February 26th 2010

A wet and windy night still produced 2 Pale Brindled Beauty’s and a Winter Moth in the garden trap.
In the afternoon Dave and I went for coffee and cake at Brandon Marsh meeting up with Terry and Colin before having a look at the east marsh. In the hide we met up with Bob and Steve and managed 16 Snipe, male Goldeneye, female Goosander, Kingfisher, 3 Oystercatcher and 3 male and a single female Shelduck but no sign of the Bittern. Earlier on our way to the marsh the Church Lawford Bewick’s Swan was still present with 22 Mute Swan right at the back of the field sleeping.
Just contemplating what to have for tea when Dave rang to say he had checked his trap and had a Dotted Chestnut so a quick phone call to Bob who rushed round to grab a few snaps before the light faded. This moth continues to elude my garden and until Dave started trapping there was only one previous 19th century record for the Rugby area and now he has added three more records - all from his garden.

Dotted Chestnut by Bob Hazell