Moths

Cloud, a new moon and less wind means a few moths at last. Among them a first adult of The Mullein for the garden, previously only known from a single larva. I've only just planted Verbascum in the garden a few weeks ago.

1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica) 2
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 2
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica) 4
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
Cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) 2
Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) 1
German Wasp (Vespula germanica) 1

The Mullein Shargacucullia verbasci


Poplar Hawk-moth Laothoe populi



German Wasp Vespula germanica


Canon Powershot A640

Elton Odos

A walk around Elton, Yarwell and Nassington produced these plus Common Blue Damselfly and Large Red Damselfly. There were also plenty of butterlfies: Speckled Wood, Orange-tip, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, Green-veined White.

Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense, female



Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens, male


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Ringed Red Kite

Two of these magnificent birds have been buzzing our garden for days now. They often make close passes, sometimes grappling each other and calling. They are not wing tagged but as this photos shows at least one is ringed with a BTO style ring on the right leg.

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Holly Blue

A common sight in the garden.

Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus

Canon Powershot A640

Hirundos

Swallow Hirundo rustica


Common Tern Sterna hirundo



Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Little Egret

This was all I had to show for yet another failed attempt to see Pied Flycatcher in the area, this time at Maxey GP.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Hawthorn Shieldbug studies

Post hibernation adult in the garden today.

Hawthorn Shieldbug Acanthosoma haemorrhoidale





Canon Powershot A640

Semioscopis steinkellneriana

Ran the moth trap for the past few nights and recorded the following:
0667 Semioscopis steinkellneriana (new for the garden last night)
0870x Oegoconia sp.
0893 Mompha epilobiella
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia)
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)
2007 Swallow Prominent (Pheosia tremula)
2019 Chocolate-tip (Clostera curtula)
2063 Muslin Moth (Diaphora mendica)
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)

Semioscopis steinkellneriana


Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma


Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula


Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica



Canon Powershot A640

Zebra Finch

A spate of escaped birds showing up at the moment. As well as this Australian cagebird there is a pair of exotic quails doing the rounds of Elton gardens at the moment.

Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata

Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Jardin des Plantes

A hot day in Paris but the cutest Red Pandas in the Menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes.

Red Pandas Ailurus fulgens



Le Frog! Either Pool or Edible Frog Rana lessonae/esculenta


Jardin des Plantes, Paris


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS USM

Capri Wildlife

An overland trip to Sorrento and Capri last week was superb. The bulk of the wildlife interest was on Capri, although Pompei and Herculaneum produced some passing bird interest in the shape of the odd Hoopoe, a surprising number of Tree Sparrows (as well as the more expected Italian Sparrows) and a Night Heron.

Italian Wall Lizards were just about everywhere. There was a good number of migrant birds on the island: Nightingale, Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Cuckoo, Swifts and hirundines.

Weevil


Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis sicula



Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix


Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis


Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans


Canon EOS 500D EF 18-55mm/70-300mm IS

Wheatear

Had my first Reed and Grasshopper Warblers of the year this morning and yet another Wheatear. This male was on Beeby's BP.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe

Canon EOD 500D, EF 70-300mm IS USM

Weekend birding

A lot of cycling this weekend. On Saturday morning I went to Caldecote to try for the Ring Ouzel but only saw a brief Wheatear and some confiding Yellowhammers. Saturday was a long ride to the end of the Central Drove and back.

Masses of raptors about on both days with up to 3 Red Kites together and 8 Common Buzzards in one go over Elton.

Sunrise over Chesterton on Sunday morning


Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella, Caldecote


Red Kite Milvus milvus, Elton


Canon EOD 500D, EF 70-300mm IS USM

Spring Collection

Bedford Purlieus was modelling some of this seasons new looks today.

Wood Anemone Anemone nemorosa



Primrose Primula vulgaris



Lesser celandine Ranunculus ficaria


Canon EOD 500D, EF 70-300mm IS USM

Emperor

Hardly any moths last night but this was among them. A garden first.

Emperor Moth Saturnia pavonia, female

Canon Powershot A640

Mothering Sunday

Spent the weekend with Mum in Hampshire where the feeding station was bristling with birds, among them a male Reed Bunting and a Marsh Tit. I also did a bit of mothing and caught the following fairly standard set for the time of year:
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 3
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 1
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 7
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 5
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 5
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1
2258 The Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1

Reed Bunting


Goldfinch


Canon EOD 500D, EF 70-300mm IS USM

Twin-spotted Quaker

The first reasonable night's mothing last night. The highlight this rather splendid Twin-spotted Quaker

0663 Diurnea fagella 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 5
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 6
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 4
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 1
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2258 The Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 1

Twin-spotted Quaker Orthosia munda

Canon Powershot A640

Rock Pipit

I found this bird in the traditional location on the rocky shore of Gunwade Lake this morning.

Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus


Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM

Little Gulls

Found on Gunwade Lake this morning by Mike Weedon. A good early record followed up straight away by an early House Martin.

Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus, adult winter




Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM