Friday 3rd September was forecasted to be cloudy with sunny spells and so we decided to take a walk along the coast from Thurlestone to Hope Cove and back despite it being the last day of summer holiday hell time. As it turned out it wasn't too busy and it was mostly sunny with cloudy spells and we had a very enjoyable and restorative walk.
A large (300+) flock of Balearic Shearwater had been reported as present offshore in Thurlestone Bay the previous day but I wasn't expecting them to still be present for our walk. However as we walked along the cliffs towards South Huish Marsh there was a large feeding frenzy of birds out in the Bay, mostly Gulls and a few Gannets but amongst them were around 40 Balearic Shearwater with a large raft of Shearwaters also sat on the sea much further out.
The Balearics, although distant, gave some nice views, wheeling low across the waves and splashing into the water to feed. I had foolishly left my scope at home but I met 2 birders from Plymouth at South Huish Marsh and I was able to have a look through their telescope for some better views.
On South Huish Marsh I found at least 20 Yellow Wagtails, fidgety and flighty and neurotic as they always are and including some beautiful bright yellow males.
A Bar-tailed Godwit, a Ringed Plover, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 6 Dunlin were also seen while Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins hawked overhead. A Peregrine, a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk were also noted flying over and at least 2 Wheatear were feeding amongst the cattle.
A Bloxworth Snout was the only moth present in the toilet block by Thurlestone Golf Course.
I had also had the moth box out in the back yard before our walk along the coast at Thurlestone and was very pleased to have caught a Jersey Mocha, a new moth for me and ID'd with help from @UKMothID on Twitter (it's not pictured in my edition of the Waring et al. moth field guide).
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