Quiet moth night

Another wet afternoon and evening meant a paucity of moths in the trap. A large nutmeg was new for the year on the macro front whilst other macros were common swift, light emerald, green carpet and heart and dart.
A new micro for me was a Pseudargyrotoza conwagana shown below as well as the common grass moth Crambus lathoneillus

Lakenheath RSPB and Weeting Heath

A leisurely morning checking moths before a drive to Lakenheath RSPB reserve on the Norfolk border. Very overcast and consequently terrible light for photographs. Most birds were just too far away for a worthwhile shot, which is a shame as I saw some good birds.
Sedge and reed warblers were both in good voice all over the reserve with several showing well, but even close the light was poor.

reed warbler

sedge warbler

I wandered along the riverbank to the hide overlooking the main reedbed. On the river and lake beyond were great crested grebes, a few common terns, coots, mallards and mute swans. A duck flew past, a garganey and I managed just one shot of it.

garganey

common tern returning to nest with fish

In the far distance I noted 2 common cranes in the field and overhead hobbies were chasing swifts and martins. A few shoveler went by as I came across several species of dragon and damselflies. Plenty of 4 spot chasers that wouldn't pose for a photo whilst these did.

Azure damselfly

female azure damselfly

 Cuckoos were calling all over the reserve, probably at least 5 with a female flying into the poplars where golden oriole are often heard and not seen. However, so far this year, none have arrived at what is usually a good spot for them.
Checking a nettle patch close to the path I encountered this drinker moth caterpillar. This is standard food for the cuckoos.

After a wander around the poplars where willow warblers, chiffchaffs and balckcaps were calling, I had a coffee at the visitors' centre before heading off to Weeting Heath some 4 miles away. Finally, Lakenheath can be very peaceful, but occasionally, certainly not and this morning was one of the noisy sessions as shown here.

from Lakenheath or Mildenhall USAF BASE

Upon arriving at Weeting Heath I headed for the east hide. Plenty of corvids, lapwings and rabbits but no sign of a stone curlew, so round to the west hide, where 4 were showing very distantly. At one point I got a great show of "mantling" from one bird protecting its nest as a stoat made its way across the heath.
This shot was taken but really, too poor for publication, just to show the unpleasant conditions.

stone curlew

I crossed the road for the woodland trail. As I did so, the reported turtle dove flew overhead and was gone before I could focus the camera. I could hear curlews somewhere on the heath as well as more warblers, goldcrest and treecreepers. At the top of Track 49 the forest peters out and there is some heathland. Here, several skylark were in good voice and then 2 woodlark, short tailed and with no white upon the tail, flew past. I hoped they'd land on the fenceposts for a photo but they went straight into the long grass, not to re-emerge. As I walked back down to the carpark 2 shelduck flew south, probably the oddest record I have had at this site.
All in all a worthwhile few hours with the following year listers;
hobby, common crane, turtle dove, stone curlew and woodlark, taking my year list to 157 species. Some way off last year's total at this point but, hopefully, Norfolk next Friday should extend the list considerably.

Evening wander 28.05.14

An hour wandering around Hadham Hall, firstly, to check on the barn owl pair nearby and also to listen for any newly arrived migrants. Not 2 minutes after leaving the car, I heard and then saw, a spotted flycatcher. This site is one that has had successful breeding in the past, but tonight, I only observed a single male flitting about. It gave the impression of a newly arrived as it didn't seem to have established a feeding post or two. Very busy moving about through the trees. Great record for Herts. all the same. Hopefully, the female will arrive over the next few days.

first shot of spotted flycatcher in poor light

Closer view at what might be it's feeding station

As I wandered around the back of the pond, my attention was drawn to something small moving about in the undergrowth: a juvenile wren, still with the yellow gape on the beak. Constantly on the move, I changed the camera speed and settings to compensate for poor light.

After this I got on to the farm track that leads to where barn owls can be seen. Almost immediately I had distant views of one hunting, looking very white from such a distance, hence their local name; ghost owl.

I wanted to discover whether both adults were hunting and, if so, were they returning to the nest hole with food as this would indicate youngsters. In the 45 minutes I was present, I noted a second one leave the hole, but this could have been the first after returning. I waited for a while but none returned. I shall pop back to check when I have more time. However, the fact that they possibly both out hunting may mean young, albeit rather late in the year.

On the lake were 5 tufted duck and a grey heron. Overhead were skylarks, chaffinches, pied wagtails, linnets and swallows, plus a solitary swift. Both green and great spotted woodpeckers were seen and a reed bunting was heard alongside a yellowhammer. A peaceful hour's walk.

