Paul Harris

12!!! That's crazy Martin. A Dorset record surely?

Dave, one I caught in France in 2022. Smart moth!

Right back at you! 👍

I don't mind what Annie spends John, as long as she doesn't forget my beer! 😁

Absolutely yes Dave. The wind has dropped off much earlier than I expected and it's 10°C in the garden. A third new macro for the year would be much appreciated please! I still need Red-headed Chestnut here.... 🤞

4pm. Decided to go birding around the periphery of Sainsbury's car park whilst my wife went shopping. Result, cracking views of a Firecrest with a Long-tailed Tit flock and at least one Cetti's Warbler.

Thanks Geoff. This one was right near the car park!

I'm not sure how I spotted this Hare at Silverlake, it was hiding in the Gorse. Pretty certain it's the first one I've ever seen there. Photo taken on big zoom. Best from the Gulls was an adult YLHG.

Martin, 1) if you go to the car park, make sure you keep your paper ticket. They’ve been known to try and fine people even when they’ve bought a ticket. Keep the proof! 2) Don’t go on a sunny morning, you’re looking straight into the sun!

Given that Lesser Crested Tern is the species of the moment, I thought I'd post these!

Mottled Umber the best from the trap, they are barely annual here. Also a late Yellow-line Quaker, Red-green Carpet, 4 December Moth and a few ferrugalis.

Two Pale-bellied Brent the best from Moonfleet this morning. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Never say never John!

A retrospective: It's hard to believe we're approaching a decade since the big December Moth event of 2015. Eastern Bordered Straw, 2 Striped Hawk, polychromella, ocellea, recurvalis and 2 Mecidea lindbergi, a new Shieldbug for UK from Africa. The EBS still remains a real prize, unlike many species.

A December Palpita vitrealis from the trap today worth a mention.
Silverlake had 2 YLHG, Black-tailed Godwit and Green Sand. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Thanks Dave! 👍

We are blowing our pensions so our children don't get all the money! 😂

Steve, next stop Africa! View from our villa. The potential for migrants must be huge.

Oh we'll definitely go back to this place. 200+ Bordered Straw in one small actinic trap on the last night. Completely mad.

Cheers Steve. I'm sure they must be an unknown resident on Rhodes? There is no way way you'd catch 3 of these in the same garden in a week if they were migrants? That said, I had 70+ Striped Hawk, Silver-striped Hawk and lots of Levant Blackneck! Who knows?

Druid and Crimson Speckled aside, without question, my best moth find of the year were these. I trapped three Thalerastria lehmanni on Rhodes in May. If you don't count the Canaries, these were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th records for Europe, and the first for Greece. One record from Spain in 1995. Smart!

My pulse was momentarily raised when I saw lots of windblown seeds coming off a Reedmace head at Jurassic Pools this morning. Sadly, it was the wrong species of Tit!
Black-throated Diver flew in from the east across Bowleaze Cove this morning, also 11 Razorbill and 3 Common Scoter on the sea there.

I agree with Chris, I would not call this as Dark Chestnut. Did some checking on these with Phil a couple of years ago. ie, what do you think, then check it. We both got some wrong. The ‘intermediate’ ones are simply not identifiable with certainty we realised. Classic ones of either are ok.

Weymouth. A few photos from this morning: A retrap Acleris hyemana from 5 days ago! Crocidosema plebejana, Palpita vitrealis and White-speck. 2 December Moth and a few ferrugalis also. @migrantmothuk.bsky.social

Portland Castle: the closest Goosander I've ever seen, down to 1 foot off the shoreline! Flyby Kingfisher and Little Egret. Manic feeding flock of ~30 Cormorant (and a few Shag) also coming very close. 15+ Mergs more distant.
Castle Cove: 4 B-n Grebe + 1 GNDiver. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

Very interesting William. I had one at the same time and that ones gone off for a check. Mine was very worn so didn't even bother with a photo. Vittata would be a new moth for here 🤞

The rather mad spectacle of 2 White-tailed Eagle flying around together over Abbotsbury STW with a Red Kite for company! I also saw a WTE earlier this morning flying along the Chesil Beach at Moonfleet. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Call from @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social Female Desert Wheatear Bridging Camp. Inside fence at far NW end. Access via Camp Rd. @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Result already back on the GBBGull at Silverlake yesterday. It's been to Dorset before. Do you remember this @mattames6.bsky.social ?

Thanks to a quick tip-off from Daragh on Lodmoor, I just saw a White-tailed Eagle fly right past the end of the garden being pursued by Gulls! The 4th one I've seen from home.