Magical!

The last words of my previous blog entry were an announcement  to the birds that I was ready for them, a challenge that one bird in particular took up!!!

Yesterday was the first day this week that I woke feeling human as at last my migraine cleared up. I decided to catch up on a couple of things, so first  I caught up on the blog and later I began sorting photos that had arrived for our scrap book. Before I got far with the book I got news from Peter about a brilliant bird that had flown in and his suggestion was that we should, “go, go, go!” The only catch was that it was in Yorkshire, what to do that was the question. Quick look on Booking.com meant we found somewhere to spend the night so we grabbed a case with a few essential, got optics and were in the car and off. We knew we would arrive after dark but also that we would be close by to strike early!

So what bird is that I hear you ask? Aha, what is the bird in question? Well it is a Siberian Accentor and it is the first on mainland Britain, the first for the UK was on the Shetland Isles only last week!

Bless Ian for driving as we arrived a couple of hours after sunset and found our place for the night. We received a lovely welcome and arranged a breakfast bag to take with us as we would be out before breakfast. Alarm was set but not needed we were awake and keen to get out. When we arrived at Easington (just a few miles away) it was manic! Cars and birders everywhere! We found a spot and walked to the site where a long queue was waiting for their turns to view the bird. We joined the queue!The picture shows a little bit of the queue but can you see the lack of women? Why is birding such a male heavy hobby?

The atmosphere was lovely and everyone co-operated with the system, wait in the queue, get ushered over in turn and after a very short while get moved on! Very funny but we all got to see the bird so no one was complaining and everyone was free to join the queue again if they wished. We didn’t but we did return later in the morning when this is how things looked!

So on our second visit we were free to enjoy the bird properly! This time I got photos that actually show the bird so we were really delighted to have a second shot. A lovely little bird and we were VERY pleased to have taken Peter’s advice to “go, go, go!” I suspect the weekend will get busy again.

Siberian accentor

Apart from seeing the Siberian accentor we haven’t had any birds to add to our year list but we have seen some smashing birds none the less. Between our two trips to Easington we went to Sammy’s Point and it was just the sort of place I love and the still early light added to it.

I was pleased to find a Ring ouzel which was quickly joined by a second one and by the time we moved on there were six!

Whilst at Sammy’s point I have never seen so much bird movement and that really did feel magical! I have never seen so many Goldcrests, warblers, buntings, Robins, winter thrushes and more, it was simply alive. There were of course lots of birders there and everyone was chirpy as all had been and seen the Accentor so for us all any thing else was going to be a bonus. Another treat was to see Woodcock in flight, I am pretty sure I haven’t seen that before. Of course the appearance Wheatears always adds its own magic, today was no exception. We saw a lone Swallow, I don’t suppose we will see many more this year.

We were having such a good time that we decided to return to our B & B, Dunedin Country House, which we had already checked out of, and have a coffee and see if they had a room for us for another night. I am sitting in it now so indeed the answer was yes! We would certainly recomend staying here, they are friendly, welcoming and accomadating.

We couldn’t be so close to Spurn without a visit so we headed there too. I must confess to being uncertain which of the shots are Spurn and which are taken at Sammy’s point (it’s been a long day!)

There had been several reports of birds that would have been ticks for us but unfortunately we couldn’t connect with any of them. None the less we saw some good birds including similar birds to those seen at Sammy’s point, no Ouzels but we did see a  Jack snipe and this lovely Shore Lark. We saw a small group of Shore larks early in the year but got no recognisable photos so I was pleased to get a go today!

We had hoped to see a Pallas’s warbler but no such luck even though there was at least one in the area. Other birds evaded us but we really did have a cracking day. When we went for our second trip to see the Siberian accentor as we walked up the road to it we were delighted to see this Redstart, another bird we had earlier in the year but again no previous shots (as far as I remember!).

Our parting jaunt for the day was a second trip to Sammy’s point, after a short walk Eastward we decided to go Westward instead! This direction took us down a path between the sea and a dyke, plenty of warblers were taking advantage of the reeds! When we were nearly back to the car we saw a Pied flycatcher on the stones by the sea.

Amongst the birds that were reported but only seen briefly, not by us, was a Rose coloured starling in a church yard. I include this photo for one reason and one reason only, the opportunity to tell you about my Star Wars moment. See the picture and then imagine my very best Obi Wan Kenobi voice …”These are not the Starling you are looking for!”

Now for the absolutely last pictures for today, these are to illustrate what I have in common with the bird of the day, the wind really does play havoc with hair/feathers.

So today has been a magical day and having just had a good meal (we missed lunch) we are relaxing ready to see what tomorrow may bring. We are planning to go to Donna Nook and hope some good birds have similar plans!!!

 

 

Distant…elusive…mobile!

Distant, elusive and mobile are three words I dislike using about a bird but today I must! There had been a sudden fall of warblers in Norfolk (and elsewhere) recently and of course we were fortunate last week to get the Eastern crowned warbler (see previous blog entry) but it was time to go in search of more. Unfortunately I awoke on Monday with a thumping migraine and slept most of the day away topping it off with an early night! I really hoped Tuesday would be better and I was determined to go out birding the moment any reports came in. Unfortunately I didn’t feel a lot better than the previous day but out we went and the air did help (not a lot but a tad) and we were heading to Cromer. I should mention the weather seemed to be feeling similar to me as it rained most of the way! As we neared Cromer the sun came out and it turned into a beautiful morning.

A Dusky warbler had been there, by the golf club for a few days and it would be a life tick for me. We found our way to the golf club and although it is unlikely any of their members read this I hope they do. We met several players that morning and every one of them was delightful! Helpful with directions, interested in what we were after Etc so Cromer golf club got a big team point from me! We walked up to the lighthouse and what a beautiful setting it is.

We knew where the bird had been seen but saw a group of birders in a different place nearby so after a look in the original place we moved on. Indeed the birders had been watching the bird flitting in and out of the trees and we didn’t have to wait long. Here comes the blog title, not only was it distant, elusive and mobile but I was trying to focus through a banging headache and dancing lights, not ideal. I did see the bird and that is what counts, it was moving from tree to shrub and back again before being chased by a bully Chiffchaff! Not a chance of a picture which was a shame but under the circumstances I was happy to have seen the bird.

We decided to go for a walk at Cley and when we arrived there we were told a Dusky warbler had been seen on Arnold’s marsh, two in one morning that would be funny. We walked along the East bank but no sign and on talking to others it would seem someone had a brief view earlier and it wasn’t seen again, never mind the Cromer one was a life tick so no complaints from me.

There was no shortage of Greylag geese and also in the distance some white-fronted geese.

Also the now common Little egret, we definitely see more egrets than herons in recent times at least in Norfolk. Funny to think they used to be exotic!

We popped into the new hide on the East bank and a little bird flew through the hide nearly knocking my nose off, I have no idea what it was!!! Pipits were feeding on the still colourful marsh.

We decided to have a snack at the visitor’s centre and it was whilst there that we heard of a Barred warbler on the West bank! Soup downed and we were off feeling very optimistic as we could see a group up on the bank and the news was they were seeing it well, phew! We were there in a matter of moments and along with the group watching a shrub where it had been showing. It was a very busy bush, a Robin, female Blackcap and a Stonechat were among the other birds sharing the shrub with the warbler.

Out it popped, in, out and in again! At least we could see it well although again getting pictures wasn’t good. By this time my head had improved but sadly it was still not as I would have liked it to be. Time for a cuppa at my favourite tea shop in North Norfolk also known as Janice and Chris’, thank you once again!

As we drank our tea the pager kept beeping with news from Wells wood. An Olive-backed pipit, Radde’s warbler and then Aquatic warbler! Much as I really wanted to be back home it seemed daft not to go for them, before we set out the Aquatic warbler was corrected to an Arctic warbler!!! Off we went with only an hour or so of light left. We hunted around The Dell which was alive with birds including lots of crests and at least one Yellow-browed warbler but no sign of the ones we were after. It wasn’t long before the rain arrived and it came with a vengeance so we turned tail and headed back to the car and set off for home.

So we were lucky earlier with the Dusky and Barred warblers but not so lucky later on. The lack of photos of the day are testament to how I was feeling and the fact that I hadn’t even put them on the computer till today (two days later) tells you how I have been feeling but thankfully this morning I woke feeling a whole lot better so come on birds I’m ready for you!

A much needed lift!

This has been a mixed week due partly to some slight disturbance in domestic harmony…enough said I think!