Quieter moth night

After continual drizzle, intermingled with heavier downpours, I wasn't too expectant upon arriving at the trap this morning. However, I was pleasantly surprised and the early rise proved to be worth it.
A brown rustic was the only new for year moth, but also, 2 treble lines,2 buff ermines and singles of mottled rustic, heart and dart and common swift.

brown rustic

And the moths keep coming

After a 3 day lay off from the moth trap due to absence, this morning was worth getting up for early and closing the trap in heavy rain. I returned later in the morning to find 16 moths of 12 species present. Not too bad considering it had been a chilly and wet night. New for the year were latticed heath (common), light brocade (several records) and a small angleshades (2nd garden record)
Apart from these, the numbers were made up with several regular species such as green carpet, treble lines, poplar hawkmoth, white ermine, common pug, rustic shoulder-knot, clouded silver, pale tussock, and Udea olivalis

light brocade, slightly worn specimen

small angle shades in good condition

small angle shades in profile

Brief Hadham Hall wander

A check on things to the east of the parish this morning. As expected, after rainfall, not too much on offer. At the irrigation lagoon the regular barn owl, a pied wagtail, yellowhammers, linnets and swallows as well as 2 grey herons.
A few damselfies, teneral common blues were on the wing, but no hoped for early emperor dragonflies. Need more sun. The breeding coots at Hadham Hall still have 5 of their young in tow, shown below. Not really warm enough for butterflies, just caterpillars of the peacock butterfly found on nettles.

coot and juvenile

peacock butterfly caterpillars

barn owl

grey heron

recently emerged common blue damselfly

Updated year list 26.05.14

Very slow building my list of late. Trip to Poland added plenty, but not to my UK year list. Consequently, only been birding in the parish and therefore just added a few new ones. Trip to North Norfolk/Suffolk on Friday 6th June should build up the list considerably.
143: Garden warbler
144: cuckoo
145: house martin
146: swift
147: stonechat
148: rock pipit
149: red breasted merganser
150: lesser whitethroat.
151: common tern
152: spotted flycatcher
153: common tern
154: turtle dove
155: hobby
156: crane
157: woodlark

Archive 2011; juvenile bee eater, The Camargue August

More new moths

A much damper night, but still plenty of activity at the moth trap. New for the year were lobster moth (only 2nd garden record), pine hawkmoth, pale mottled rustic, cinnabar and The Flame.
In all 24 moths of 18 species.

common swift

 

pine hawkmoth

pale mottled willow

lobster moth

Another good moth night

Again, a reasonable haul of late May moths, with scorched wing, oak hooktip, willow beauty, light emerald, common swift, heart and dart, white spotted pug, treble lines, mottled rustic and udea olivalis all being new for the year.
In all, 21 species of 31 moths. Hopefully more of the same tonight before the forecast heavy rainstorm.

common swift

2nd garden record of oak hooktip

rustic shoulder-knot

scorched wing

treble lines

Quiet village wander

Another walk back from town via Cradle End, Bury Green and the polo fields was rather uneventful. Plenty of regular warblers singing on their territory and loads of family parties of long tailed tits. A surprise at Bury Green, a fly over cormorant, but apart from that, just common blue and speckled wood butterflies made it on to the list.
A green woodpecker called from a house roof, not a usual site for this bird, but I returned to sort out the night's moth catch.

common blue

long tailed tit

Bury Green long tailed tit

speckled wood

female green woodpecker

singing chaffinch at the village war memorial

Increased moth Activity

A super night  mothing last night. Firstly, having set up the garden trap, I went out for a wander at 10.30pm with net and bright head torch, netting several common species such as green carpet, silver ground carpet, chinese character and rustic shoulder-knot. Returning to the garden at 11.30, it was clear I was in for a busy session with plenty of activity in and around the 125 watt lamp.
This morning, I was up early to check the contents and the results were by far and away the best so far this year.
In all 24 species were taken combined and in total 38 moths. Just for this record occasion I shall list all species.
Macros:
Flame shoulder 2
Green carpet 3
Chinese character
Silver ground carpet
Common marbled carpet
Brimstone
Pale tussock
Mottled pug 6
White ermine
Common white wave (new for year 48th species)
common pug  3
Poplar hawkmoth
Shuttle shaped dart
marbled minor complex 4 (49th species NFY)
Waved umber
V pug (NFY  50th species)
Brindled pug

Micros:
Bee moth
Emmelina monodactyla 2
Eulia ministrana 2 (new moth for me 14th micro of year)
Epiphyas postvittana (15th micro for year)
Agonopterix subpropinquella (16th micro NFY)
Celypha lacunana (17th micro NFY)
Syndemis musculana

Ag subpropinquella

Celypha lacunana

common marbled carpet

underwing shot of common marbled carpet

Eulia ministrana

Syndemis musculana

V pug

Also in the trap was this magnificently names bug of the hemiptera  order Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus !! At about 6mm in length it's name is far longer than the creature itself.

Finally, as I was checking the trap, I left the patio door open and, upon returning, found a great tit perched on my birdwatching scope in the lounge!!