The Nearly Day.

I very nearly didn't venture out on Tuesday, but did eventually go to give Conder Green an hour or two, and was rewarded with some interesting finds, not least of which was the first bird seen in the creeks, which was a head moulting adult Mediterranean Gull with the Black-headed Gulls where I found just 5 Common Sandpiper. I then went off to find a Green Sandpiper still upstream, with 3 Snipe and 2 Little Egret, all feeding on this quiet and concealed part of the River Conder. Two Greenshank were downstream in the channel with up to 80 Redshank, and a singing Blackcap was by Christ Church at Glasson Dock.

Painted Lady. Andrew Cornall.

A nice variety of butterflies seen along the coastal path included, 17 Gatekeeper, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, and 2 Painted Lady, one of which AC had seen on Monday by the viewing screen at Conder Pool. I was grateful for the images he sent me including this excellent one showing underwing.

Seven Little Grebe were on Conder Pool, with c.150 Redshank noted. But the icing on the cake for me was a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, possibly the same bird seen here 11 July. 

The Conder Common Terns.

Common Tern Conder Pool 24 July. Ian Pinkerton.

Four Common Tern were seen as three adult and a chick, with what could be an egg in IP's image above, still to hatch in the nest on Tern Island, however I think what we see, is the white underpart of the chick beneath the adults drooping wings acting as props to take the weight.

Thanks again to IP for his illustrations and documentation on all that happens on Conder Pool presently and these many weeks past. 

Garden Insects.

Pyrausta purpuralis. Pete Woodruff.

Best was the Holly Blue briefly, 4 Speckled Wood, Large Whites coming through daily, and up to four Pyrausta purpuralis moths.