On Monday we went to Holme-next-the-sea and I was so excited as we were after a bird I really want to get this year! Now when I tell you about the bird you may be surprised as it is not much to look at, it is a Richard’s pipit. I have never seen one and as I was born a Richards I thought it would be good to add it to my life list on this special year.

We parked at Thornham, when we could find a spot not under water, and walked along the sea wall to Holme. On the way we saw a few waders enjoying the mud including this grey plover and Curlew.

On we went still hoping to see the pipit we had gone for. It had been seen on the land behind this piece of water and I must admit my optimism was fading slightly as I couldn’t imagine seeing it well enough to ID.

We met several people looking but no one had seen it. One couple we met were down for a few days from Yorkshire, their local patch, they told us, was Bempton…keep that in mind for later!

We had a good walk at Holme but no sign of the desired Richard’s pipit, so back we went to Thornham. We saw a Chinese water deer which was new for the year so we were chuffed with that. It was a lovely day so we were pleased to be out and about in spite of dipping the bird. Here are a few of the other birds at Thornham, Little egret, Black headed gull and a Spotted Redshank.

We nipped into Titchwell on the way home far a stroll and a cuppa. So that was Monday and I must confess I was disappointed but of course…you can’t win them all.

Tuesday’s highlight was going to Daniel and Matilda’s harvest festival, I love that sort of thing I was happy to be there for Daniel’s first at school and Matilda’s last at that school.

Now on to today, Wednesday and again we were off chasing a bird! This time it was way up in Yorkshire, to be precise Bempton which is why I mentioned the couple at Holme, I bet they wish they were home now. The bird in question is an Eastern Crowned Warbler and there have only been three accepted records in Britain before.

Once we knew that it been seen this morning we were off and the journey seemed longer than usual but that is the effect of heading for a tick! We arrived and it was clear where we needed to head for the bird and it wasn’t long before we saw it. A lovely little bird that seems to have palled up with a couple of Yellow-browed warblers, some Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs. Sadly no photo opportunity as each appearance the bird was on the move, it would land on a branch but in no time flat it was off again. No complaints though it was a lovely bird and we saw it well.

Bempton is a lovely place and I enjoyed a good walk along the top of the cliffs, seeing a field vole on the way. There are still lots of Gannets there but the other birds that breed there are gone, hopefully to return next spring.

Still a couple of youngsters were lurking on the cliffs with the adults. It was our first visit there this year and I am glad the warbler tempted us there.

Earlier in the morning an albatross had been spotted but we weren’t there for that! I think one life tick in a day is acceptable though. As I was walking back along the cliff path a warbler flew in off the sea into the scrub, of course I lost sight of it so I will never know wha tit was. The annoying thing is that soon after we left on our homeward journey a Greenish warbler was found, I wonder if that is what ‘my’ bird was!

So it has been a mixed week so far, I wonder what else it holds. Actually I know what tomorrow morning holds for me, a flu jab!!!

 

Autumn approaches

So another month has been and indeed gone! I have always had a fondness for October so maybe it will bring good things, who knows I may even be lucky enough to see the very rare Little owl! How I have managed to go nine months without seeing one is a mystery, but I have. Other years I have seen them regularly in our village, we even saw one in a tree in our garden once but not this year.

September has been a good month but nothing major to report on the sightings front. One event that I can’t let go unmentioned is that our grandson, Daniel, began school and what a good time he is having!

We have only added two birds, Pectoral sandpiper and yellow-browed warbler but we have still enjoyed the hunt!

An early event in the month was my first sighting of a frog (I know, where have I been up to now?) closely followed by a toad, literally on our doorstep!

Insects have risen the most this month, largely because there hasn’t been much else to catch my eye! I have had a favourite though, this beautiful beetle.

I had it miss-identified originally but it turns out to actually be a Rosemary-leaf beetle and is a bit of a thug, I’m glad I resisted the temptation to bring it home with me!!!

I have also learnt this month that a hoverfly isn’t simply a hoverfly there are very many different ones, here are a few I have seen in recent weeks.

We had a lovely visit with Alan and Judy and the weather was just about perfect, if anything it was a tad too hot! They arrived on an evening that had seen rain all day and left the day before the rain returned, but for there stay…not a drop.

Due to my back (I have moaned enough about that previously) my daily tally of steps on my Fitbit had sadly fallen, Alan and Judy’s visit got those steps up again.

We also snuck a last minute visit in with Janice and Chris, an overnight stop with them at the very end of the month. That was mainly to check up on Chris as it had been his turn to miss-behave in the health department! We had a good time with them and were pleased to find Chris looking, though rather weary, not too far off his usual self.  Another reminder of our mortality but also another huge blessing that it had not been worse and we are all still here in more or less sound body and minds (I did say more or less!).

We spent several days in Bedfordshire on pet sitting duties which was very enjoyable. Sadly I forgot to take a picture of the bunnies but here is the rest of the gang.

We got out and about with several walks at RSPB The Lodge and also Danish Camp. We added Pygmy shrew to our mamal list which was a bonus and certainly saw plenty of sign that autumn is heading our way.

Ruth and Stu’s time away had gone well, it was centred around running a half-marthon in Euro Disney! I must be honest here, I feel we got the best end of the deal staying in their home looking after ‘their family’!!!

I mentioned a flower we saw growing and had wondered what it was.

Thanks to both James and Christine for letting me know it is Himalayan Balsam which inspite of being an attractive plant is a pest! It spreads like wild fire mainly due to the fact that the seed heads explode and travel great distances.

We have continued to regularly see lots of dragonflies and a smaller number of damslelies too. I  think the one that pleased me most this month was the one that landed on Alan’s hat! We had seen lots of male banded demoisels but as far as I know this was the first female. I am sure I must have seen them but they are not so conspicuous as thier partners so I guess they simple eluded me.

New moths have continued to appear but not in the numbers that we had last year which has been rather disappointing. I think it has been generally quieter year for them and not due to anything we have done differently. We have picked up some more micro moths this month and I suspect that is pretty much it for the year for them. I will pop a few pictures of some of the micros we have had this year, (not necessarily this month) mostly from our trap but some Peter has shared from his garden.

So another month gone and time to look at lists (or ignore them ) and see how the numbers have slowly grown. Most people that predicted my final tally have been knocked out as it now stands at 698 but there is still a fight on!

