Despite a cold night, the moth trap held 9 different macro species this morning. New for the year were Treble Lines, Pale Mottled Willow, The Spectacle and Least Black Arches. The latter was only my second ever record and the first since 2001. Made a visit to Stodmarsh today where 20+ Hobbies were on view.

Hobby

 Least Black Arches

Since returning from Cornwall the moth trap numbers have continued low. New for the year have been: Pebble Hook-tip, Brimstone, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Spruce Carpet and Lesser Swallow Prominent. I also had the first Cockchafer in the trap this morning so maybe normal service is about to resume. On Sunday I visited Bonsai Bank in Denge Wood where the Duke of Burgundy Butterflies were showing well, along with a Green Hairstreak.

Duke of Burgundy

 Duke of Burgundy

My recent visit to Cornwall did produce a few bird sightings. The bird of the trip was the Ring-billed Gull on the RSPB Hayle Estuary Reserve. I noticed that in the Collins Bird Guide it mentions that this species likes to walk about a lot, which was true of this one, which started off on the far side of the pool and within about 10 minutes had conveniently walked right in front of the hide. Botallack seems to be good for Cornish Choughs with about 8 seen on one day and 3 on the next. You can also see the "Poldark " mine there too and a stream of Manx Shearwaters passing by.

Ring-billed Gull

 Stonechat

We've reached the end of another month and the garden moth trap continues to disappoint with only 16 species recorded so far this year, which compares to 34 by this time last year. I've just returned from a week in Cornwall where I ran the trap on a few nights in the garden of a cottage near Praze-an-Beeble. Here I was successful on the first night with 2 Shoulder Stripes, a species I don't get in the garden and was therefore new for me. Later in the week there was a Water Carpet, only the 2nd one I've trapped, with the previous also being in Cornwall. However, the mothing highlight of the week was using a pheromone lure on a gorse covered headland near Godrevy Lighthouse where I saw a total of around 10 Emperor Moths, which I'd never seen before.

Emperor Moth

 Shoulder Stripe

 Water Carpet

   

Still not much in the Moth Trap. Finally caught up with female Ring Ouzel in the Horse Paddocks at Oare this morning. There was also a Yellow Wagtail there and a couple of Swallows flew over. The pair of Garganey were showing well on the East Flood. On Friday I made my first visit of the year to the Bonsai Bank reserve in Denge Wood. Four Marsh Tits were along the track and a Brimstone and Peacock were the only Butterfly species seen. There were lots of Common Bee-flies.

Ring Ouzel

  Common Bee-fly

Since my last post the moth trap has produced 2 Early Thorns, plus the first White-Shouldered House Moth and LBAM of the year. Struggled a bit in the cold NE wind at Dunge today but did manage to see my first Sand Martins, Common Terns, and Wheatears of the year. Other birds included the long staying Cattle Egrets and 1 Great White Egret. Marsh Harriers were everywhere.

Marsh Harrier

Things are warming up. Yesterday I recorded 13 moths in the trap: 7 HCs, 3 Early Greys, 1 Common Quaker, 1 Common Plume and the first Clouded Drab of the year. This morning there were 3 HCs, and the first Brindled Pug. I made a visit to Stodmarsh this morning where a pair of Garaganey were asleep in front of the Reed Bed Hide. I hoped they would wake up and swim a bit closer but they were flushed by a Marsh Harrier. There was also a Green Sandpiper. A Bittern was heard as was also my first Cuckoo of the year.

Garganey

 Common Quaker