Thursday 9 June 2011

More Moths and Birds

Another early start and a another beautiful morning, it was a touch cooler though and 130 moths of 42 species reflected that, only a third of Tuesday mornings total. We still recorded 7 more Rannoch Loopers and had 2 species new for the year, Dwarf Cream Wave and Lackey. Other moths included our second Barred Yellow of the year, always a favourite of mine, White Point, 3 Cinnabars, Grey Arches and Blotched Emerald.
Barred Yellow

Lackey

Sun up!

A different view

I was walking by 5.45 this morning, the SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS were busy and the CUCKOO was singing, a GREY WAGTAIL flew over, which was only about the third sighting this year, a bird that nested on the estate, until a couple of years ago. 6 STOCK DOVES flew over the wood and the first COLLARED DOVE of the month was near the Granary. The only gull species again was HERRING GULL today, I've had reports recently of Med. Gulls from Marden and St.Michaels, so being somewhere in between I'm hoping to add them to the year list soon :-)
I hope this Spot Fly doesn't get to used to sitting on cats!!

Sorry! Another Robin in the early light

A GOLDCREST was singing near the lake, COAL TIT and MARSH TIT were added in the wood. In the fields the REED BUNTING was singing again and a second (or possibly the same) GREY WAGTAIL flew over, as this disappeared, I heard CROSSBILLS and a flock of 15 headed south west, the best flock this year, later I managed to find a distant SWIFT, the first one this month.
Whitethroat

Mallard

5 comments:

Warren Baker said...

that spot fly made me laugh Alan ;-)

Greenie said...

Alan ,
Great shot of the Sp.Fly
Thanks for your confirmation of the moths on mine .

John said...

Hi Alan,
It never ceases to amaze me the array of moths that we have in this country and some are the most beautiful creatures to behold!
Lovely to see the Spotted Flycatcher, a sight becoming a bit unfamiliar!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

ShySongbird said...

Lovely photos Alan! The Spotty Fly made me laugh :)

Don't apologise for Robin photos, I never tire of them.

You are going to have to send some Whitethroats my way, I think they go into hiding when they see me!

Alan Pavey said...

Hi Warren,Thanks, I missed a shot of the Spot Fly the day before, I was lucky to get another chance :-)

Hi Greenie, Thanks, I'm enjoying clicking away but half decent results are rare!! :-)

Hi John, The moths are fairly new for me but I'm really enjoying the challenge of learning how to ID them and as you say some are really so well marked :-)

Hi ShySongbird, I'm glad you liked the Spot Fly. :-)

I must admit, I almost always stop when a Robin crosses my path, they have real character.

I tried with the Whitethroats this morning, were you nearby? They stayed soundly undercover but did sing alot just to let me know they were there!! :-)