May 26th 2009

The overcast humid conditions with rain were ideal for moths with both me and Dave recording very large catches. Lost count of how many I added to the garden year list. Once I surfaced this morning the weather had completely changed becoming cloudy with bright sunny periods, very windy and a lot cooler than yesterday with Draycote Water recording gusts of over 30mph so waited for it to subside before going down the valley. While I waited Bob came round to photograph some of my moths and we had Hobby and 9 Painted Lady over the garden.

Willow Beauty

Sycamore

Oak Hook-tip

Limee Hawk-moth
The valley was still windy but thanks to the owners for allowing me on to there land I managed to hear the Quail calling along the Flecknoe Road which I couldn’t do from the road. Also in the area were Whitethroat plus 10 Painted Lady all heading roughly north west.
Draycote Water was still very blustery with 2 Common Tern, Ringed Plover and Spotted Flycatcher and guess what – yep – Painted Lady with 6 seen.

Richard