May 14th 2009

A grey overcast night with light north east winds producing another good moth catch with Small Magpie, Figure of Eighty, Ruby Tiger, Clouded Silver and Treble bar all new for the year among the 42 moths present and again dominated by Shuttle-shaped Darts.
I was down the pond by 7am hoping for more Black Terns as many were on the move yesterday evening but only one Black Tern remained from yesterday and 3 Common Tern arrived mid-day. A few waders went through with 4 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover while the Common Scoter was still in toft bay. 3 Yellow Wagtail.

Dunlin by Bob Hazell
Two points of interest - the numbers of Garden Warbler on site is very impressive with at least twenty compared to 2-4 in a good year

Garden Warbler by Bob Hazell
and a male Gadwall is being very attentive to a female Mallard with 4 young. At this stage I am not sure if the Gadwall is just acting parental or if this is a hybrid pairing. The young are darker compared to Mallard young but we will have to wait and see how they develop.
Meanwhile some low down specimen of man kind not worthy of oxygen or hospital food nicked me coat from Trog so good old Bob Hazel was kind enough to give me a lift home before the heavens threatened to open and the weather looks crap for tomorrow so if your out and about you may need your scuba gear.

Green Carpet by Bob Hazell
it was in the gents of the country park so dragged Bob and Francoise in - as u do?

Richard