Thursday 31 May 2012

New moths last day of May

Another fine selection of moths early this morning, with poplar hawkmoth, shoulder striped wainscot, cinnabar and buff ermine all being new moths for the year. Cinnabar made a successful bid for freedom as soon as I opened the trap, so no photo. Shown here:
Poplar hawkmoth
Shoulder striped wainscot
White (on left) and buff ermine. Note shape, size and background colour differences
Immaculate example of white ermine.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012

New 2012 bird for parish

A brief walk around Hadham Hall gave good, if distant views of a solitary yellow wagtail. This bird constitutes the 2nd parish record and 1st spring record. A good find. In all 28 species observed, including goldcrest, 3 heron and 2 tufted duck on lagoon.
Common blue damsels were everywhere, with several shots here + a teneral azure damselfly face on.
Goldfinch
Teneral azure dragonfly,
Common blue damselfly
Yellow wagtail (distant and with heat haze)
View of the Hall from the east
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More new moths

A possible 2 new moths for the garden this morning in the form of treble lines moth and shears. Also new for the year was a splendid peppered moth, always a striking individual. Numerous silver y moths in and around the trap at 11pm last night, only 7 remaining at 6 a.m. One micro also id'd, Eudonia mercurella, a common garden pyralid.
Photos:
Peppered moth
Treble lines
Shears
Eudonia mercurella
Beetle awaiting id ( with parasitic mites)

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Tuesday 29 May 2012

More moths

A good selection of common moths including willow beauty, eyed hawkmoth, knot grass and heart and dart being new for the year. All will be taken on many future occasions.
Photos:
Eyed hawkmoth
Knot grass
Pale tussock
White ermine
Willow beauty
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Monday 28 May 2012

Amwell, damselflies and a dead bat

Spent a while on the Dragonfly trail at Amwell NR. Common blue, blue tailed and azure damsels and 2 male emperor draonflies. A pair of Egyptian geese seemed out of place on the River Lea whilst warblers were more expected: chiffchaff, blackcap, cetti's and whitethroat were all heard. No willow warblers was a surprise.
Photos:
Azure damselfly
Female common blue
Blue tailed
Jay
Chiffchaff
Egyptian goose
Orange tip on larval foodplant; jack in the hedge (allaria petiolata)
Garden escape rose
Dead long eared bat.
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New moths and bird walk

Four new specuies for the year this morning. Photos from the top show;
Setaceous hebrew character
Scalloped hazel
Shuttle shaped dart
Lychnis. Other photos from the walk show hare in long grass, chaffinch, small heath butterfly and flowering horse chestnut. Finally, a picture of the garden.
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Sunday 27 May 2012

Sunday morning

Late to the trap this morning so many may have escaped. However, over 10 common swifts, brimstones, common, white spotted and grey pugs and 3 rustic shoulder knots. Two shown here to highlight the variable nature of the colouring.
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Saturday 26 May 2012

Moths 26.05.12

A good haul of moths last night with white ermine, swallow prominent, chinese character, bright line brown eye being new for the year whilst common and grey pug were new to the garden list. In all 27 species. Photos of:
Swallow prominent
White ermine
Chinese character
Bright line brown eye
White spotted pug
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Damselflies

A brief wander around Hadham Hall ponds gave views of common blue, azure, emerald and blue tailed damselfies but no dragonflies. The latter may well have been present but not on the wing due to the strong breeze. Linnets, reed buntings and yellowhammers were noted as swallows, swifts and house martins fed over the adjacent fields. Few photos of common blue damsels, the 3rd photo showing a teneral specimen ( newly emerged)
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Moths 25.05.12

More and more activity at the trap with new for garden and new for year moths being a daily occurence. Photos here of new ones:
Grey pug
Rustic shoulder knot
Bee moth
Buff tip
Cockchafer beetle
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This is me

This is me
At the end of another Norfolk Coastal footpath walk. 47 miles, 3 days 99 species of bird. September 2009

Caley Wood view

Caley Wood view
sunshine through the canopy 29.05.08

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007
Best birds on this walk: black and middle spotted woodpecker and short toed treecreeper

About Me

My photo
A primary school teacher for 30 years, I retired from teaching in July 2009 to set up my own science enhancement and communication company. The Primary Works offers science clubs, workshops and staged science shows nationwide. I have always been interested in bird watching since my early years. Apparently my first tick was after inquiring about a chaffinch and then receiving the Observer book of birds. By the age of 9 I had moved on to Tory Peterson's collins guide and was now involved on YOC birding holidays to Northumbria, Essex coast, Slimbridge and Yorkshire. My twitching rule is that I will willingly travel 1km for each gram the bird weighs. However, I have had many rarities just by being in the right place. I have travelled widely throughout Europe and also visited Australia and Sri Lanka. In 2016 I spent time at Portland Bird Obs and two trips to Aviero, Portugal. 2017 found me back in Sri Lanka in Feb/March, then July and back for New Year's Eve celebrations in December. Also returned to The Camargue in May for a 4 day trip. Few plans for 2018, but nothing yet booked apart from a trip to the IOW.