Bird List    244

1. Mute Swan
2. Bewick Swan
3. Whooper Swan
4. Pink-footed Goose
5. White-fronted Goose
6. Greylag Goose
7. Canada Goose
8. Barnacle Goose
9. Brent Goose
10. Egyptian Goose
11. Common Shelduck
12. Muscovy duck
13. Mandarin Duck
14. Eurasian Wigeon
15. Gadwall
16. Eurasian Teal
17. Mallard
18. Pintail
19. Garganey
20. Shoveler
21. Red-crested Pochard
22. Common Pochard
23. Ferruginous Duck *
24. Tufted duck
25. Greater Scaup
26. Common Eider
27. Long-tailed Duck
28. Common Scoter
29. Velvet Scoter
30. Goldeneye
31. Smew
32. Hooded merganser *
33. Red-breasted Merganser
34. Red Grouse
35. Black Grouse
36. Goosander
37. Red-legged Partridge
38. Grey Partridge
39. Common Pheasant
40. Golden Pheasant
41. Little Grebe
42. Great Crested Grebe
43. Red-necked Grebe *
44. Slavonian Grebe
45. Black-necked Grebe
46. Fulmar
47. Manx Shearwater
48. Gannet
49. Cormorant
50. Shag
51. Bittern
52. Little Egret
53. Great Egret
54. Grey Heron
55. White Stork
56. Glossy Ibis
57. Spoonbill
58. Red Kite
59. White-tailed Eagle
60. Marsh Harrier
61. Hen Harrier
62. Pallid Harrier *
63. Goshawk *
64. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
65. Common Buzzard
66. Rough-legged Buzzard
67. Golden Eagle
68. Osprey
69. Kestrel
70. Merlin
71. Hobby
72. Peregrine Falcon
73. Water Rail
74. Corn Crake
75. Moorhen
76. Western purple swamphen*
77. Coot
78. Common Crane
79. Great bustard *
80. Oystercatcher
81. Black-winged Stilt
82. Pied Avocet
83. Stone-curlew
84. Little ringed Plover
85. Ringed Plover
86. Dotterel
87. European Golden Plover
88. Grey Plover
89. Lapwing
90. Great Knot*
91. Knot
92. Sanderling
93. Little Stint
94. Temminck’s Stint
95. Pectoral Sandpiper
96. Curlew Sandpiper
97. Purple Sandpiper
98. Dunlin
99. Broad-billed Sandpiper *
100. Ruff
101. Jack Snipe
102. Common Snipe
103. Long-billed Dowitcher *
104. Woodcock
105. Black-tailed Godwit
106. Bar-tailed Godwit
107. Whimbrel
108. Curlew
109. Spotted Redshank
110. Common Redshank
111. Common Greenshank
112. Lesser Yellowlegs
113. Green Sandpiper
114. Wood Sandpiper
115. Common Sandpiper
116. Ruddy Turnstone
117. Grey Phalarope
118. Arctic Skua
119. Mediterranean Gull
120. Little Gull
121. Black-headed Gull
122. Common Gull
123. Lesser Black-backed Gull
124. Herring Gull
125. Iceland Gull
126. Glaucous Gull *
127. Great Black-backed Gull
128. Kittiwake
129. Caspian Tern *
130. Sandwich Tern
131. Common Tern
132. Arctic Tern
133. Common Guillemot
134. Razorbill
135. Black Guillemot
136. Puffin
137. Rock Pigeon
138. Stock Pigeon
139. Wood Pigeon
140. Collared Dove
141. Turtle Dove
142. Rose-ringed Parakeet *
143. Cuckoo
144. Barn Owl
145. Tawny Owl
146. Short-eared Owl
147. Common Swift
148. Common Kingfisher
149. European Bee-eater *
150. Hoopoe
151. Wryneck
152. Green Woodpecker
153. Great Spotted Woodpecker
154. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
155. Wood Lark
156. Sky Lark
157. Shore Lark (horned lark)
158. Sand Martin
159. Swallow
160. Red-rumped Swallow *
161. House Martin
162. Tree Pipit
163. Meadow Pipit
164. Rock Pipit
165. Water Pipit
166. Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed)
167. Grey Wagtail
168. Pied Wagtail
169. Dipper
170. Wren
171. Dunnock
172. Robin
173. Common Nightingale *
174. Bluethroat*
175. Black Redstart
176. Common Redstart
177. Whinchat
178. Stonechat
179. Wheatear
180. Ring Ouzel
181. Blackbird
182. Fieldfare
183. Song Thrush
184. Redwing
185. Mistle Thrush
186. Cetti’s Warbler
187. Grasshopper Warbler
188. Sedge Warbler
189. Eurasian Reed Warbler
190. Great Reed Warbler*
191. Dartford Warbler
192. Lesser Whitethroat
193. Whitethroat
194. Blackcap
195. Yellow-browed Warbler
196. Wood Warbler
197. Common Chiffchaff
198. Willow Warbler
199. Goldcrest
200. Firecrest
201. Spotted Flycatcher
202. Red-breasted Flycatcher
203. Pied Flycatcher
204. Bearded Tit
205. Long-tailed Tit
206. Marsh Tit
207. Willow Tit
208. Crested Tit *
209. Coal Tit
210. Blue Tit
211. Great Tit
212. Nuthatch
213. Treecreeper
214. Penduline tit *
215. Red-backed Shrike
216. Great Grey Shrike
217. Jay
218. Magpie
219. Jackdaw
220. Rook
221. Crow
222. Hooded Crow
223. Common Raven
224. Starling
225. House Sparrow
226. Tree Sparrow
227. Chaffinch
228. Brambling
229. Serin *
230. Greenfinch
231. Goldfinch
232. Siskin
233. Linnet
234. Twite
235. Lesser Redpoll
236. Mealy Redpoll
237. Bullfinch
238. Hawfinch
239. Lapland Longspur
240. Snow Bunting
241. Yellowhammer
242. Cirl Bunting
243. Reed Bunting
244. Corn Bunting

Dragon and damselflies  17

Dragon flies

Golden banded dragonfly

Keeled skimmer

Migrant hawker

Black-winged skimmer

Scarce chaser

Common darter

Broad-bodied chaser

Southern hawker

Brown hawker

Ruddy darter

 

Damselflies

Azure damselfly

Common blue damselfly

Large red damselfly

Small red damselfly

Blue-tailed damselfly

Banded demoiselle

Beautiful demoiselle

Insects and other bits and bobs! 84

1. Common Wasp
2. Ladybird 7 spot
3. Ladybird harlequin
4. Lacewing green
5. Lacewing brown
6. Bloody nosed beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa)
7. Red tailed Bumble bee
8. White tailed Bumble bee
9. Honey bee
10. Hornet
11. Garden snail
12. Slug
13. Wood ants
14. Scottish wood ants
15. Mining bees
16. Froghopper
17. Hawthorn shieldbug
18. Two banded longhorn beetle
19. Poplar leaf beetle
20. Woodlouse
21. Earwig
22. Earth worm
23. Wolf spider
24. Green dock beetle
25. Green leafhopper
26. Bee fly
27. Green sawfly
28. Dark bush-cricket
29. Pantallon bee
30. Bee-wolf
31. Daddy-long-legs spider
32. Ophion obscratus (wasp)
33. Cock chaffer
34. House spider
35. Money spider
36. Zebra spider
37. Green fly
38. Black fly
39. Red spider mite
40. Red ant
41. Helophilus pendulus (Sun (hover) fly)
42. Dasysyrphus albostriatus (hover fly)
43. Sphaerophoria scripta ( long hoverfly)
44. Eupeodes luniger (hoverfly)
45. Common field grasshopper
46. Meadow grasshopper
47. Mottled grasshopper
48. Centipede
49. Millipede
50. Harvestman (Dicranopalpus ramopus)
51. Common sexton beetle (Nicrophorus vespilloides)
52. Black sexton beetle (Nicrophorus humator)
53. Common green shieldbug
54. Buff tailed bumble bee
55. Southern oak bush cricket
56. Pond skaters
57. Water boatmen
58. Caddisfly
59. Bradycellus verbasci (moth trap invader!)
60. Common green grasshopper
61. Sitona Lepidus (small beetle)
62. Nowickia ferox (fly)
63. Tachina grossa (bee-face fly!)
64. Sargus flavipes-( Yellow-legged Centurion)
65. Common Carder Bumblebee
66. Garden spider
67. Red-legged shieldbug (Pentatoma rufipes)
68. Black Kneed Capsid (Blepharidopterus)
69. Nigma walckenaeri (little green spider!)
70. Ladybird 2 spot
71. Birch shield bug
72. Eupterx urticae (tiny nettle bug)
73. Speckled bush-cricket
74. Chrysolina cerealis ( Rainbow leaf beetle )
75. Crane fly
76. Box shield bug
77. Grove snail
78. Small black ant (Lasius niger)
79. Large black ant (Formica fusca)
80. Nemorilla floralis   (black and white fly)
81. Devil’s coachhorse (Ocypus olens)
82. Nursery spider (Pisaura mirabilis)
83. Scorpian fly (Panorpa communis)
84. Long-winged Conehead

Butterflies 24

Red admiral

Brimstone

Peacock

Small tortoiseshell

Speckled wood

Green-vein white

Orange tip

Small white

Holly blue

Small copper

Small heath

Dark green fritillary

Common blue

Large heath

Small pearl-bordered fritillary

Green hairstreak

Painted lady

Ringlet

Large skipper

Large white

Gatekeeper

Small skipper

Comma

Grayling

Mammal list   23

1. Rabbit.
2. Stoat
3. Hare
4. Grey squirrel
5. Common seal
6. Roe deer
7. Red deer
8. Muntjak deer
9. Sperm whale
10. Grey seal
11. Otter
12. Weasel
13. Bank vole
14. Fallow deer
15. Red squirrel
16. Pine marten
17. Beaver
18. Daubenton’s bat
19. Common pipistrelle
20. Common shrew
21. Water vole
22. Hedgehog
23. Pygmy shrew

Reptiles & Amphibians 5 (not a lot but better than last month!)

