Local Selection.

 I stayed reasonably close to home today venturing no further than Priors Hall where breezy though often bright conditions made for an enjoyable day. My day began with a search for migrants near the town's STW,  at a few industrial sites and also in both the north and south gullets at Priors Hall.

Ringed Plovers

No migrants to report from near the STW where a Grey Wagtail and several Muntjacs were noted. Moving on to one of the town's industrial estates did not produce any sightings of migrants but did produce two Ringed Plover chicks and at least one adult. It was nice to confirm that the plovers have bred locally at one of their only sites in the county. My travels then took me to Willowbrook Industrial Estate where three Yellow-legged Gulls were the pick of the bunch. Nothing of note in the north gullet at Priors but a Common Sandpiper was seen alongside the quarry lake from the southern one.

Y-l Gull and Common Sandpiper

Around the ponds numbers of Willow Emeralds are building though there was not a lot of ode activity. Similarly butterfly numbers are low though the new brood of Speckled Woods appears to be doing well. Both Small Heaths and Common Blues are still on the wing in good numbers and while Commas and Red Admirals were noted apparently feeding on blackberries. 2022 has been a good year for Hummingbird Hawk-moths and I was pleased to catch up with one today. Rather than nectaring though this one was sheltering from the breeze and resting on the ground, it's rare to see them so still! Nothing else to report, I'm hoping that tomorrow produces more good stuff.

Small Heath, Willow Emerald and Hummingbird Hawk-moth