Sunday 21 October 2012

15th-20th October

With the mornings getting darker, getting any bird pics has been tricky this week, which is a shame as 2 birds that have eluded the camera so far, actually posed long enough to get shots but in the poor light stay off the blog so far!
The temperature looked good for the night of the 15th so the the moth traps went on, it turned out to be windy and rainy so I was pleased to get 54 moths of 15 species. There was nothing new for the year, 12 CHESTNUTS were the most numerous and 1 DARK CHESTNUT probably the pick of what was on offer.
A short walk after recording the moths did produce 2 BRAMBLING which had landed in the tree next to the Head Gardeners cottage but poor light kept these off the camera. Elsewhere several REDWING, REDPOLL and SISKINS flew over and a CHIFFCHAFF called in the car park.
I do love early morning


I didn't get back out until the 19th when a KINGFISHER sat still for at least 30 seconds to a minute while I again missed an opportunity but as with the Brambling, I enjoyed the sighting, again a CHIFFCHAFF called.
Moths were the highlight again on the morning of the 20th, with 3 new for the year. MERVEILLE DU JOUR waded in with 3 individuals a particular favourite with it's somehow minty appearance, next was a VAPOURER, the caterpillar of which will bring you out in a rash if it touches the skin, I can tell you from experience! Lastly a GREY SHOULDER-KNOT was new too. There was a migrant SILVER Y as well as 9 GREEN BRINDLED CRESCENTS. Totals were 41 moths of 19 species.
Merveille Du Jour

Merveille Du Jour

The Vapourer
The Vapourer

Grey Shoulder Knot
  Another quick walk looking for some of our avian friends had the following highlights - REDWING 15, LINNET 4, REDPOLL 2, SISKIN 1, REED BUNTING 3, YELLOWHAMMER 10, SKYLARK 30+, LITTLE OWL 2, COMMON BUZZARD 1 and a single FIELDFARE which flew east calling.

13 comments:

Warren Baker said...

So there are Fieldfare about them Alan! Not had one this Autumn yet.

Nice moth that Merveille du jour :-)

Marianne said...

I know what you mean re dark mornings and bird photography, but what gorgeous sunrises! Never seen Merveille du Jour, it's an absolute stunner, and the close-up pic of the pattern is amazing :)

Marc Heath said...

Lovely early morning shots, as you know this is my best time too to be out.Hopefully you will get your shots soon.

Brian King said...

Gorgeous photos! Love the incredible detail of the moths!

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Beautiful images sunset. ;-) .. Greetings from Madrid.

Tammy said...

The sunrise images are incredible Alan! The countryside in the second photo looks absolutely stunning! That is a great collection of moth photos, all with great detail!

Maria said...

Great variety of images and the textures of the moth are magnificent! Great detail!

Anonymous said...

Great set of pics there Alan.

Rohrerbot said...

Those moths are beautiful....I LOVE the macro on the wings. Nicely done. The first shot looks like something out of the Amazon rain forest.

ShySongbird said...

So sorry to have missed some of your recent posts and beautiful photos Alan. I have enjoyed catching up with them and particularly liked the photo of the GW on the October 4th post and the Migrant Hawkers on the more recent post.

Lovely sunrise photos here, I do wish I was an early morning person! A good selection of moths too.

Helma said...

Yet your photos very nice, especially the first and second picture I love. I love skies and these are really very beautiful. You nachtvlidners are beautifully portrayed and the details let you see very moi. Really nice photo work :-)

Greetings, Helma

Lasse said...

The mornings are very beautiful, agree with you, and the pictures are very beautiful! Nice captures of the mooths!

Jason K said...

Cracking Merveille Du Jour Alan! It's a species I am yet to see/trap