1. Grass snake
2. Smooth newt
3. Common frog
4. Common toad
5. Slow worm

Moths alphabetised  231

 

Angle shades

Barred sallow

Barred straw

Barred yellow

Beaded chestnut

Beautiful golden Y

Beautiful hook-tip

Black arches

Black rustic

Blackneck

Blair’s shoulder-knot

Blood-vein

Bordered beauty

Bordered pug

Broad-bordered yellow underwing

Bright-line brown-eye

Brimstone

Brindled beauty

Brindled pug

Brown rustic

Brown-line bright-eye

Brown-spot pinion

Brown-tail

Buff arches

Buff ermine

Buff tip

Burnished brass

Cabbage moth

Canary-shouldered thorn

Centre-barred sallow

Chestnut

Chinese character

Cinnabar

Clay

Clouded border

Clouded drab

Clouded silver

Clouded-bordered brindle

Coast dart

Common carpet

Common emerald

Common footman

Common marbled carpet

Common pug

Common Quaker

Common rustic

Common swift

Common wave

Common wainscot

Copper underwing

Coronet

Coxcomb prominent

Currant pug

Cypress pug

Dark arches

Dark-barred twin-spot carpet

Dark Spectacle

Dark spinach

Dark/grey dagger

Dewick’s plusia

Dingy footman

Dot moth

Dotted chestnut

Double square spot

Double-striped pug

Drinker

Dun-bar

Dusky brocade

Dusky sallow

Dusky thorn

Dwarf cream wave

Ear moth

Early grey

Early moth

Early thorn

Early toothed-stripe

Elephant hawkmoth

Emperor moth

Engrailed

Eyed hawkmoth

Fan-foot

Feathered gothic

Flame shoulder

Flounced rustic

Four-dotted footman

Foxglove pug

Frosted green

Frosted orange

Garden carpet

Garden tiger

Ghost moth

Great prominent

Green-brindled crescent

Green carpet

Green pug

Green silver-lines

Grey pine carpet

Heart and club

Heart and dart

Hebrew character

Herald

Hummingbird hawkmoth

Iron prominent

July highflyer

Knot-grass

Latticed heath

Large emerald

Large nutmeg

Large wainscot

Large yellow underwing

Least black arches

Least carpet

Least yellow underwing

Leopard moth

Lesser cream wave

Lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing

Lesser swallow prominent

Lesser yellow underwing

Light arches

Light brocade

Light emerald

Lilac beauty

Lime hawkmoth

Lime speck pug

Lobster moth

Lunar underwing

Lychnis

Maiden’s blush

Mallow

Map-winged swift

Marbled beauty

Marbled brown

Marbled minor

March moth

Marbled white spot

Miller (caterpillar)

Mottled beauty

Mottled pug

Mottled rustic

Mottled umber

Mouse moth

Muslin

Nutmeg

Nut-tree tussock

Oak beauty

Orange footman

Orange sallow

Orange Swift

Pale brindle beauty

Pale eggar

Pale mottled willow

Pale prominent

Pale tussock

Pale-shouldered brocade

Peach blossom

Pebble hook-tip

Peppered moth

Pine hawkmoth

Pink-barred sallow

Plain golden Y

Poplar grey

Poplar hawkmoth

Powdered Quaker

Purple bar

Red-line Quaker

Red twin-spot carpet

Riband wave

Rosy footman

Rosy rustic

Royal mantle

Ruby tiger

Rustic

Rustic shoulder-knot

Sallow

Scalloped oak

Scarce footman

Scorched wing

Setaceous Hebrew character

Shears

Short-cloaked moth

Shoulder stripe

Shoulder-striped wainscot

Shuttle-shaped dart

Silver Y

Silver-ground carpet

Single-dotted wave

Six-striped rustic

Slender brindle

Small angle shades

Small blood-vein

Small brindled beauty

Small dusty wave

Small fan-foot

Small fan-footed wave

Small Quaker

Small rivulet

Small square-spot

Small yellow wave

Smoky wainscot

Snout

Spectacle

Spinach

Spruce carpet

Square-spot rustic

Straw dot

Straw underwing

Streamer

Swallow prominent

Swallow-tailed moth

Tawny speckled pug

The flame

Treble bar

Treble lines

Triple-spotted pug

Turnip moth

Uncertain

V moth

V Pug

Vapourer

Varied coronet

Vestal

Vine’s rustic

Waved umber

Webb’s wainscot

White ermine

White satin moth

White-point

Willow beauty

Winter moth

Yellow-barred brindle

Yellow shell

Yellow-tail

Micro moths 70

1. Apple leaf miner (Lyonetia clerkella)
2. Ash-bark Knot-horn (Euzophera pinguis)
3. Barred marble (Celypha striana)
4. Beautiful china-mark ( Nymphula nitdulata )
5. Bee moth ( Aphomia sociella)
6. Bird-cherry ermine ( Yponomeuta evonymella )
7. Bordered carl (Coptotriche marginea)
8. Brown china-mark ( Elophila nymphaeata)
9. Brown house moth   (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)
10. Chequered grass veneer ( Catopria falsella )
11. Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
12. Common drill ( Dichrorampha petiverella )
13. Common grey (Scoparia ambiguallis)
14. Common marble ( Celypha lacunana )
15. Common nettle-tap (Anthophila fabriciana)
16. Common plume ( Emmelina monodactyla)
17. Cyclamen tortrix ( Clepsis spectrana )
18. Dawn flat-body (Semioscopis steinkellneriana)
19. Diamond- back moth   (Plutella xylostella)
20. Dingy dowd (Blastobasis adustella)
21. Dotted oak knot-horn ( Phycita roborella)
22. Double striped tabby ( Hypsopygia glaucinalis )
23. Elbow stripe grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea)
24. Elder pearl (Anania coronate)
25. Fenland pearl (Anania perlucidalis)
26. Florida pink scavenger (Anatrachyntis badia)
27. Garden grass-veneer   (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
28. Garden pebble (Evergestis forficalis)
29. Garden rose tortrix ( Acleris variegana )
30. Golden argent (Argyresthia goedartella)
31. Gold triangle ( Hypsopygia costalis )
32. Grass-veneer (Crambus pascuella)
33. Horsechestnut leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella)
34. Large fruit-tree tortrix ( Archips podana)
35. Large Ivy Tortrix   (Lozotaenia forsterana)
36. Large tabby ( Aglossa pinguinalis)
37. Light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
38. Little grey (Eudonia lacustrara)
39. London dowd ( Blastobasis lacticolella)
40. Long-horned flat-body ( Carcina quercana )
41. Many plumed moth (Aluctia hexadactyla)
42. Maple slender (Caloptilia semifascia)
43. Marbled orchard tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)
44. March tubic (Diurnea fagella)
45. Marbled piercer (Cydia splendana)
46. Marsh dwarf (lachista alpinella)
47. Meal moth (Pyralis farinalis)
48. Mother of pearl ( Pleuroptya ruralis )
49. Narrow winged grey ( Eudonia angustea)
50. New oak slender ( Caloptilia robustella )
51. Obscure agg. ( Oegoconia agg. )
52. Ox-tongue conch ( Cochylis molliculana )
53. Pale straw pearl ( Udea lutealis )
54. Privet tortrix (Clepsis consimilana)
55. Red-barred tortrix ( Ditula angustiorana )
56. Ringed china-mark ( Parapoynx stratiotata )
57. Rough-winged conch   (Phtheochroa rugosana)
58. Rose tabby ( Endotricha flammealis )
59. Rusty dot pearl (Udea ferugalis)
60. Small grey ( Eudonia mercurella )
61. Small magpie (Anania hortulata)
62. Spindle ermine (Yponomeuta cagnaglla)
63. Sulphur Tubic ( Esperia sulphurella)
64. Triple-blotched bell (Notocelia trimaculana)
65. White-bodied conch (Cochylis hypridella)
66. White-faced tortix (Pandemis cinnamomeana)
67. White-shouldered house moth ( Endrosis sarcitrella)
68. White-headed Ermel (Paraswammerdamia alibicapitella)
69. Yellow-faced bell (Notocella cynosbatella)
70. Yellow-spot tortrix (Pseudargyotoza conwagana)

Why some of these lists insist of double spacing I really don’t know, it is most aggravating as it take up even more space than needed. I have tried retyping and all sorts but it makes no difference, sorry!

See you in October 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sun, mist and unusual waders!

Wednesday was hot, hot, hot!

We amused ourselves with moths and bugs found at home and this beautiful Painted lady spent the whole day enjoying the dahlias (in fact she returned today too).

Peter brought this handsome bug over, as I am sure you know it is a Box bug.

We had intended to go out later in the morning but the heat persuaded us that we would leave it till a little later. So after lunch we ventured out, our chosen destination was West Acre, thinking a lot of the time we would find shade in the trees.

We saw plenty of Speckled wood butterflies and also Small coppers (for some reason I didn’t photograph the coppers).

Once again we were fortunate to see a Kingfisher, in fact we saw two. Also some lovely dragonflies which I am still struggling to ID with certainty.

This juvenile Pied wagtail took advantage of a bathe to help cool down, it was about 28 degrees so I was a tad envious!

As we walked on, under the shelter of the trees, we met many grasshoppers and one frog. I am including the tree/berries pictures just to illustrate the sky really.

When we returned to the car it was showing the temperature as 34 degrees, of course once we moved it went down but not far!

