Debra Saunders
@debbyseamist
Birding, photography, moths, from Southwell, Portland. Garden and local birding (mostly Ferrybridge and the Bill) Off to Öland for May, can’t think of anywhere else I’d like to be
Interesting moths trapped last night in the garden, 2 new: Lesser-spotted Pinion and Northern Grey (Scoparia ancipitella, I'll take advisement on this one), also good nos. of immigrants and unusuals (for here)
I got a good look at the underwing when I released the Dark Crimson Underwing #mothsmatter
A dark form of Garden Tiger today, compare with the light form from several years ago
Grass Emerald, not a rare moth but new for Sea Mist. No. 382 macro moth for the garden
Four-spotted landed on the patio and was very difficult to locate #mothsmatter
Hercules nature reserve, southern Sweden this morning, watching Black Terns fishing the lake, Great Reed Warbler banging on behind me, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff singing in the tree beside me, Bittern booming and Cuckoos cuckoo-ing, what a wonderful racket!
Seby beach is a small oasis of trees with picnic tables and a car park surrounded by coastal meadows. During migration birds often drop in overnight. This morning we had Red-breasted, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers, Icterine, Marsh, Reed, and Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Lesser Wts and Blackcaps
Last evening at Seby 3 Nightjars were roosting in the trees by the car park. Recently they have been seen roosting in several places on the island. Very hard to spot if you don’t know where to look
Many thousands of Barnacle Geese have been flying north and east across Öland
We have spent a lot of time on the Stora Alvaret which is a limestone terrace that covers much of the central part of south Öland. It is a good place to see Montegue’s Harriers, also breeding Wheatears and Whinchats
We’ve been about 10 days on Öland, lots of birds but not always easy to photograph. Here’s a few that I managed to get into the camera
Turtle Dove and Stock Doves in the garden today. There was a second Turtle Dove in the Sycamore but it didn't come down to feed.
Little Tern fishing by the bridge at Ferrybridge early this morning
This Whitethroat spent much of the day feeding in this Cotoneaster by the patio, it was picking bits of pollen (and nectar?) from inside the tiny flowers. Photos through the window
A nice selection of migrant birds in the garden today with the star of the show this evening's Turtle Dove. Also 2 Whitethroats. 2 Chiffchaffs, and a Garden Warbler. We were hearing a Cukcoo to the east this evening and saw it flying towards 8 Kings Quarry
Bonaparte's Gull at Lodmoor this morning. 1st time lucky with this one
Spotted Flycatcher spent some time in the garden Sycamore this evening
Little Tern nearly lost its breakfast this morning at Ferrybridge