May 6th 2011

A glorious if somewhat frustrating day starting early morning with a good moth catch that include V-Pug, Setaceous Hebrew Character and a tatty Rivulet all first for the year along with 11 other species from 36 moths trapped.
Arrived at the pond with Bob and disappointingly it was dead as a dodo until we found 2 Sanderling feeding along farborough bank – one in winter plumage just starting to moult and the other in partial summer plumage.

Sanderling by Bob Hazell

We moved on to Cathiron for the transfer of SR Light Pacific 4-6-2 no 34067 Tangmere which was going to Carnforth but it was cancelled last minute so I bet we were not the only daft sods to hang around for two 2 hours for nothing.
Met up with Dave for a desperate drink at Brandon Marsh then opted to give the birds a miss and went looking for insects finding Burnet Companion, Purple-bar, Pyrausta aurata and 10 Treble-bar moths, my first Small Heath butterfly of the year while among the dragonflies were Broad-bodied and Four-spotted Chaser. We did come across a few birds the best being a Hobby hunting overhead and a Cuckoo calling.

Richard