corbiere, Guernsey last night. Both new species for me, the latter new for the island.
Found a superb insect on Saturday - Vedalia Ladybird (Novius cardinalis), from an oak tree at La Garenne Nature Reserve. A new species of ladybird for Guernsey. About 4mm long, hairy all over, and a very vivid red colour with black patches. Only a few UK records I believe.
100+ species last night here in Guernsey, including a Many-lined. Only the second I've seen, the first being more than 20 yrs ago.
Found this bad lad in the toilets at work yesterday. A House Centipede, although it looks more like an alien lifeform to me.
Even a quick 5 minutes before work can result in finding a good bird. A Woodlark at Fort Hommet yesterday morning was a new species for the patch and only the second I have seen in Guernsey. #patchbirding #PWC2026
First day I've seen any numbers of migrants this year. Ring Ouzel, Gropper, 50+ Wheatears on the cliffs, plus 2 Choughs over Prevote, my favourite Guernsey valley.
Two Red Kites flanking a Black Kite in Guernsey today. Both rare here still, with c15 previous records on the island of each species.
Came across this massive Asian Hornet sunning itself at Grand Pre, Guernsey this afternoon. It's been taken in for questioning...
Was very lucky to get a photo of the rare and elusive Woodwok yesterday.
A new species for the garden in the trap this morning - Acleris literana (Lichen tortrix). Also migrants: 1 Rush Veneer, 2 Pearly Underwing. Plus only my 2nd Tawny Pinion, and 3 Oak Beauties, which I've only had 3 previously. (Guernsey - 23rd year trapping in garden)
The Laughing Gull showing rather well on Guernsey yesterday. Le Trepied Dolmen in the background.
Least Adder's-tongue on the patch last month. Only grows in a small 2m square of turf on Guernsey. I didn't know exactly where this was before a passing botanist pointed me in the right direction. At about 2cm tall, no wonder I hadn't noticed them before.
Guernsey Rarity Report 2024 available for download here: static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
The weird, invasive Orange Pore Fungus (Favolaschia Calocera) found at Pleinmont, Guernsey last week.
A question for moth trapping people. I needed a new MV bulb, so bought a cheaper online. When it came out said metal halide in the box (L). I assumed I got the wrong type so I bought 2 MV bulbs from WatDon. They are exactly the same but the metal halide label is covered over with sharpie (R).. (1/2)
Delighted to find a superb PALLAS'S WARBLER this morning at Vau de Monel, Pleinmont, Guernsey. This is my first "self-found" Pallas's, and the first record in Guernsey since 2008. (photos below were taken by Wayne Turner later in the day - thanks to him for the use of these)
The island's first Short-eared Owl of the autumn seen on L'Ancresse Common this afternoon.
Trap out on the cliffs at Pleinmont this evening in Guernsey, ready to suck in the stream of southern vagrants, streaming in across the sea.
My birding card game "Name That Bird" has been updated and new cards have been included. Ideal for long autumn evenings on birding trips. Download free printouts at the link below: static1.squarespace.com/static/57652...
Dusky Scalloped Oak trapped on Corbiere cliffs a couple of nights ago with @andym105.bsky.social I've been wanting to see this Guernsey speciality for a very long time, but it only lives on the south coast cliffs in small numbers and so is hard to find.