As is often the case in August, the buddleia bushes outside the visitor centre have been the centre of attention for much of the afternoon. There's been a great range of butterflies, including several painted ladies and commas as well as the more familiar red admirals, small tortoiseshells, peacocks, large and small whites. One species that always attracts discussion over its identity is the grayling. This heathland specialist never perches with its wings open, and its markings provide superb camouflage when perched on the dry ground. On buddleia, though, it is easier to spot as the camouflage is useless.
A grayling failing to stay camouflaged on buddleia by Ian Barthorpe
With lots of eyes watching the buddleias, it was no surprise that a hummingbird hawkmoth was located this afternoon, and it performed well for the gathering crowds for at least an hour. These large day flying moths look just like small hummingbirds as they hover in front of flowers using their long tongue to gather nectar. Indeed, they are often mistaken for hummingbirds when seen in gardens - hence the name.
Hummingbird hawkmoths seem to appeal to all visitors, from young families visiting for the first time to hardened birdwatchers and big lens photographers. It's great to watch everyone pointing it out to other visitors, chatting away excitedly whenever one appears.
Hummingbird hawkmoth by Ian Barthorpe
The other insect that continues to attract a lot of attention is our bee-wolfs, and they have again been performing to the crowds all day. Nearby, in the North Bushes, there were sightings of both lesser whitethroat and a late nightingale, while up to three stone-curlews were visible at times from the start of the North Wall. Two water voles were in the pond too.
A turtle dove would have proved popular had it remained on view a bit longer in the car park this morning. Two have been favouring the area around the Discovery Centre/car park entrance this week so that seems to be best area to look for them. While watching the turtle dove, one lucky visitor heard and saw a bee-eater flying high to the north at 10.10 this morning, but it hasn't been relocated.
Water levels are slowly falling again on the Scrape, and a good variety of waders could be found today, including: wood, green and common sandpipers, four greenshanks, four spotted redshanks, two ruffs, a very popular whimbrel, a little ringed plover, 45 black-tailed godwits and five dunlins. Also on the Scrape were six little and one Mediterranean gulls and a Sandwich tern.
An otter was seen a couple of times at Island Mere this morning, with bittern and marsh harrier regular there too. Several common terns are fishing on the mere, often very close to the hide. Probably the best sighting there was a juvenile cuckoo this morning.
Common tern by Jon Evans
What will we find this week? Minibeasts are likely to remain popular, especially with families, as we're pond dipping on Monday and have our family wildlife walks on Wednesday. We also have new self guided minibeast explorer cards to borrow.
What will you see this coming week? Keep your eyes to the skies as the earliest ospreys start to head south. Fingers crossed!
Great photos, by the way.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.