Grey heron

Grey heron
Over the allotment 28.09.08

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker
Ridge footpath 27.08.08

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)
Note the stripes, denoting a bird fledged this year.

common blue

common blue
Ash Valley G.C. 15.08.08

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)
River Ash

azure damselfly

azure damselfly
River Ash 28.07.08

marbled white

marbled white
Discovered at Westland Green 22.07.08

ruddy darter

ruddy darter
Bush Wood 21.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08
growing in hedgerow in Chapel Lane

cinnabar moth caterpillar

cinnabar moth caterpillar
Photographed on ragwort 19.07.08

Bittersweet

Bittersweet
Study of petals 11.06.08

male yellowhammer

male yellowhammer
08.06.08

common blue butterfly

common blue butterfly
06.06.08

River Ash

River Ash
looking south from the bridge at Hadham Ford

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)
in rape field 29.05.08

Caley Wood sunshine

Caley Wood sunshine
29.05.08

Millenium Wood fox

Millenium Wood fox
24.05.08

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)
06.05.08 banks of the River Ash

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)
flowers, leaves and fruit edible . Good in salad and pesto

April showers

April showers
Double rainbow 30.04.08

Caley Wood bluebells

Caley Wood bluebells
22.04.08

Yellow Archangel

Yellow Archangel
Chapel Lane (20.04.08)

sunlight 16.04.08

sunlight 16.04.08
looking south west from Bush Wood

snowy buds

snowy buds
06.04.08 in Bush Wood

Looking north west

Looking north west
05.04.08 evening shower approaching

Back Garden

Back Garden
Easter Sunday (23.03.08)

Brick Kiln Hill

Brick Kiln Hill
Looking east (23.03.08)

No play today

No play today
The 2nd hole at Ash Valley golf course

Teasel head

Teasel head
Bush Wood (21.03.08)

Reflections

Reflections
daffodils at Bush Wood pond (21.03.08)

Swollen River Ash

Swollen River Ash
The river at the bottom of Winding Hill 16.03.08

Daybreak over the chapel

Daybreak over the chapel
Thursday 13th March

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)
growing in Bush Wood

January snowdrops

January snowdrops
Banks of River Ash, north of Much Hadham

Good Moon

Good Moon
From garden 24.01.08

Village Green

Village Green
Looking east towards Acremore Street

Looking south before Hadham Ford

Looking south before Hadham Ford
rare January blue sky

Useful sites

The following are some useful websites that may interest readers of this blog.
Firstly, Bishop's Stortford Natural History Society http://bsnhs.webplus.net/

Fellow birder, Gary Whelan's blog. Gives reports from our trips out together plus reports from his trips abroad. http://hairybirders.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/ The official herts bird club website. Frequently updated, listing bird sightings around the county. Offers links to many other websites. Both of these sites also offer links to yahoo discussion groups.
http://www.birdforum.net/ An international site. You can enter as a guest but become a member( free) to post comments, bird sightings and just about anything to do with wild birds. Good news updates, classified section for binoculars, cameras etc.
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com/ A new site set up where you can contact people worldwide who will help you find good birds in their country. UK section being set up presently.
http://www.britainsbirder.co.uk/
Fellow birders blog. Strtford resident, Graeme Smith regulary birds the area south of Stortford as well as around Spellbrook and the River Stort from Spellbrook to Twyford Locks. Some superb bird photography: Graeme uses a digital camera attached to his powerful telescope to get detailled images of the birds he sees. Well worth a browse.
Two local sites that may be of interest can be found at
http://www.thehadhams.com/ www.thepelhams.net/content/section/12/139/

South Easterly walk

South Easterly walk
black, normal, red extended walk

South Westerly route.

South Westerly route.
Black usual, red extended

North Easterly walk

North Easterly walk
black short, walk. Red, extended

North West Patch

North West Patch
black route regular. Red route the extended wander