By Emma Abel
The morning started with a successful moth trapping session in Milcombe with 81 moths of 14 species waiting to be identified in the trap. The most abundant moth species was Bright-line Brown-eye with 24 individuals. Some of the most exciting species included a Buff Tip, with its twig-like camouflage, and a Pale Tussock with its signature positioning of the front legs, presenting its fluffy legs to the world.
Buff Tip Moth By Tara
Pale Tussock Moth By Tara
I walked to Jenny's Cove early this morning and was greeted by a Cuckoo's song echoing across Acklands Moor from the direction of Old Light. After scanning Pondsbury for any sign of the Teal Duckings (no such luck...), I sat and monitored Puffin burrows for the morning. Although numbers are not what they ususally are this time of year, breeding adults are still back and using burrows and I'm up to 185 potential burrows mapped at the Jenny's Cove monitored colony. As Puffins lay their eggs in burrows we cannot be sure when eggs are laid and hatched, but judging by the birds bringing back nesting material we can assume that eggs are being laid at this month. Other birds that are laying eggs less secretively are the Guillemots, with their bare rock ledges to call a nest. My estimation of Jenny's colony was 2887, many of which will hopefully be laying their bright blue pear shaped eggs at the moment.
After finishing my monitoring, I was joined by Jacob who has been helping out around the island with the LFS work party. Together we ran the Seabird Station, chatting to visitors about the seabirds and bringing the Puffins closer using our scope. It is always rewarding to share the joy of seabirds with people and share in their excitement at seeing Puffins up close, often for the first time. Maddie was also running a Seabird Station at the Battery and together we spoke to over 100 people, despite the grey and windy conditions.
A grey but beautiful Jenny's Cove
Elsewhere on the island a Reed Bunting was seen over at Quarry pond, while Millcombe had 3 Sedge Warblers, a Whitethroat and a Juvenile Stonechat. 2 Collared Doves were also hanging around after a few days hunkering down in the South.