February 5th 2010

With a minimum temp of 5.2 overnight and damp the garden moth trap did well again with 2 Pale Brindle Beauty, Mottled Umber and a Chestnut which along with yesterdays Grey Shoulder-knot Bob H kindly came round to photograph them this morning.

Grey Shoulder-knot

Pale Brindled Beauty

Chestnut - all photos by Bob Hazell
The day slowly brightened and the garden had 3 Redwing over going south, pair of Sparrowhawk, singing Skylark and a Coal Tit while Bob was doing his stuff
While out with Dave this afternoon we were approaching Fosse Farm on our way to Brandon Marsh and found a stunning male Merlin sitting in bright sunshine on nearby telegraph wires. At Brandon there was no sign of yesterdays Pintail but one of the two Bitterns that had been seen on and off all morning from east marsh hide showed really well after a 45 minute wait while the other stayed elusive. Buzzard, Cetties Warbler and 5 Reed Bunting the best of the rest. The long staying Bewick’s Swan is still at Church Lawford.