Sunderland Point and Bazil Point

We had a wonderful day at Sunderland and Bazil Points, the weather was glorious! We parked at Potts Corner and headed out onto the saltmarsh, in search of the Belted Beauty Moth. They can be found during the day by looking on the posts which run across the marsh. Interestingly, the females are flightless and look quite unlike any moth I have ever seen before! As you might expect from a saltmarsh specialist which has flightless females, they don't have the greatest dispersal abilities and are quite rare, the UK race Brittanica is a Red Data Book species in fact. In total we counted 61 Belted Beauties, 20 males and 41 females. Then we headed down the point, past Sambos grave and on to Sunderland village. From there we went across to Overton, around Bazil Point and back to Potts Corner. Bird highlight of the day was two Tree Pipits on the beach near Sunderland Point, but we also saw 4 Avocets, 6 Eiders and 100 Black tailed Godwits. Another great day out. Photos below.....