June 6th 2010

Many thanks to Dennis and Graham for putting me right on my Damselfly identification.

At least 60 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew over the garden last night just before a thunderstorm broke and the clammy conditions afterwards with a minimum garden temp of 15c produced a good catch of moths with 114 moths of 38 species. Dave had 166 moths and 42 species
Went to Oversley Wood in the south of the county this morning and had a frustrating time with a Turtle Dove that was calling but alas stayed hidden, Spotted Flycatcher near entrance, 5 Raven over the A46 and a recently fledged Treecreeper sun bathing on a tree stump. Plenty of Common Spotted Orchids in nearly full bloom but the Narrow-leaved Helleborine had gone over. Very few butterfly or dragonfly species noted and moths did not fare much better accept for Fan-foot with 20+ flushed out of bracken.

Richard