20th May 2010

Yippee its Christmas – well that’s what it looked like when I checked my trap this morning – 53 moths of 24 species all due to a mild cloudy night with a minimum garden temperature of 13c. New for the year were Chinese Character, Yellow Shell, Bright-line Brown-eye, Mottled Pug, Pebble Prominent, Heart and Dart, Common Wainscot, Bee Moth and Pale Mottled Willow.
Draycote Water mid morning was warm, humid and a waste of time with only Gadwall, Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Black-backed Gull worthy of a mention plus Pale Tussock and White Ermine on the cafe wall. Dennis and John had rang earlier regarding the Temminick’s Stint so decided to risk life and limb cycling up the A45 dodging the juggernauts and speed merchants along the A45 to Brandon Marsh, luckily it was still on East Marsh on arrival and only my second county record.
Also present were 3 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Kingfisher, Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, Cetti's Warbler and Cuckoo. The ride back home produced 2 Corn Bunting and 2 Yellow Wagtail on Lawford Heath.

Richard