Browns Wood

Another year tick came in the shape of Meadow Pipit (51). The year list is still on 51 though as I have cocked up and had Gadwall twice !! Other goodies were 3 Snipe, Reed Bunting, Great Spotted and Green Woodpecker and a cracking male Siskin with a small Goldfinch flock.

Trap Result 28/02/08

2 March Moth

Reed Bunting - Thornton Reservoir

A lone female on the boat house feeder takes the year list to the dizzy heights of 51. Other notables were Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Gadwall and 4 Pochard. Together with a picture of the dam end that isn't mine it's shamelessly nicked but I liked it......

First moth of 2008

At last....Well, to be fair I haven't ran the trap yet but whilst engaged in some father/son activities in the garden that consisted of fixing up a couple of nest boxes and a 'butterfly boudoir' - honest, that what it's called (although the idea is to create an artificial hibernation site for the Herald), I spotted a Hofmannophila pseudospretella or Brown House Moth to the majority of us, fluttering around the lawn. Not particularly impressive but the first one nevertheless. A child free couple of hours on Friday and a visit to Browns Wood beckons. Watch this space.

Sad Sight

I've hardly ventured out of the house of late owing to recent events but when I did yesterday (on a nappy run) I found a dead badger near Stanton under Bardon that had been hit by a car the previous night. This time of year does have more Badgers coming above ground and the next month or so sees the road casualties for this species reach a seasonal high - sadly.

Baby Daughter

Ruby Kathryn arrived safe, well and bloody quickly this morning at the Royal. 8lb 6oz and all OK. Might restrict my postings over the next few days.................

Browns Wood and Thornton Reservoir

A much better day today. Year ticks included a Gadwall on the res (48) and a male Grey Wagtail also (49). Browns Wood (above) gave me two Thornton ticks!! A muntjac and Snipe (50). Half century on the year list and some pics of Limnaecia phragmitella feeding signs (top picture). There were also a handful of larvae but you'll have to take my word for it.

Browns Wood

A visit during the last hour of the day on Saturday was largely uneventful except adding to the Thornton year list with Yellowhammer and a large Bullfinch flock (47). On the way back down to the reservoir was a large and approachable dog Fox which despite the rural location, isn't an animal I see at all around here.

Book

Well, apparently the epic work that occupied so much of my time (and others) at the back end of last year, and early this, is available to pre order from Amazon. The following link gives you very basic info. The actual publication date is July 2008 with the North American version going out around the same time

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Illustrated-Encyclopedia-British-Birds/dp/184786225X/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203082635&sr=1-9

Land of the Rising Sun

Met up with Mez last night, along with Rob, Dave and Andy and he thoroughly entertained us with tales and images from his winter trip to Japan. We also managed to squeeze in his Wyoming/Yellowstone photos and several pints of beer. Top night.

Tedious Tuesday

Little of any interest on the lunchtime wander today apart from an over friendly West Highland Terrier who was apparently called Angus!! This evening Mez is paying a visit to Thornton to entertain us with photos and tales from one of his recent exotic (erotic?) trips. Good excuse for a natter and a few beers if nothing else.

Abbey Park

Since leaving the fair city of Leicester as few years since this has been my second visit to Abbey Park in the last 12 months. I took Jed for a ride on the train and to see Pets Corner etc.. so it was a pleasant surprise to see a few good birds. Long Tailed Tits were everywhere and I also managed Green Woodpecker and a couple of Nuthatch. Most unusual however were 8 Wigeon (4 drakes 4 females) near the weir. Also nearby were Cormorant, Grey Heron and several bona fide wild Greylag Geese (honest). Another noticebale inhabitant were mines on just about every Holly bush of the fly Phyotmyza ilicis

Stuff

Very little around Belgrave today save a handful of Redwing. I booked our summer holiday today and we're off to Dorest in early August, near Weymouth. I think after Norfolk and Scotland then Dorset, in particular Portland Bill, is one of my favourite places to be. Hopefully some good butterflies will be had and my visit is bang on with the flight time of the Lulworth Skipper. Not sure what the weekend will bring but assuming I don't become a dad in the next 72 hours then I'll be down the res!

Belgravia

Amonsgt the dog mess, abandoned furniture, kebab wrappers and Special Brew cans on my lunchtime riverside walk through Belgrave today were 30+ Redwing, 6 Canada Geese and numerous singing male Robins. Despite the mess it is quite a nice area and always one of those urban spots were you think you can turn up anything - But very rarely do!

Aylestone Meadows

A link from Rob Fray's website took me to an Aylestone Meadows blog ran by Mark Andrews. Mark probably won't remember me but he was watching the Meadows at the same time as myself and Chris Hubbard in the 80's. In fact I remember one time being with Mark when the place was alive with a mini fall of Redstarts and Wheatears. That place was, and probably still is mega. Night Heron, Firecrest, Short Eared Owls, Ring Ouzel every year....ahhh happy days. My first house in 2000 was just down the road on Duncan Road but I seldom visited, wish I had. Great website Mark........

Bagworth Heath

There is still at least one Long Eared Owl present but I'm buggered if I could find it. In my defence where it is presently provides incredibly dense cover and I did rather keep my distance to avoid any potential flushing. Not much else other than 18 Lapwing, Green Woodpecker and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Around the ditches, dykes and ponds feeding signs of the micro moth Limnaecia phragmitella were seemingly everywhere.

Guest List

The final people attending the social event of the year, my 40th, are yours truly, Iain Tidmarsh, Rob Gill, Chris Hubbard, Mick Gillett, Dave Wright and Andy Smith. The Brecks beckons on the first day which I am sure will be good and then on to Wicken Fen. A trapping permit arrived in yesterdays post so I'm hopeful for some good moths. Even if we don't trap I'm really looking forward to visiting the reserve and brushing up on Dragons and Damsels, if nothing else.

Thornton Res

Very little on the water today. The feeder was good though with Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit and a dozen or so Long Tailed Tits.