The forecast for today was 28 degrees but up on the coast a more pleasant 22 degrees which sounded good to us. We had already decided to be at Cley NWT reserve for 9 am when they open up the moth traps. This was not only to be of interest to us but to Alan too on the last full day of his visit, (I think he will be sorting pictures for a fortnight with all these moths and bugs!) Our moth trap had been very quiet last night due to a clear night and a bright moon, we were hoping that Cley had been different.

With the temperature at a steady 17 degrees and a very heavy mist surrounding us it wasn’t quite what we were expecting. Sadly the reserve traps there were quiet too, but some people had brought along some interesting moths to share so we added a few to our number. We are determined to get along to Cley for the moth sessions again soon and hope some of the knowledge of others might rub off!

A quick coffee then out for a walk on the reserve where I hoped to see waders returning, well here are the Cley waders!

Not quite what we had hoped for, but none the less an enjoyable walk in spite of the heavy mist all around. We saw a few dragonflies including this Migrant hawker and this pair of Common darters.

We saw a good variety of hoverflies, hopefully I will be able to get ID on them all.

We had hoped to pop in to see Janice but that didn’t work out so he headed on to Titchwell where a Yellow-browed warbler had been reported. The mist went with us on our journey and Titchwell was similarly shrouded! It seemed one person had seen the warbler but that was all, no other sighting, so no luck there.

Better luck was had getting ourselves some tasty lunch to boost our energy levels ready for our next walk. We began with a walk around the Meadow trial, I was hoping for more dragonflies but not much joy there. Instead we had the beetle (ID to follow I hope) and I was pleased to get a picture of a water boatman.

Water boatman

Now remember the waders that Cley had to offer?  Well it was time to find Titchwell’s offering, seeing through the mist was the only problem! Dunlin, Redshank and Godwit also (not illustrated) sandpipers, avocet and through the thick mist we got sight of two Spoonbill, a year tick for Alan.

Dunlin

Redshank

Godwitt

We walked down to the beach and the sea seemed to be as far away as it could possibly be. Add to that the mist situation and we didn’t really see the sea at all!  We did find this little crab and later on the walk back down the path this snail.

Crab

Grove snail

Our day out ended and we set off for home and the usual very welcome cuppa!

A mixed night is forecast, clear till the early hours then it will cloud over so hopefully so moths will be attracted to our trap and maybe there will be more new ones for us all. We have really enjoyed having Alan and Judy visit and hope to see them again before long.

 

An unexpected PJ tick and more!

It turned out to be a rather wet and dreary weekend so we were pretty much stop at homes. Ian took advantage of the occasional dry spells to mow the lawns; that reads far more impressive than the reality!

We set the moth trap and got a reasonable number but not high and nothing new, not even for the year. It seems to be a long while since we had one new for the garden but maybe that is more about my memory than the moths.

Any way back to my tick. I love a lazy bath, preferably earlyish so there is plenty of evening left to spend in my PJs. Ian was watching football on Tv so off I went to listen to the radio, relax and return, complete with PJs.

I work on the assumption that no one is spying on me (any way I am decently covered you understand) so out I go in my PJs to check if any interesting moths have flown in. First trip out at about 9pm nothing exciting to report. Nearing 10.30 and I thought I would pop out again so I opened on of the French Windows to be greeted by this!

I instantly closed the door, called Ian and reached for a camera before opening for another look. Eight months with no frog or toad then both within the week and I didn’t even have to leave the house for the toad. It was sat wedged right against the door frame and didn’t move. I popped outside and took a couple more pictures, went to look at the trap (nothing to report there) and he was still sitting there. An hour later and still he sat but this morning he was gone, good job really.

I wonder if he lives in our garden? Maybe he will be back again tonight or maybe we will never see him again, who knows? Our shameful amphibian/reptile list has doubled for the year this week. Now I am hoping for the odd snake or lizard to appear!

Well as usually happens day followed night and we decided to go to West Acre to see what we could find, hoping the Kingfisher might make an appearance and it did! It didn’t come in as close as before so no improvement on picture but it is always a treat to see one.

We were also entertained by dragonflies and hirundines, both dipping into the water and both so fast catching them with the camera proved rather tricky for me! There were Swallows, House martins and some Sand martins too, they seem to appear in a very large group, feed and disappear just as suddenly!

When we first arrived at the hides the dragonflies were very active but as it clouded over they were less evident. I only saw one land, all the rest were busy in flight.

We got a message that sent us chasing up to the coast, a Pectoral sandpiper was at Salthouse so we were off. Now it is true to say that when I think of Salthouse I think of the long road down to the sea with Little Eye off to the West and Gramborough Hill off to the East. The message said it was on a pool West at Salthouse, at least that was how we read it. So off we trecked through the stones to Little Eye but not only was there no bird there were no birders either!

On checkng the message we began to wonder if we were in the wrong place, is that road known as the Iron road? NO! Back we went, hoped into the car and off to find the correct place and now I know why it is known as The Iron road I may just remember it, the track has loads of iron in it, simple really!!!

A short walk and we were with others watching a Pectoral Sandpiper, hooray, bird number 243. It was rather distant but we got good clear views through binoculars and scope. There was also a Green sandpiper, Snipe and other bits and bobs. I’m not sure what that is lurking in the vegitation with the green sand.

 

As we were heading back ot the car we heard someone call that there were two Hobbys, they flew overhead then off but were a nice addition to our trip.

Almost time to head home but first a detour for a cuppa at a private tea shop nearby that never fails to please!

In an English Country Garden

As I am enjoying it so much I am beginning to think that taking a year out to explore nature should become an annual event!!!

The past few days have been largely spent in English country gardens starting in our own on Saturday when family were visiting. We went bug hunting and were delighted to find several that we hadn’t yet listed plus one lovely bonus. Peter lifted an old log to see what was lurking and we were surprised to find this little fella!

A smooth or common newt, what a treat. It was especially good as it sat still and gave all of us, old and young time to have a good look at it. More logs were lifted and more critters found including millipede and centipede. Also a caterpillar had been lurking for a day or so, the best suggestion is that it is a Miller moth.

Hoverflies were busy too, these ones were deffinitly drawn to purple, dahlias and roses but each time the purple ones.

We arranged to spend a couple of days with my sister beginning on Sunday as it was to be their village garden party. Calamity struck on Saturday as Janice took a flying leap and ended up in A & E with two broken ribs…ouch! The decision was made that we would still be welcome to visit and it meant we could fill in for her at the garden party. So Sunday afternoon found me sitting at a table with a large jar filled with sweets taking people’s guesses as to how many there were! I met some lovely little children who were very keen to win, as it happened an adult did! The garden party was held in their Norfolk village, in the grounds of  ‘The big house’ and very beautiful it is too. Peter, Lynn and family came to join in the fun and support the cause. When I was talking to the house owner, Peter joined us and being bolder than me, asked if I could moth trap there one night. Having explained what was involved he kindly and without hesitation said we could. It was arranged to do it that night as they had some young visitors staying that might enjoy seeing the catch in the morning.

So in the morning we were joined by Arthur, Florence, Harry, Magnus (all delightful children) and parents to see what we could find. The number of moths was disappointing (to us) but at least there was some variety. I suspect this fella and his three friends may have had a moth breakfast snack before we got to it! I had no idea how noisy Guineafowl are, my goodness I wouldn’t like my neightbours to keep any!

I was pleased to see a Poplar hawkmoth which I knew would impress young eyes (older ones too of course). It was good to be able to show the contrast in shapes, sizes, and colour as we had the lovely yellow Brimstone moth, Setaceous Hebrew Character and other varieties.

No pictures of them but there were several Large yellow underwings which I am sorry to say are not a favourite of mine. When they open their wings they are beautiful but when they walk they scuttle and remind me of cockroaches!

The Coxcomb prominent was a hit and as one of the children said, “It looks like a bit of wood” my favourite of the morning was the Maiden’s blush.

It was a real joy to be able to introduce people to a different side of moths and I hope it might spur them on to a bit of an interest, I also hope to get a chance to moth again in that  rather large English Country garden one day or I should say night.

Back to spend the rest of the day with Janice (ouch) and Chris and later Peter and family came to visit. Bless the children they all came in rather gingerly having been warned not to rush and hug Janice!

I had several wanders around thier lovely English country garden and found that bees like it every bit as much as I do. I am not sure how they fly once they are covered in pollen but they do.

Peter and Lynn found this, as yet unidentified bug, it looks like a grasshopper but didn’t behave like one, any ideas? Later we got the hose out to try to encourage frogs to come out of hiding, they didn’t oblige but we all enjoyed the rainbow effects created. Foolishly when taking these pictures my camera was still set on macro but I hadn’t realised.

