I know we're getting a bit blasè locally as so many have been caught but couldn't resist a pic.
Here's some pics of icterine always difficult to photo and look through bins
A great hours birding with paul rendel today on local patch , nfp icterine warbler,plus a minimum of 12 lesser whitethroat 3 common whitethroat 2 common redstart 1 garden warbler blackcaps few sedge about 20 willow .
For the second night in a row we were being serenaded by at least 3 verge crickets ,5 the night before heard by my wife coming in from work. Please excuse my awful video as I was unable to upload voice recording.
At this rate I'll be running out of leaves on our tree!not a bad night,second highest total of small mottled willow (34) vitrealis 2 ni moth 1 no pic , dark sword grass 3 striped hawk 1 plenty silver y and jersey tiger.
Always being moaned at by the wife for not checking plant pots around trap ,mish found this when kicking the snails out Oops!
Numbers increased 15 small mottled willow 1 eastern bordered straw 2 hummingbird hawk moth .
Finally! no longer a bridesmaid and another first for the garden , might be a tardy specimen but they all count.
Recently established and more widespread over the past few years, this Tree -lichen Beauty is a welcome Newbie to the garden list .
Being windy overnight both traps were very quite just a few routine migrants, the best being this ni moth only second for the garden.
Bee eater heard calling 4 times just sw of back garden ,sat out in garden for another 50 minutes with obligatory ice cream but no further sightings or calls .
The moths seemed to be getting slower at the moment , so pleased to catch this small fanfoot new for the garden .
Much busier night for moths in numbers and spieces, highlights vestal 1 new for year,dark sword grass 1 small mottled willow 10 and it doesn't happen that often these days but another new for garden brown silver -line
Much quieter night for migration but a little breezy,best being just 6 small mottled willow 50 ish diamond back and the best of the night being small marbled
Last fews day have started to really improve in the moth trap with my second ever beautiful marbled and new for garden 2x euchromius ocellea 11 small mottled willow and 122× diamond back
Fairly quiet day apart from good numbers of alpine and common swifts moving through
A scarce sight on lesvos and in the uk these days especially running towards humans .
By displaying pair of rufous tailed bushrobin ,3 new in laughing doves won't be long before there on Portland ! with plenty of local and common species
Great day birding out west highlights being minimum 150+ Red backed shrikes 4 lesser grey 8 woodchat 2masked shrike ,3Barred warbler 5 singing marsh warblers 8 olive tree 20 black headed buntings 3 cinereous bunting 10 issabelline wheatear follow
Other raptors moving through were 3 Marsh harrier 4 Hobby 5 Eleanor's 4 long leg buzzard 6 common buzzard 7 Short toed eagle's (mishs favourite) ,kestrel and 2Goshawk supported by bee eaters and couple of little bittern yellow wag and red throated pipit not a bad day in all.
Local patch day at ancient antissa was dominated by shrikes and red footed falcons ,the later amounting to 45 backed with 20 rb shrikes 15 woodchat 3 masked and 1 lesser grey shrike. More to follow
It just wouldn't be lesvos without the clanking of an Olive tree warbler usually well hidden amongst the olive groves,this individual was using a dead tree to sing from chasing off all competition
Followed by many migrants flitting around and whizzing through 10 black headed buntings 3golden oriole 5 turtle dove several flocks of european bee eaters and spainish sparrows ,followed by a carafe of local wine and lamb roast life doesn't get much better
Decided to bird locally well worth it with 5 roller 2 singing marsh warblers 5 great reed 11 redbacked shrike 3 woodchat and 1 masked ,also 3short toed eagles 3lesser kestrels 1red footed falcon 3 Eleanor's topped off by a splendid ad male montagu's harrier plus much see second post
Second day of the holiday ,and an island tick and lifer in the form of lesser flamingo (phoeniconaias minor)thanks to KDShaw
What difference a shower makes all quiet then quick shower and 3pied flycatcher 1 firecrest 25 chiffchaff dozen or so blackcap ,with 6sisken 8 yellow wagtail and 2 tree pipit overhead to round it off.couple of pics yesterday's first of the year grounded siskin and today's pied fly
Seawatch in chesil 7.30 to 9.45 am european storm petrel 2 juv little gull 1 arctic tern 2 sandwich tern 5 common scoter 2 , far from exciting at least I got to try my new chair just needed someone to bring me breakfast.
