An early Lime Hawkmoth was a pleasant surprise in my moth-trap this morning. Not usually on the wing until May. Also 6 Early Grey; 6 Hebrew Character; 1 Early Thorn; 1 Common Quaker; 1 Small Quaker; 1 Clouded Drab; 1 Double-striped Pug & 1 Emmelina monodactyla. PHOTOS – Top – Lime Hawkmoth / bottom – […]
A day spent observing some spring jewels, namely Red-necked Grebe & Black-necked Grebe. These birds are truly stunning in their summer plumage. So rare to see Red-necked Grebe in full regalia. Black-necked Grebes are more common in their summer attire. This Red-necked Grebe has returned to this area of Yorkshire for its seventh year. Also
Local birding in South Derbyshire. A very dull grey spring morning was brightened up by the courtship dances of the Great Crested Grebe. This pair were really putting on a show at Foremark Reservoir. A pity they were just a little distant for my camera lens. No luck with Lesser Pecker this morning but did
Overnight Actinic Trap in Garden – Clouded Drab 3; Common Quaker 6; Small Quaker 3; Twin-spotted Quaker 3; Hebrew Character 1; Early Grey 4: PHOTOS – Inset – Clouded Drab; Below top – Early Grey; below bottom – Small Quaker.
The first Moth Trap of the year produced some decent garden moths – 2 Oak Beauty / 1 Twin-spotted Quaker / 1 Pine Beauty / 1 Dotted Border / 6 Common Quaker / 2 March Moth / 2 Hebrew Character / 1 Shoulder Stripe PHOTOS – insert – Oak Beauty – Below 1st & 2nd
March 13th 2011 – Blithfield Reservoir, Staffordshire. My second attempt for the Great White Egret, eventually paid off. Seen in flight briefly before disappearing from view in dense willow scrub. Also my first spring migrant for 2011- 2 parties of Sand Martin – 1 off 11 birds and 1 of 6 birds. Nice to see
A morning on Cannock Chase was well worth while. The first returning Woodlarks were seen & heard, along with Green Woodpecker & Jay as year ticks. Plenty of common birds at a variety of different feeding stations. Unfortunately no sign of the Great Grey Shrike and no sign of the great White Egret at Blithfield
We decided to throw caution to the wind and drive down to Rainham on the off-chance & look for the Slaty-backed Gull that had been frequenting the Veolia Landfill site, since middle of January. We arrived at Rainham on a very dull, cloudy & wet morning. Bugger, I hate rain and it was chucking it
