Bev and I fly off to the, sun-soaked, island of Corfu on Wednesday afternoon. Gatwick isn't a particularly pleasant airport from which to start our latest adventure, yet is certainly better than the Luton alternative when having to drive from Ramsgate. Because of this tonight will be the final time that the garden moth trap will be operated until we return. To be fair, the recent run of blustery winds and cool overnight temps has ensured that very little has been attracted to the light, although I did have another Convolvulus Hawk-moth on the egg trays on Sunday morning. Rusty-dot Pearls are the only migrant species which are now recorded on a daily basis, with singles of Silver Y and Dark Sword-grass this morning plus a Scarce Bordered Straw watched nectaring on Red Valerian yesterday.
Garden birding has been similarly effected by the conditions with very little evidence of autumn migration being noted. Chiffchaffs are, however, now being seen on a daily basis, whilst yesterday morning there was a small, but steady, movement of Swallows headed southwards. The two stand out birds have been a Wheatear, which perched on a neighbour's garage roof on Friday, and a Lesser Whitethroat (another garden year tick) which steadfastly refused to pose for the camera yesterday afternoon. The only other sighting, worthy of mention, was that of two Common Darters which were seen sun-bathing on the metal garden benches,
Roll on Gatwick - roll on Corfu!
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