December 28th 2011

Another mild night produced Chestnut and either Acleris hastiana or Acleris cristana in the garden trap which normally hibernates at this time of the year and one of those species you have to cut the gonads up to identify for certain, rest assured it flew off with meat and two veg still attached after Bob took its mug shot.


Draycote Water was blustery this morning with Grey Plover heading west over rainbow, female Red-breasted Merganser off draycote bank among a very impressive gathering of 50 Goosander (26 male), first winter Shag on the small island then draycote bank and adult and second winter Yellow-legged Gull. Supporting cast included 3 Goldcrest, 31 Yellowhammer, 350 Stock Dove, Dunlin, 3 Buzzard, 2 Raven, 75 Wigeon and 22 Goldeneye.
JJ offered me a lift back to the pond late afternoon to do the roost and we caught up with yesterdays first winter Iceland Gull and also found a first winter Glaucous Gull by which the time both Jupiter and Venus were on show. I was home in time to finally catch up with the shed as it passed over just before 5pm.

Richard