7th August

Invertebrates

A couple observations from Cockington today include the galls of Oak Artichoke Gall Wasp and 3 Knopper Gall Wasp, plus a White-lipped Snail.

Ellacombe - Common Spitting Spider

St Marychurch - Brown House Moth, moth of the genus Oegoconia, the ubiquitous Long-bodied Cellar Spider, Silver-sided Sector Spider, & a small halictus/lasioglossum bee species.

Torquay Harbour & Beacon Cove area - 15+ Shore Crabs in buckets & a Common Sea Slater



Vertebrates

150 Balearic Shearwaters & 3 European Storm Petrels flew past Hope’s Nose this morning between 7:30 and 10:15

2 Canada Geese flew over Plainmoor in the morning

A walk from St Marychurch to the harbourside counted; 8 Woodpigeon, 26 Feral Pigeon, 63 Herring Gull (5 juveniles), 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Black-headed Gull, 4 Blackbird, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Great Tit, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Jay, 5 Cormorant & a Shag, plus a Swift in St Marychurch in the evening



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Notable sightings near Torquay

Insane reports from an all-day seawatch at Berry Head included; 1,978 Balearic Shearwaters, reported Yelkouan Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, 3 European Storm Petrels, juvenile Roseate Tern, Little Gull, & a probable Wilson’s Storm Petrel.
The count of Balearics was a major record-break for most counted from land in the UK in one session!





Halictus/Lasiglossum bee

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