No news on the African Royal Tern at Llandudno, thank goodness we didn't travel up last night. One of these days the news will come through early enough for us to get there before dark. Having made the decision not to go, I was up at six to check Early Bird on the pager.
There have been reports of Roseate Terns at Minsmere this week, that seemed like a good bet. Stopping at the overflow car park, viewing a Green Woodpecker on the ground, we had extensive views of a flying Bittern below us.
We viewed the pond area first, checking out the Dragonfly situation. Just one Blue Damselfly and no Sand Martins at all, we're told they've moved up the coast. A rather tenebrous morning, not conducive to flying Dragons.
Walking directly to South Hide, hearing at least three Cetti's on the way and seeing yet another S Marsh Orchid, we settled ourselves upstairs in the empty side. We could spread out all our gear - well mine anyway. I spent a good hour and a half blissfully photographing the Terns on the nearest sandy island. Mainly Sandwich with a few Common. The Sandwich were constantly on the go, bringing in large sand eels, posturing and displaying to uninterested females - I did see one pair mating. It must be too late?
A few Common Terns (photo of one on a wooden crossbeam) and then, great excitement when a lone Roseate Tern landed on the same island, staying for ten minutes before flying off over the main scrape.
Again, there was a group peering at the windows of the Centre, we joined them. The attraction was Moths. One of the staff was identifying them, they'd been trapped overnight and stayed where they'd been released. Beauties.
Large Elephant Hawk Moth and Poplar Hawk Moth
Later at home.....a concerned Pam came to tell me that she'd just rescued a bat from the open container catching the drips from the leanto greenhouse butt's leaking tap. Poor thing. It was still alive and had crawled into a plant pot from where Pam had placed it out of harm's way.
8.30 The bat is still alive and starting to move again, we must check after dusk.
I did - the pot was empty and no sign of it around. Good. Looked up the ID on the web.......a Pipistrelle as I thought.
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