July 18th 2008

Well the day started last night on the way back from the pub when we had a juvenile Barn Owl perched on the telegraph wires between Woodside and Grove Farms on the B4453 between Princethorpe and Bourton on Dunsmore. A good night at the pub, getting an opportunity to photograph Paul Cashmore's Pine Hawk-moth which is a scarce moth in Warwickshire with about 15 records before it was released.

Pine Hawk-moth.
Very little seen at Draycote Water this afternoon with the best being a Buzzard and in the country park in the more sheltered areas there were a few butterfly's about with Large White the most commonest and again no Marbled Whites. The valley produced a Red-legged Partridge, Lapwing 2, many Yellowhammers and a couple of Hares.
My own trap produced one of my favorite moths.

Poplar Hawk-moth
This evening it was out again with Dave and his good lady for a meal and on return the bats were out in force over the garden.

Richard