July 30th

I started this morning at home with a rare outing for my moth trap in the garden, it doesn't produce anything like the number or diversity of species as the one at the castle but it's to see what is around. I ended up with 31 species and about 80 moths which I was quite pleased with especially as one was new for the garden, White Point generally considered a migrant although now in the south east I think it's becoming much more common. Other moths included 2 Buff tips, Green Silver Lines, Scarce Footman and 2 Least Carpets.

White Point

After checking the moths I managed to snatch a couple of hours at the castle, there were a few bits and pieces about, still several young birds BLACKCAPS, GARDEN WARBLER, SPOTTED FLYCATCHER plus the numbers of SWALLOWS seem to be growing daily with over 20 birds today. A Migrant Hawker seen just down from the moat was the first of the year for me and as I continued down the hedgerows there were good numbers of Gatekeepers and on the bird front good numbers of WHITETHROAT.

Blackcap

Migrant Hawker - I think

Swallows

SEDGE WARBLER put in an appearance again and YELLOWHAMMER and REED BUNTING were both favouring the established hedge along the bottom ditch.

Female Pheasant

Walking back up to look across the valley I found Brown Argus and managed my first photo of Small Copper, while I photographed these I caught sight of a COMMON BUZZARD heading north west. I spent 20 minutes taking in the view but could only add 1 more Buzzard, and some extremely high gulls, HERRING and LESSER BLACK BACKED.

Gatekeeper

Small Copper

Brown Argus