May 16th 2009

Last night mothing session was rough going with appalling conditions reflected in the catch with only 52 moths of 18 species but I added Adela reaumurella, Grey Birch and Orange Footman to my Warwickshire list so worth the effort and my home trap had new for the year Poplar Hawk-moth, Iron Prominent and 2 migrant Diamond-back Moths of the pale form which I have not seen before.

Poplar Hawk-moth
After a few hours sleep it was down the valley checking on some of the last of our some migrants to arrive and both Turtle Dove and Spotted Flycatcher were back in areas they were breeding in last year. Also seen were Cuckoo, 2 Red-legged Partridge, Buzzard, 3 Tree Sparrow and Treecreeper but no sign of any kite. Mark had a Cuckoo calling in toft early morning so we are doing slightly better for this species than in the previous three years but the species is still very scarce compared to its former status as a common breeding species.
Mid afternoon among the showers a visit to the pond produced Little Tern and Knot off the valve tower but no sign of Turnstone and Sanderling that JJ had earlier. The partial summer plumage Knot was nearly overlooked as it was resting in the area where the embankment has collapsed so managed to find the only bit of shoreline available on the north side. Also present were Common Sandpiper, Artic Tern, Grey Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 6 Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, 3 Buzzard and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

Richard