Evening Wander 31.03.12

A walk around the fields north and east of Hadham Hall gave a good species list in a short time. Red legged partridge, greater spotted woodpecker were seen along with common buzzard before I reached the lake. Here there was 1 little grebe, only my second parish record. At its usual roost was the resident barn owl whilst a solitary lesser black backed gull headed south. Yellowhammers, chaffinch, goldfinch and greenfinch were added in Hadham Hall grounds along with mallard, coot and moorhen. Photos show silhouetted chiffchaff, moorhen, half moon and ground ivy flower.

Amwell 30.03.12

A few hours birding at Amwell NR was very pleasant although nothing too exciting was seen. Good numbers of cetti's warbler and redshank along with several calling chiffchaffs. Then, a quick visit ti Stansted airport lagoons for a reported stone curlew which had moved on shortly after being discovered. Photos from top:
2 greylag landing
Grey heron
2 x goldeneye just outside Amwell bird hide
Canada goose
Distant redshank
Distant reed bunting.

New moth 30.03.12

An early grey was in the trap this morning, a new moth for the garden. A common species that is on the wing between March and early May.

Dungeness and Oare Marshes: 28.03.12

An early start to pick up Gary and Dave before a drive to Dugeness bird observatory and RSPB reserve. On the beach by 7 and into the sea watch hide. Good movement of birds east: tealk, pintail, brent geese, red breasted merganser and gannet. Following this, where me met up with Stuart and Therese. A wander around the desert and trapping area offered little more than a couple of chiffchaffs. Disappointing as we were hoping for better migrants (black redstart, wheatear?). We then headed off to the RSPB reserve and immediately came across the long tailed duck, along with expected wild fowl, buzzards and marsh harriers. The latter showed well, with 6 in the sky along with 3 buzzards. Not to much of note before we went over to the Arc pit where we added ruff and goldeneye. A quick stop on the Causeway meant we scoped both white wagtail and water pipit along with the 1st little egret of the day. Following a shop for pies, stuart and Therese had to head home so the 3 of us headed for Oare Marshes on the north coast. Plenty of sandwich terns as well as a ciuple of grey ploverson the estuary and godwits, avocets, greylag and redshank on the reserve. A compact reserve with good concentrations of birds. A good godwit flypast showed several to be in summer plumage. A reed warbler was heard, making it 8 year listers for me: sandwich tern, sand martin, med gull, reed warbler, whute wag, ruff, water pipit and red breasted merganser.
Apart from a desperately jammed M25 and M11, a glorious day in hot, balmy conditions. A species count of 82, so a good total. Photos show:
Linnet
Dunnock
Black tailed godwits. Note the superb summer plumage on one near the top.
More godwits
Great crested grebe
Hybrid grelag goose
Marsh harrier
Egret with roosting avocet
Start if summer plumage godwit
End of winter plumage godwit
Highland cattle
Reed bunting
Meadow pipit

Few moths 29.03.12

More examples of regular moths last night, with early thorn, red chestnut (both photographed) and a clouded drab being all that remained in the trap. This was probably due to my lte start as I didn't check the trap until 8 a.m.

More photos of new moths

1 more daylight photo of last night's brindled pug and 2 more of the confirmed red chestnut.

New moths 26.03.12

What began as a promising night went the same way as yesterday, with temperatures dropping markedly. Consequently what moths were on the wing were early flyers, including a common quaker, March moth, a new moth for the garden, a suspected red chestnut (2 photos before it roosted properly) and another new moth for the garden, a brindled pug, also attached.

Weekend round up 26.03.12

Firstly, an evening mothing in Millennium Wood. Weather looked promising but after 8.30 the temperature dropped and little was on the wing. Several quakers, an engrailed (photo) and micro moth diurnea fagella (2nd photo) were all that made an appearance.
Two photos of the local jackdaws that squabble every morning about property issues at the chapel at the bottom of our garden.
Finally, a local wander on a bright but frosty morning. Usual fare seen, in all 27 sp of birds.
Photos;

• engrailed
• diurnea fagella
• the chapel jackdaws
• garden and chapel
• male great spotted woodpecker (note red on neck)
• sunrise
• male pheasant
• chaffinch
• 2 green woodpeckers
• yellowhammer
• 2 hares
• long tailed tit

Best garden moth night. 23.03.12

By far and away the most successful moth trap night. No new species but good numbers. 1 engrailed, 1 chestnut, 1 clouded drab, several hebrew characters, plenty of both small and common quaker. Also micro moth emmelina monodactyla and what is probably a dark form of diurnea flagella (moth number 663) From the top:
Small quaker
Hebrew character
Emmelina monodactyla
Common quaker
Clouded drab
Chestnut
Engrailed
Diurnea flagella