June 23rd 2010

I was out just after 2:30am taking advantage of this current spell of warm nights looking for owls along the Southam Road and though both Tawny and Barn Owl could be heard it was not till dawn broke that a Barn Owl was spotted in the distance hunting around the country park, Draycote Water also Fox and Badger seen. On arrival at the pond there were 2 Barn Owls between the country park and farborough spit and a search around the visitor centre for moths produced Riband Wave, 2 Light Emerald, Pebble Prominent, Mottled Rustic, 3 Cinnabar and a Silver Y. Even at this time of morning the bird life was pretty quiet so only birds of note were Sedge Warbler, 3 Yellow Wagtail, Common Tern and 2 Whitethroat before meeting up with Bob at my house.
Dave and I have between us caught over nearly 700 moths over the last two nights of 70+ species so not surprisingly Bob and I spent 5 hours photographing some of them – well Bob did the clicking and I fed him.

Richard