That night we put the trap out and popped out to it a couple of times in the evening and there was plenty of activity. Sadly in the morning it was almost empty so we will never know what we missed. I think next time we try there I will position the trap in a more accessible part of the garden and maybe take moths out during the evening, worth a try I think.

We spent another lovely day with J & C, Janice is coping well with her ribs and Chris is taking care of her beautifully. We satyed for a BBQ lunch with some of their friends that we haven’t seen for well over ten years and it was a smashing time. Time to think about heading home but not before we stoped at yet another garden.

I find birdwatchers by and large to be a friendly, helpful bunch and since mothing I find the same to be true of them. One such person is David (a birder and a moth man!) and he had found a Cypress pug, only the fourth for Norfolk. He had kindly invited people to drop in to see it and as it was more or less on our route home we did just that. A bad picture I’m afraid but it is a record shot for me to have. Next a peek at David’s garden to see where he moths so that is four English Country Gardens!

Home and time to get ready for the arrival of September, I wonder what that will bring.Having chosen the title for this blog I felt the need to listen to the song of the same name, it speaks of flowers, bugs, birds and it finally reminds us to, not forget the Robin, so I didn’t, although this one looks rather worn.My advice to one and all is, when you get the chance get out in an English Country Garden, big or small they can be a real joy but…don’t follow my sister by going flying with a bang…get well soon Janice!

Where did August go?

Now I know people say that time goes faster as you get older but it also goes fast when you are having fun so that is my excuse. August really has raced by, maybe because during the school holidays we have had more family visits and when Alice, Matilda and Daniel are around time just races by as I love it and them so much!

It has been a quiet month for birds but still we have had a few good ticks, but insects have picked up quite a bit especially moths. Here are pictures of a few that dropped in!

August began with a day out with Ian, Alice and Matilda spent at Minsmere and to be honest  was one of the best days of the month. We got a life tick which is also a tick for the U K a Purple swamphen so that is hard to beat and after that the girls helped us seek out butterflies by the sea. Grayling butterfly was a new one for me and the sheer volume of Common blue ones was brilliant. Also a couple of rather different bees!

Purple swamphen

August has been hampered by my back but we still had trips out albeit less than usual. A trip the The green Britain centre was good although we failed to spot a Burnet that we had hoped for.

I missed out on Birdfair but on the plus side Ian returned with gifts!!! Even whilst being at home we had a visit from a Blackcap and several new moths, some new for the year whilst other were entirely new for us.

A day out in hot sunshine came later in the month when we got three bird ticks along with butterflies and moths. Now I honestly didn’t realise that butterflies (and moths) migrated until this year and I certainly didn’t expect to see them fly in off the sea but I did! A Clouded yellow butterfly flew in and had the decency to land and pause to be photographed, now that is my kind of butterfly! Also Wryneck, Arctic Skua and Red-backed shrike all on one day!

Red-backed shrike

August ended with a weekend away enjoying English Country gardens as talked about in the previous blog, so I will just repeat a single picture.

Now as this is a monthly round up it is list time beginning with birds:

List end August

1. Mute Swan
2. Bewick Swan
3. Whooper Swan
4. Pink-footed Goose
5. White-fronted Goose
6. Greylag Goose
7. Canada Goose
8. Barnacle Goose
9. Brent Goose
10. Egyptian Goose
11. Common Shelduck
12. Muscovy duck
13. Mandarin Duck
14. Eurasian Wigeon
15. Gadwall
16. Eurasian Teal
17. Mallard
18. Pintail
19. Garganey
20. Shoveler
21. Red-crested Pochard
22. Common Pochard
23. Ferruginous Duck *
24. Tufted duck
25. Greater Scaup
26. Common Eider
27. Long-tailed Duck
28. Common Scoter
29. Velvet Scoter
30. Goldeneye
31. Smew
32. Hooded merganser *
33. Red-breasted Merganser
34. Red Grouse
35. Black Grouse
36. Goosander
37. Red-legged Partridge
38. Grey Partridge
39. Common Pheasant
40. Golden Pheasant
41. Little Grebe
42. Great Crested Grebe
43. Red-necked Grebe *
44. Slavonian Grebe
45. Black-necked Grebe
46. Fulmar
47. Manx Shearwater
48. Gannet
49. Cormorant
50. Shag
51. Bittern
52. Little Egret
53. Great Egret
54. Grey Heron
55. White Stork
56. Glossy Ibis
57. Spoonbill
58. Red Kite
59. White-tailed Eagle
60. Marsh Harrier
61. Hen Harrier
62. Pallid Harrier *
63. Goshawk *
64. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
65. Common Buzzard
66. Rough-legged Buzzard
67. Golden Eagle
68. Osprey
69. Kestrel
70. Merlin
71. Hobby
72. Peregrine Falcon
73. Water Rail
74. Corn Crake
75. Moorhen
76. Western purple swamphen*
77. Coot
78. Common Crane
79. Great bustard *
80. Oystercatcher
81. Black-winged Stilt
82. Pied Avocet
83. Stone-curlew
84. Little ringed Plover
85. Ringed Plover
86. Dotterel
87. European Golden Plover
88. Grey Plover
89. Lapwing
90. Great Knot*
91. Knot
92. Sanderling
93. Little Stint
94. Temminck’s Stint
95. Curlew Sandpiper
96. Purple Sandpiper
97. Dunlin
98. Broad-billed Sandpiper *
99. Ruff
100. Jack Snipe
101. Common Snipe
102. Long-billed Dowitcher *
103. Woodcock
104. Black-tailed Godwit
105. Bar-tailed Godwit
106. Whimbrel
107. Curlew
108. Spotted Redshank
109. Common Redshank
110. Common Greenshank
111. Lesser Yellowlegs
112. Green Sandpiper
113. Wood Sandpiper
114. Common Sandpiper
115. Ruddy Turnstone
116. Grey Phalarope
117. Arctic Skua
118. Mediterranean Gull
119. Little Gull
120. Black-headed Gull
121. Common Gull
122. Lesser Black-backed Gull
123. Herring Gull
124. Iceland Gull
125. Glaucous Gull *
126. Great Black-backed Gull
127. Kittiwake
128. Caspian Tern *
129. Sandwich Tern
130. Common Tern
131. Arctic Tern
132. Common Guillemot
133. Razorbill
134. Black Guillemot
135. Puffin
136. Rock Pigeon
137. Stock Pigeon
138. Wood Pigeon
139. Collared Dove
140. Turtle Dove
141. Rose-ringed Parakeet *
142. Cuckoo
143. Barn Owl
144. Tawny Owl
145. Short-eared Owl
146. Common Swift
147. Common Kingfisher
148. European Bee-eater *
149. Hoopoe
150. Wryneck
151. Green Woodpecker
152. Great Spotted Woodpecker
153. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
154. Wood Lark
155. Sky Lark
156. Shore Lark (horned lark)
157. Sand Martin
158. Swallow
159. Red-rumped Swallow *
160. House Martin
161. Tree Pipit
162. Meadow Pipit
163. Rock Pipit
164. Water Pipit
165. Yellow Wagtail (Grey-headed)
166. Grey Wagtail
167. Pied Wagtail
168. Dipper
169. Wren
170. Dunnock
171. Robin
172. Common Nightingale *
173. Bluethroat*
174. Black Redstart
175. Common Redstart
176. Whinchat
177. Stonechat
178. Wheatear
179. Ring Ouzel
180. Blackbird
181. Fieldfare
182. Song Thrush
183. Redwing
184. Mistle Thrush
185. Cetti’s Warbler
186. Grasshopper Warbler
187. Sedge Warbler
188. Eurasian Reed Warbler
189. Great Reed Warbler*
190. Dartford Warbler
191. Lesser Whitethroat
192. Whitethroat
193. Blackcap
194. Wood Warbler
195. Common Chiffchaff
196. Willow Warbler
197. Goldcrest
198. Firecrest
199. Spotted Flycatcher
200. Red-breasted Flycatcher
201. Pied Flycatcher
202. Bearded Tit
203. Long-tailed Tit
204. Marsh Tit
205. Willow Tit
206. Crested Tit *
207. Coal Tit
208. Blue Tit
209. Great Tit
210. Nuthatch
211. Treecreeper
212. Penduline tit *
213. Red-backed Shrike
214. Great Grey Shrike
215. Jay
216. Magpie
217. Jackdaw
218. Rook
219. Crow
220. Hooded Crow
221. Common Raven
222. Starling
223. House Sparrow
224. Tree Sparrow
225. Chaffinch
226. Brambling
227. Serin *
228. Greenfinch
229. Goldfinch
230. Siskin
231. Linnet
232. Twite
233. Lesser Redpoll
234. Mealy Redpoll
235. Bullfinch
236. Hawfinch
237. Lapland Longspur
238. Snow Bunting
239. Yellowhammer
240. Cirl Bunting
241. Reed Bunting
242. Corn Bunting

