July 20th 2010

Out early hoping to see a Barn owl at a new location but no luck though I did see one near Ashlawn Cutting. It was a mega night for moths with a combined total of 750 between mine and Dave’s traps so Bob helped me clear them both down before we went to the pond. Luckily it was not too busy and there were 3 adult and one 2nd year Yellow-legged Gull amongst the 20+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Little Egret in biggen bay before being flushed by Joe public, 4 Common Tern and 2 Common Sandpiper flying across the reservoir while Bob continued on to toft and saw the Egyptian Goose and 3 more Common Sandpiper, also 8 Buzzards and 2 Green Woodpecker.
Moths around the visitors centre were 2 Dingy Footman, Ruby Tiger, Dusky Sallow, Scalloped Oak, 6 Yellow-tail and Poplar Hawk-moth which was trapped in a spiders web but a deft move with the broom soon had it on its way. Plenty of butterflies around but no attempt to count them made.

Duscky Sallow, Draycote Water

Ear Moth in Dave's trap

Lilac Beauty in Dave's trap

Richard