
May 2013
Saturday 11th May
I didn't have long today but just enough time to make an early visit to Sheringham in the hope of some vis mig. In fact very little was moving - a few Swallows, 17 Swifts, but apart from them it was just single birds of about 6 species! One of these was a Tree Pipit though, a bird I don't see all that often, so it wasn't all bad. On the way home I popped in to the local patch where the only thing worth noting was a Garden Warbler at Creaking Gate Lake, the first on the patch this year.
No MV again tonight but the bedroom lights didn't draw anything in at all.
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House Martin, Sheringham, 11th May
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colour-ringed Stonechat (left) and Linnets (right), Sheringham, 11th May |
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Friday 10th May
A Muntjac in the field just behind the house was, I think, my first from the house. I forgot to put the MV light on this evening but the regular bedroom lights still attracted a few moths: probable Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 3 Yellow-barred Brindles and Least Black Arches.
Thurdsay 9th May
Another quick visit to the patch on the way home from work produced nothing better than a Little Ringed Plover (yes, just 1) and a Canada x Greylag Goose hybrid. The moths at home weren't much better with just Waved Umber and Least Black Arches, two species that seem to be having a good year.
Wednesday 8th May
Popped into the patch on the way home from work - a Greenshank was at Rawhall and elsewhere the singing Yellow Wagtail remained along with Wheatear and Common Sandpiper.
A few moths at home included a nice Water Carpet. Others were Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, 2 Red or Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpets, 2 Garden Carpets, Yellow-barred Brindle, Waved Umber and Least Black Arches.
Tuesday 7th May
A quick wander at Syderstone Common in my lunch break produced a single moth, my second ever Small Phoenix. Few moths at home this evening: Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, Garden Carpet, Shoulder Stripe, Streamer, Early Thorn, 2 Waved Umbers, Least Black Arches and Early Grey.
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Willow Warbler (left) and Small Phoenix (right), Syderstone Common, 7th May
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Waved Umber (left) and Early Thorn (right), Bawdeswell, 7th May |
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Monday 6th May
The new local patch consists of a number of sites spread along a valley and we normally move from one site to another by car. This morning Dave and I decided to park one car at each end and walk the whole length of the patch, starting at first light. So despite not getting to bed until about 1.15 am after last night's mothing I was up at 3.45 am and soon heading off to meet Dave. I would like to say the early start was worthwhile and we saw loads of good birds, but that woudn't quite be accurate. Eventually we did find some good birds though, by far the best being a surprise Short-eared Owl which I picked up flying low towards me at the ancient site of Little Bittering. This was very unexpected and I think the first time I've seen one anywhere near the Wensum valley. Otherwise migrants consisted of Common Sandpiper, Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear, but it was pretty slow going and after walking the length of the patch we'd amassed a mere 72 species. A couple of interesting moths were noted along the way: Common Oak Purple Eriocrania subpurpurella and Latticed Heath.
Back at home this evening moths included 2 presumed Hawthorn Slenders Parornix anglicella, Leek Moth Acrolepiopsis assectella, 2 probable Common Flat-bodies Agonopterix heracliana, 2 Many-plumed Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 3 Double-striped Pugs, Least Black Arches and Hebrew Character. I'm still not quite sure why I get as many Leek Moths here as all of the rest of Norfolk's moth-recorders put together.
Sunday 5th May
A Holly Blue in the garden was my first this year. This evening Rob and I headed off to Marsham Heath for a mothing session. The first moth that came to our lights was new to both of us: the first of 2 Birch Mochas. Others new to me included 26 Common Oak Purples Eriocrania subpurpurella, Dawn Flat-body Semioscopis steinkellneriana and 3 Purple Thorns. Also Early Tooth-striped was only my second. The rest were Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Bridge Roller Ancylis uncella, 3 Scalloped Hook-tips, Pebble Hook-tip, Frosted Green, 2 Spruce Carpets, 6+ Narrow-winged Pugs, 5+ Brindled Pugs, Double-striped Pug, Early Tooth-striped, Yellow-barred Brindle, Tawny-barred Angle, 2 Early Thorns, Engrailed, 3 Swallow Prominents, 2 Great Prominents, 2 Small Quakers, 3 Common Quakers, 2 Clouded Drabs and 13 Nut-tree Tussocks.
I didn't get many moths in the bedroom in the meantime: Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, Streamer, Waved Umber and Spectacle.
Saturday 4th May
The jet lag is still preventing me from getting up early - I thought it would have worn off by now! Instead of the planned early start I had a look round the patch at the other end of the day. All the usual stuff really, nothing unexpected. While out birding I netted a couple of moths, both of which were new to me. First at Hell Pit was a Phyllonorycter, which appears to be Brown Apple Midget Phyllonorycter blancardella (may need gen det for confirmation?). Next up at Creaking Gate Lake as Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea. Nearby when it got dark I torched 2 White-shouldered House-moths Endrosis sarcitrella and Red Twin-spot Carpet, followed by Engrailed in the headlights at Rawhall Wood.
Not much at home tonight: 3 Many-plumed Moths Alucita hexadactyla, 2 Brindled Pugs, Waved Umber and Hebrew Character.
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Red-brindled Dwarf Elachista rufocinerea, Creaking Gate Lake (left) and probable Brown Apple Midget Phyllonorycter blancardella, Hell Pit (right), 4th May |
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Friday 3rd May
Spent a little more time at the patch on the way home tonight, though didn't see a vast amount to shout about. A Greenshank was at Rawhall and nearby a singing male Yellow Wagtail was interesting - I can't recall ever hearing these sing on passage before so perhaps it will stick around to breed?
The warmer conditions produced a better variety of moths despite the largely clear skies - easily my best evening so far this year. The best moth, I think, was a Fen Flat-body Depressaria ultimella. Previous Norfolk records consist of one this century, one at the end of last century and three in the 1800s! Also March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, 5 Many-plumed Moths Alucita hexadactyla, Garden Carpet, 2 Brindled Pugs, Early Thorn and Least Black Arches.
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Fen Flat-body Depressaria ultimella, Bawdeswell, 3rd May
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Brindled Pug, Bawdeswell, 3rd May |
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Thursday 2nd May
Popped into the patch on the way home - not much to shout about, usual stuff like Little Ringed Plover.
Moths this evening consisted of March Tubic Diurnea fagella, Clouded Drab and 2 Early Greys.
Wednesday 1st May
I still await some variety on the moth front... tonight just Common Quaker, Hebrew Character and Early Grey.
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Hebrew Character, Bawdeswell, 1st May |
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