 

 

Moths (Macros)  alphabetised    213 

Angle shades

Barred straw

Barred yellow

Beautiful golden Y

Beautiful hook-tip

Black arches

Blackneck

Blood-vein

Bordered beauty

Bordered pug

Bright-line brown-eye

Brimstone

Brindled beauty

Brindled pug

Brown rustic

Brown-line bright-eye

Brown-tail

Buff arches

Buff ermine

Buff tip

Burnished brass

Cabbage moth

Canary-shouldered thorn

Chinese character

Cinnabar

Clay

Clouded border

Clouded drab

Clouded silver

Clouded-bordered brindle

Coast dart

Common carpet

Common emerald

Common footman

Common marbled carpet

Common pug

Common Quaker

Common rustic

Common swift

Common wave

Common wainscot

Copper underwing

Coronet

Coxcomb prominent

Currant pug

Cypress pug

Dark arches

Dark-barred twin-spot carpet

Dark Spectacle

Dark spinach

Dark/grey dagger

Dingy footman

Dot moth

Dotted chestnut

Double square spot

Double-striped pug

Drinker

Dun-bar

Dusky brocade

Dusky sallow

Dusky thorn

Dwarf cream wave

Early grey

Early moth

Early thorn

Early toothed-stripe

Elephant hawkmoth

Emperor moth

Engrailed

Eyed hawkmoth

Fan-foot

Flame shoulder

Flounced rustic

Four-dotted footman

Foxglove pug

Frosted green

Frosted orange

Garden carpet

Garden tiger

Ghost moth

Great prominent

Green carpet

Green pug

Green silver-lines

Grey pine carpet

Heart and club

Heart and dart

Hebrew character

Herald

Hummingbird hawkmoth

Iron prominent

July highflyer

Knot-grass

Latticed heath

Large emerald

Large nutmeg

Large yellow underwing

Least black arches

Least carpet

Least yellow underwing

Leopard moth

Lesser cream wave

Lesser broad-bordered yellow underwing

Lesser swallow prominent

Lesser yellow underwing

Light arches

Light brocade

Light emerald

Lilac beauty

Lime hawkmoth

Lobster moth

Lychnis

Maiden’s blush

Map-winged swift

Marbled beauty

Marbled brown

Marbled minor

March moth

Marbled white spot

Mottled beauty

Mottled pug

Mottled rustic

Mottled umber

Mouse moth

Muslin

Nutmeg

Nut-tree tussock

Oak beauty

Orange footman

Orange Swift

Pale brindle beauty

Pale eggar

Pale mottled willow

Pale prominent

Pale tussock

Pale-shouldered brocade

Peach blossom

Pebble hook-tip

Peppered moth

Pine hawkmoth

Plain golden Y

Poplar grey

Poplar hawkmoth

Powdered Quaker

Purple bar

Red twin-spot carpet

Riband wave

Rosy footman

Rosy rustic

Royal mantle

Ruby tiger

Rustic shoulder-knot

Scalloped oak

Scarce footman

Scorched wing

Setaceous Hebrew character

Shears

Short-cloaked moth

Shoulder stripe

Shoulder-striped wainscot

Shuttle-shaped dart

Silver Y

Silver-ground carpet

Single-dotted wave

Six-striped rustic

Slender brindle

Small angle shades

Small blood-vein

Small brindled beauty

Small dusty wave

Small fan-foot

Small fan-footed wave

Small Quaker

Small rivulet

Small square-spot

Small yellow wave

Smoky wainscot

Snout

Spectacle

Spinach

Spruce carpet

Square-spot rustic

Straw dot

Straw underwing

Streamer

Swallow prominent

Swallow-tailed moth

Tawny speckled pug

The flame

Treble bar

Treble lines

Triple-spotted pug

Uncertain

V moth

V Pug

Vapourer

Varied coronet

Vine’s rustic

Waved umber

White ermine

White satin moth

White-point

Willow beauty

Winter moth

Yellow-barred brindle

Yellow shell

Yellow-tail

Micro moths to end of August 2016     54

 

1. Barred marble (Celypha striana)
2. Beautiful china-mark ( Nymphula nitdulata )
3. Bee moth ( Aphomia sociella)
4. Bird-cherry ermine ( Yponomeuta evonymella )
5. Brown china-mark ( Elophila nymphaeata)
6. Brown house moth   (Hofmannophila pseudospretella)
7. Chequered grass veneer ( Catopria falsella )
8. Codling moth (Cydia pomonella)
9. Common drill ( Dichrorampha petiverella )
10. Common grey (Scoparia ambiguallis)
11. Common marble ( Celypha lacunana )
12. Common plume ( Emmelina monodactyla)
13. Cyclamen tortrix ( Clepsis spectrana )
14. Dawn flat-body (Semioscopis steinkellneriana)
15. Diamond- back moth   (Plutella xylostella)
16. Dingy dowd (Blastobasis adustella)
17. Dotted oak knot-horn ( Phycita roborella)
18. Double striped tabby ( Hypsopygia glaucinalis )
19. Elbow stripe grass-veneer (Agriphila geniculea)
20. Elder pearl (Anania coronate)
21. Fenland pearl (Anania perlucidalis)
22. Garden grass-veneer   (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
23. Garden pebble (Evergestis forficalis)
24. Garden rose tortrix ( Acleris variegana )
25. Gold triangle ( Hypsopygia costalis )
26. Grass-veneer (Crambus pascuella)
27. Large fruit-tree tortrix ( Archips podana)
28. Large Ivy Tortrix   (Lozotaenia forsterana)
29. Large tabby ( Aglossa pinguinalis)
30. Little grey (Eudonia lacustrara)
31. London dowd ( Blastobasis lacticolella)
32. Long-horned flat-body ( Carcina quercana )
33. Many plumed moth (Aluctia hexadactyla)
34. Marbled orchard tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)
35. March tubic (Diurnea fagella)
36. Marbled piercer (Cydia splendana)
37. Meal moth (Pyralis farinalis)
38. Mother of pearl ( Pleuroptya ruralis )
39. Obscure agg. ( Oegoconia agg. )
40. Pale straw pearl ( Udea lutealis )
41. Privet tortrix (Clepsis consimilana)
42. Red-barred tortrix ( Ditula angustiorana )
43. Ringed china-mark ( Parapoynx stratiotata )
44. Rough-winged conch   (Phtheochroa rugosana)
45. Rose tabby ( Endotricha flammealis )
46. Small grey ( Eudonia mercurella )
47. Small magpie (Anania hortulata)
48. Spindle ermine (Yponomeuta cagnaglla)
49. Sulphur Tubic ( Esperia sulphurella)
50. Triple-blotched bell (Notocelia trimaculana)
51. White shouldered house moth ( Endrosis sarcitrella)
52. White-headed Ermel (Paraswammerdamia alibicapitella)
53. Yellow-faced bell (Notocella cynosbatella)
54. Yellow-spot tortrix (Pseudargyotoza conwagana)Butterflies to the end of August      24

    Red admiral

    Brimstone

    Peacock

    Small tortoiseshell

    Speckled wood

    Green-vein white

    Orange tip

    Small white

    Holly blue

    Small copper

    Small heath

    Dark green fritillary

    Common blue

    Large heath

    Small pearl-bordered fritillary

    Green hairstreak

    Painted lady

    Ringlet

    Large skipper

    Large white

    Gatekeeper

    Small skipper

    Comma

    Grayling

    Mammal list      21

    1. Rabbit.
    2. Stoat
    3. Hare
    4. Grey squirrel
    5. Common seal
    6. Roe deer
    7. Red deer
    8. Muntjak deer
    9. Sperm whale
    10. Grey seal
    11. Otter
    12. Weasel
    13. Bank vole
    14. Fallow deer
    15. Red squirrel
    16. Pine marten
    17. Beaver
    18. Daubenton’s bat
    19. Common pipistrelle
    20. Water vole
    21. Hedgehog 

        Reptiles & Amphibians 2016      2

        1. Grass snake
        2. Smooth newt

     

    Insects and other bits and bobs!       50

           (Thank you to those that have helped with Ids in this group)

