I have been onboard ship all week exercising in the English Channel, Gannets and Gulls were common with a single Bonxie mid week. A over flying Yellow Wagtail and a single male Blackcap which spent all day Thursday in the Ship's Hangar were the only landbirds.
The highlights were both Moths. On Monday I had a call from one of the messes saying they had caught a moth, on arrival it was i a pint glass with a beer mat over the top, this turned out to be a really smart "Angle Shades". At the time the ship was about 3 miles south of St Catherine's Point.
Angle Shades, The English Channel, 7th Sept 2009
The next day I was on the phone to my wife outside the hangar when one of the crew called me over, on a metal pipe was another great looking moth, this was a "The Herald", this time we were about 8 miles out into the channel further along the coast. 
The Herald, English Channel, 7th Sept 2009
I had never looked for moths onboard but it would appear that it is worth persueing. Back at sea next week, hopefully with some bird photos in my next blog entry.
Mark C.