Wheatear

Last year was an exceptional spring for Wheatears and Serpentine BP had a fair few of them. This female is the first I've seen so far this year. Hopefully there are many more to come.

Not a great pic I know but it's another example of how it's now possible to get a record shot of sorts under appalling conditions. It was dull and misty and the bird was miles away but it is still recognisable.

Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, female

Digiscoped with Nikon Coolpix P4 and 20x Leica APO77

Glow-worm larva

Found this today at Old Sulehay on a very warm, sunny, protected bank.

Glow-worm larva Lampyris noctiluca

Nikon Coolpix P4

Tiger tiger

Another excellent trip to Easton Hornstocks with Weedons World of Nature. Butterflies were particularly in evidence with several Comma, Brimstone and Peacock. At least 5 Bee-flies feeding at Violets and Primroses were my first of the year. There were also a few tiny orthopteran nymphs about, probably Dark Bush-crickets.

The lizards were a bit more obliging than last time with two full-grown and one young seen. One Green Tiger Beetle was also posing and flashing its hindwings often. Was this some form of display?

Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara



Green Tiger Beetle Cicindela campestris



Nikon Coolpix P4

Cook's Hole Quarry

An interesting walk around an abandoned quarry near Wansford this morning. The moonscape appeared free of birds but on closer inspection:
Jack Snipe, 3
Snipe, 14
Jay, 2
Green Woodpecker, 2
Great spotted Woodpecker, 1
Reed Bunting, 3 singing
Yellowhammer, 1 singing
Fallow Deer, 14

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus




Fallow Deer Dama dama


Digiscoped using Nikon Coolpix P4 and x20 Leica APO77

Lead-coloured Drab

Moths recorded so far this year:
Agonopterix heracliana/ciliella
Agonopterix alstromeriana
Tortricodes alternella
Emmelina monodactyla
Brindled Beauty (Lycia hirtaria)
Oak Beauty (Biston strataria)
Spring Usher (Agriopis leucophaearia)
Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria)
Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)
Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)
Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)
Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus)
Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)

Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti)
This species failed to show in 2006 when March was very poor for recording moths, but otherwise is expected here on this date (14 March).

Nikon Coolpix P4

Easton Hornstocks

A lunchtime dash accompanied by Weedon's World of Nature. Not the hoped for Light Orange Underwing moth but plenty else including vocal Jay, Coal Tit and Goldcrest, 3 small Common Lizards, several Commas, a couple of Brimstones, a few Eristalis hoverflies and Green Tiger Beetles.

Comma Polygonia c-album


Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara (a little one crawling up the side of the log)


Nikon CP P4

Grey Shoulder-knot

Not a common moth in our garden; only the 4th or 5th. It's one of the few that overwinters as an adult.

Grey Shoulder-knot Lithophane ornitopus

Nikon Coolpix P4

Lunar Eclipse

My attempt at recording last night's lunar eclipse. Taken at about 11:30pm during totality.


Digiscoped using Nikon Coolpix P4 and x20 Leica APO77

For a much better sequence of shots see Paul Rule's photo

Little Owl, