Four moths in the trap this morning: 2 Hebrew Characters, 1 Early Grey and 1 Common Quaker, although the latter looked a bit different from the ones I usually get. Another cold and bleak day at Dunge today. Two Tree Sparrows were in the hedge by the ARC car park. At the new diggings 2 Slavonian and 1 Black-necked Grebe showed well. A Kingfisher also flew across here. In the trapping area we failed to see any Firecrests or Wheatears but we did flush a Woodcock twice. A male Sparrowhawk landed briefly near the moat. At the patch there were 2 adult Med, Gulls and some Brent Geese and Common Scoters went by heading east. At least 4 Harbour Porpoises were also in the vicinity. After lunch on the RSPB reserve there were 4 Lesser Redpolls near the visitor centre but no Garganey could be found. As we were driving out a Great White Egret was seen distantly from the entrance track near Boulderwall.

Lesser Redpoll

 Common Quaker

Just 1 Common Quaker and 1 Hebrew Character in the trap since my last post. Made the usual Dunge visit today in very pleasant weather. There was not much to report on the ARC but we soon caught up with a few birds not seen previously. There were 2 Black-necked Grebes on the New Diggings, the Firecrest was still in the Lighthouse Garden and 2 Black Redstarts showed well on the power station wall behind the first seawatching hide. We then had a look for the Dartford Warbler in the Kerton Road area but there were only a few Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits. However, I disturbed a Hare in that area, which disappeared in a flash. After lunch we walked round the RSPB reserve and managed a brief view of a Great White Egret, plus 2 Little Egrets, a drake Smew, Kingfisher and Marsh Harrier which flew a bit closer than they usually do.

Firecrest

 Marsh Harrier

 

Since my last post I've recorded 3 Hebrew Characters and 2 Common Quakers in the moth trap. I made a visit to Dunge today in fine weather but we struggled to find much. On the RSPB reserve the star bird was a fairly close fly past of a Bittern between the ramp and Boulderwall farm. We also saw a Stoat, 3 Smew, a few Goldeneye, the usual Marsh Harriers and 2 Little Egrets. The Long-eared Owl was showing quite well in the sunshine. After lunch we had a walk behind Scotney Farm but saw very little apart from a couple of Egyptian Geese and a Stock Dove. For the first time since the start of the winter we failed to see a Great White Egret.

 Bittern

Egyptian Goose

Long-eared Owl

Moth news: On Tuesday morning I was quite surprised to find 6 moths on or in the trap: 2 Pale Brindled Beauties, 2 Chestnuts, and 2 Common Quakers. On Wednesday, despite -2c overnight, an Early Grey was new for the year.

Pale Brindled Beauty

Just back from a trip to Canada where I was birding in the Calgary area-photos below and more will be appearing on my Flickr site.

Great Grey Owl

 Hawk Owl

 Pine Grosbeak

 Snowy Owl

No more moths to report. Yesterday I paid a late afternoon visit to Seasalter hoping for a Barn Owl. None seen but 1 Short-eared Owl showed well near the Pumping Station again. Today I spent a day at Dunge in very mild and calm weather. We started at the ARC pit which was very quiet with 5 Goldeneye noted. We then tried to find the Black-necked Grebes reported on the New Diggings but couldn't find them. We had better luck at the Fishing Boats where the 1W Glaucous Gull showed well again. The were also good numbers of Auks on the sea including a few Razorbills. Numerous Turnstones were on the beach and a Red-throated Diver was noted. After lunch at Lade we walked from the toilet block to the tideline where there were around 100 Barrel Jellyfish left stranded-the first time I've seen this species. We finished on the Reserve again where the highlights were a Slavonian Grebe from the Dennis hide, 2 Long-eared Owls behind the dipping pond, and a Smew near the Makepeace Hide, from where my friend spotted an adult Caspian Gull bathing. A Great White Egret and 3 Little Egrets were in the Boulderwall farmhouse area.

Glaucous Gull

 Barrel Jellyfish

 Short-eared Owl

Since my last post I've recorded a Light-brown Apple Moth, 2 Hebrew Characters and another Chestnut. Last year I didn't record a single moth before the 6th March.

The Chestnut