Only one moth

As autumn turns wintry moth numbers have dropped to a bare minimum. Only a few species will fly between now and March. Today, a mottled umber roosted on the sheet adjacent to the trap. Only my 2nd garden record for this species.
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Algarve trip

A quick trip to The Algarve for a few dyas birding and photography. Arriving late on Monday 22nd and leaving in the afternoon of Friday 26th.
Tuesaday was spent birding on the salt pans around Tavira in the East, before a train and bus journey to Lagos in the west on the Wednesday.
In all 83 species of birds were seen, which, considering the dreadful weather on the Thursday, was most pleasing. Thursday was an early start to Sagres and then a walk to Cabo de Sao Vicente. It was hoped that a sunny day would mean successful raptor watching at the special watchpoint. However, leaden skies and continual heavy showers meant no sensible raptor would be on the wing, so time was spent sea watching. Cory's, sooty, great and balearic shearwaters were seen along with 10,000's of gannets. Other good birds around here were serin, black redstart, caspian tern (1) plus several at Tavira, zitting cisticola, whinchat, stomnechat and wheatear.
From the bus near Vila do Bispo a bonelli's eagle was seen quartering fields whilst back at Lagos a walk up the river gave views of plenty of gulls and waders, plus a kingfisher. The latter being a first for me in Portugal!
At Tavira, spoonbills, a variety of terns (little, whiskered and sandwich) were watched along with a black tern near Fuzeta.
Disappointingly, whilst sea watching the weather was so dark and overcast that photography at range was virtually impossible. The photo below of a distant juvenile gannet showing the poor quality of the light. The last photo, taken on my phone, shows the sky at 11a.m. I was a few minutes away from being soaked!

white stork

white stork

common sandpiper

redshank

turnstone

yellow legged gull

gannet

wheatear

Thekla lark

Tavira view from beach track

Sagres cliffs

Sagres Forteleza

Dark sky between Sargres and Cabo da Sao Vicente. No cover!!

All in all a great trip.

Large moth

A red underwing was only the third garden record (photo 1.) Also, several regulars including 2 beaded chestnut (2), 2 merveille du jour (3) and a few setaceous hebrew characters. However, a winter moth was a new garden record but it legged it before I got a photo. This was moth number 251 for the garden and number 233 for 2012.
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Amwell Visit

A wander round Amwell reserve in the company of members of Chorleywood RSPB group. An enjoyable few hours with several good birds being seen. 3 snipe were at the water's edge upon arrival along with greylags, lapwings, assorted gulls and waterfowl. Good to see the recently arrived wigeon. A walk to other waters gave views of tufted duck, gadwall, great crested grebe, coot etc as well as great spottedf woodpecker, robin and dunnock. 30+ siskins and at least 1 redpoll were watched in alders before arriving back at the viewpoint. A yellow legged gull was in amongst the lesser black backed gulls and a hybrid teal/wigeon cross was seen. All in all a pleasant time.
Photos:
1 and 2 grey heron
3. Cormorants on tern raft
4 and 5 grey heron in flight
6 upending shoveler
7 wigeon
8 common buzzard
9 and 10 reserve views
11. Garden cross spider
12 distant snipe
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Late moth update

This morning's burnished brass shows the H shape which is either the form tutti or juncta. The form tutti may indeed be a specific species rather than a form. DNA extraction will be necessary and so my voucher specimen has been given over for DNA analysis. This will be sent to Canada for study in the on going research to see if it is indeed a new species. Results will be posted here when I hear.
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Late moth

A reasonable selection this morning. The surprise was a very late burnished brass, normally finished by end of September after a peak period around early July. Up to 2006, no Herts records for week 42. Details sent to Colin, the county recorder. Also in the haul: 2 lesser yellow underwings, 5 setaceous hebrew character, 1 red green carpet and 1 green brindled crescent.
Burnished brass photo above.
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Few moths

After the warm night, a disappointing collection this morning. A merveille du jour (photo 1) was good but only a beaded chestnut, 4 setaceous hebrew character and yesterday's large ranunculus (2.) Plenty of crane flies and several caddis flies were also present.
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Another new 2012 moth + new micro

A wet but warm night has so far given up the 1st large ranunculus of the year (photo 1) along with a new garden record of Acleris rhombana (Rhomboid tortrix) moth number 1042. The latter escaped from the pot in the lounge and was eventually tracked down to the brass fitting of a wall light, as shown in photo 2.
Garden species list for 2012 now extended to a creditable 232. Only a few more species possible, with a chance that the warm night may bring in a couple more new ones.
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Walk home from Tescos

Dropped off on the outskirts of town, so a footpath based walk over the 5 miles home. For the first 2 miles all I recorded were magpies, carrion crows, jackdaws, blue and great tits and wood pigeons. Slowly birding imroved, but only just. A little owl (photo 1 and 2) was found by Clintons Farm, a great spotted woodpecker was flushed in Ford Hill and a couple of green woodpeckers called. Otherwise, blackbirds, house sparrows and robins was about it. I resorted to several autumnal photos. Many thanks to Jill and Michael for permitting me access to their farm to see the little owl.
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2 new moths for the year list

A cold night so wasn't expecting a great deal. However,first merveille du jour (photo 1) and yellow line quaker (2) were added to the year list, which now stands at 231 species. Also on show, a lesser yellow underwing, setaceous hebrew character, angle shades and Blair's shoulder knot.
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Hadham Hall lagoon

A brief morning walk around the north east area of the parish gave views of a juvenile mute swan (photos 1 and 2). Only 2nd parish record, following the 2 adults and single juvenile that were on the lagoon between December 2009 and Feb 2010. Also of note, 2 adult little grebes with 2 juveniles (3) and a juvenile moorhen (4.)
Other birds included sparrowhawk, tufted duck, kestrel, common buzzard and several green woodpeckers.
Local farmer was spraying newly sown foeld so no bugs, insects around here for a while, I suspect. (5)
The colours of the autumnal trees are superb at present (6) and finally, an unusual guest to the garden this afternoon. A non ring necked pheasant ( colchicus group) originating from Asia and Caucasus. (7)
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Moths

First frost of the autumn cut numbers. A barred sallow and green brindled crescent (photo 1) were all that ventured to the trap.
The unidentified plume moth turned out to be an extremely late common brown plume. These moths normally aren't seen after August, but with the bindweed still growing they can still be found. However, a very late Herts. record.
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New moth for the year

From nowhere, I trapped not 1 but 3 green brindled crescent this morning. A common and expected moth, but nevertheless, for 3 to appear is unusual on the 1st showing of the year. (Photos 1 and 2.)
Also a barred sallow (3), a blair's shoulder knot (4,) another mottled umber (5) and several large yellow underwings and setaceous hebrew characters
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