April 9th 2011

I was down the pond by 4am so I could catch the two passes the “space shed” was making from horizon to horizon though the second pass was disappointing as it was low and in almost day light. Being early gave me a chance to check for moths attracted to the various security lights and managed a good haul of 41 moths of 9 species though my ugly mug would have given the security camera watchers a fright. The count was Early Thorn, Engrailed, 2 Small Quaker, 11 Common Quaker, 5 Clouded Drab, 2 Twin-spotted Quaker, 15 Hebrew Character, Satellite, and 4 Early Grey.
The dawn chorus included my first Sedge Warbler of the year and good numbers of other warblers including 34 Blackcap 8 Chiffchaff and 17 Willow Warbler but disappointingly no owls were heard earlier.
Two Brambling males were still on the north bank but unfortunately the first runners passed me just as I was scoping a White Wagtail sending it off into the adjacent fields along with 16 Yellow Wagtail. Amongst the Black-headed Gulls at least one first summer Little Gull was present while toft bay had Common Tern, Shelduck, Common Sandpiper, 4 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 3 Teal and Willow Tit, while the sewage farm had Meadow Pipit and Grey Wagtail.
Dave trapped 3 “barred” moths and dropped them round on his way out for me to identify so Bob came round to photograph them – unfortunately we lost 2 before the camera clicked but managed to confirm them as 2 Streamers – new for his garden and a Shoulder-stripe.

Streamer by Bob Hazell

Back home things were quiet till mid-day when a raptor passage started and continued till 2pm then ceased with 11 single Buzzards and a group of 3 flew north plus 2 Sparrowhawk and John was doing the same managing a Red Kite. I resumed at 4pm with 8 more Buzzards going over and many hirundines. There was also a good passage of Lesser Black-backed Gulls going north today at a higher altitude than the buzzards.
Looks like another busy night for moths – my trap has 6 species already.

Richard