    1. Common Wasp
    2. Ladybird 7 spot
    3. Ladybird harlequin
    4. Lacewing green
    5. Lacewing brown
    6. Bloody nosed beetle
    7. Red tailed Bumble bee
    8. White tailed Bumble bee
    9. Honey bee
    10. Snail
    11. Slug
    12. Wood ants
    13. Scottish wood ants
    14. Mining bees
    15. Froghopper
    16. Hawthorn shieldbug
    17. two banded longhorn beetle
    18. Poplar leaf beetle
    19. Woodlouse
    20. Earwig
    21. Earth worm
    22. Wolf spider
    23. Green dock beetle
    24. Green leafhopper
    25. Bee fly
    26. Green sawfly
    27. Dark bush-cricket
    28. Pantallon bee
    29. Bee-wolf
    30. Daddy-long-legs spider
    31. Ophion obscratus (wasp)
    32. Cock chaffer
    33. House spider
    34. Money spider
    35. Zebra spider
    36. Green fly
    37. Black fly
    38. Helophilus pendulus (type of hover fly!)
    39. Common field grasshopper
    40. Meadow grasshopper
    41. Mottled grasshopper
    42. Centipede
    43. Millipede
    44. Harvestman
    45. Carrion beetle
    46. Common green shieldbug
    47. Buff tailed bumble bee
    48. Southern oak bush cricket
    49. Pond skaters
    50. Water boatmen

 That makes a total of 606 and I think I need to work on the reptile/amphibian group!!!

Once again thank you so much for oyur support and sticking with me, all comments VERY welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One dip and a tick? No, three ticks!!!

I was beginning to feel a bit pathetic really, moaning about my back and migraine etc so decided it was time to get back to some serious pursuing . A couple of birds that I really like but have rarely seen have flown into Norfolk over the past couple of days. We should have gone out yesterday but it was just too hot for comfort, the trouble is the forecast for today was very similar. The decision was made, we would go out to try and see the two of them but we would go early before the day heated up too much.

So at 5.30 am the alarm sounded and I leapt from my bed, (well any way I got up ) closely followed by Ian. Now if you know Ian you will probably know he is a man that doesn’t start any day unless it is by eating a bowl of cornflakes, Kellog’s cornflakes, 365 days a year, 366 this year! So a quick breakfast, no time for a cuppa and we were out at 6 am, I hoped the odd owl might still be around but no luck with that, we did however see enough Pigeons to feed a small nation for a month! 

First bird on our hit list was a Wryneck, a bird I have only ever seen once before, several years ago now. We drove to Weybourne, walked to where it had been seen as recently as last evening and waited and waited. Now I have heard it said of birds, ” Clear night , clear off!” I so hoped this little chap hadn’t cleared off but it seemed it may have done so we left somewhat disappointed but knowing we wouldn’t be so very far off if it was sighted. It seemed like a dip to start the day, not good.

 

However our time there wasn’t wasted. We watched a  beautiful display by an Arctic skua, as it ambushed gulls in the air to try to steal the fish they had caught. It had a good deal of success and really was a good spectacle and also a year tick. Next came the arrival from over the sea of what I thought was a very large moth with feathered antennae, but it wasn’t a moth, it was a Cock chaffer! It flew around having reached land at last but here comes the sad part, it never got the chance to touch down! A crow flew in and snapped it up, the thought of making such a journey only to end up as a crow’s snack seemed a sorry affair.

Next we were treated to two new butterflies, one elusive the other sat and posed a while. We had a Small heath and also (as seen here) a clouded yellow, both came in off the sea.

Next stop, West Runton to try for a Red-backed shrike, it had been seen last evening but the good news was it had also been seen this morning, I was optimistic. A Red-backed shrike was the bird that really got me into birding, when I was out with Peter and we watched one sitting on a shrub, flying off, catching a bug and then back again. It carried on like this for ages and I was delighted, thanks to the RBS and Peter I was hooked!

First though the walk back to the car where we saw this Gatekeeper butterfly  feeding close by to a  hoverfly.

Next treat was a seal swimming close to the shore line

Car parked at West Runton and  the shortest walk imaginable and we were where the bird had been seen. We were in luck, just a few minutes later we saw it, hooray! It flew and landed at some distance away, soon though it flew again and landed much closer.

If it looks like these shots were taken through a dirty window or through a dirty lens, look again. They are little bugs, or as the RBS likes to call them; dinner!

Red-backed shrike

What a little beauty and the memories of my first real birding day with Peter came flooding back. On that day we saw other good things just like today. A little bonus was a visit from a Whinchat, sitting along from the shrike.

Whilst there we heard that the Wryneck had been seen again, an easy decision was made…back to Weybourne. Not long and we were again walking down the beach but feeling fairly hopeful although we had heard it was elusive. We arrived and once again waited but this time we were rewarded! Distant but clear view of the Wryneck, brilliant that doubled the number I have seen now and was our third year tick for the day.

Whilst there we also saw a pair of Pied flycatchers which I am fairly sure are the first I have seen in Norfolk. My favourite, the Wheatear was also present, this had been well worth the early start.

We popped to Janice and Chris’ for a coffee and were invited to stay for lunch, well it would have been rude to refuse wouldn’t it?! It was very welcome especially after our rather early and hurried start to the day, thank you both very much.

We didn’t exactly rush off but took our time chatting before going for a stroll in Holt Country Park looking for more butterflies, We weren’t in the best part of the park and only found this Speckled Wood but as we were both feeling weary we decided to head for home.

So after a brief stop for provisions, (got to make sure a fella has enough milk in for his flakes tomorrow) we headed home very satisfied with our three bird and two butterfly ticks a good day and well worth the early alarm call.

Note to self…check I didn’t put the alarm on to repeat tomorrow!

 

 

 

Down but not out!

Things are not going accordingly to plan at the moment, if they were I would be checked into a  Rutland hotel in readiness for Birdfair tomorrow. Instead I am at home having waved Ian off! Nothing terrible must be read into that, it is simply that my back led me to think walking around all day in the bustle of Birdfair might not be wise but I was more than happy for Ian to go as I certainly didn’t want us both to miss out. I am trusting he will come back inspired and I have no doubt with several free pens!

Although I am left behind (sob,sob) I thought I would have a look through  some pictures I have taken at home this past week or so especially as we had a rather special apple thief yesterday, but more of her later.

It has been a fairly quiet week with moths due to a bright moon and lots of clear skies, not favourable for moth trapping but none the less we have had a few nice ones.

I have pain killers from the doctor but a much better tonic was a visit from Peter, Lynn and family at the weekend and Daniel came bearing a gift.

How sweet is that? It isn’t everyday that I am given a piece of original art I can tell you!

Alice spent some while on some ‘patio art’ and later Daniel had help from his Mum and Dad and sisters to dig for dinosaur bones!

A few days ago this young Robin was in the garden it seems to have gone now, hopefully it has flown off to get on with it’s life rather than being caught by something!

I was amused by a visiting pigeon, it seemed to have a similar approach to bathing as I do, get snuggled in, make yourself comfy and just relax, it sat there for ages!

A couple of non moth visitors around the trap recently were this bee and a Daddy long legs spiders or as I like to call it, a Naomi Campbell spider, it legs went on and on!

Yesterday whilst making a coffee I noticed a different looking bird eating our apples on the tree. I say different because there have been many blackbirds tucking into them the past week or two ( I hope they leave us a few but I am not too optimistic!). Any way the first view I got of it was the tail and very light underneath the tail, it looked a bit like a flycatcher but unless we had a vegetarian one that seemed unlikely! I grabbed binoculars and a camera and took a couple of shots through the window.

I thought I would try my luck by opening the door but of course she flew, fortunately though she landed in another tree in the open, not for long but long enough!

So it turned out to be a female blackcap not a first for the garden but possibly only the second or third so we were pleased. I often wonder what birds we miss in the garden, the occasional, brief visitors that go unseen as it was only luck that I spotted her. I often dream of a rarity flying in and what I would do, who would I call first? Would I let all and sundry into the garden to view it? The answer to the first question is easy, the second would take a bit more thought, but as nothing has flown in I needn’t worry tonight!!!

Well the moth light has come on so I wonder what tonight will bring, should be a bit cloudier so there more be more. As I popped into the garden to take this snap all the local Jackdaws seem to be saying goodnight to each other!

It is most unusual for me to be home alone but to mark the occasion I have decided that some fruit tea made in my favourite pot will be just right later as I chose a film to watch in bed. I hope Birdfair goes well, I hope Ian finds someone to use my ticket! If you are going, find your way to the LensCoat stall, they make great stuff and you can say hi to Peter while you are there.  I am optimistic that by this time next week I will be back to normal and we can get out and about again!