Monday 30 July 2007

Scoparia pyralella

Slight footnote to Saturday's trap results. Found the common, but nevertheless new, pyralid Scoparia pyralella on Sunday. Thankfully one of the easier Scoparidae to ID !!

Saturday 28 July 2007

Trap Result 28/07/07

Agapeta hamana (new to garden)
Mother of Pearl (new to garden)
Garden Carpet
V Pug
3 Willow Beauty
Poplar Hawk Moth
2 Elephant Hawk Moth
Buff Tip
Heart & Dart
5 Large Yellow Underwing
2 Lesser Yellow Underwing
Least Yellow Underwing (new to garden)
Dot Moth
3 Bright Line Brown Eye
3 Common Waninscot
1 The Shark (new to garden)
7 Common Rustic/Lesser Common Rustic
The Uncertain
The Spectacle

Back from Norfolk !!

Back from the family holiday and managed a bit of birding too. Campsite near Burnham Thorpe was excellent and resident birds included a good number of Turtle Dove, Great Spotted and Green WoodpeckersStock Dove, Sparrowhawk and Barn Owl. On the night of the 15th I also had a calling Quail. Butterflies and Moths were pretty good as well. Highlights included Ringlet, The Forester, Large Tabby White Tail and Dwarf Cream Wave.

Titchwell beckoned on the 23rd. Numerous Little Egret, all the passage waders including Spotted Redshank and Ruff. 4 Little Gulls, plenty of Common Scoter and Little Tern as well. Non bird wise the highlight was a pair of basking Common Lizard. Treat of the day however was a pair of Common Crane which I spotted high in the sky heading towards the reserve, which circled aroud for five minutes before heading off again south easterly.

Wednesday 11 July 2007

Holidays.......

Off to Norfolk for a couple of weeks or so on Saturday. Obviously a family holiday but well placed for both Honey Buzzard sites and staying on a very widlife friendly working farm so should be good. Can't wait to get back to Norfolk again. It is my favourite place in the world without exception. Bring it on.....

Monday 9 July 2007

Sunday Morning Birding

Had a really good couple of hours around parts of the Cossington complex with Iain Tidmarsh on Sunday morning. Highlights included

Kingfisher
Oystercatcher
3 Green Sandpiper
150+ Lapwing
Reed Warbler
Tree Sparrow
Buzzard

Non avian highlights were dozens of Crambids (didn't have a net!), Beautiful China Mark, Ringlet and Small Skipper. Quite a few damsels and dragons as well but by our own admission both Tiddy and I are not too hot on these but have made a pledge to improve next year (again!)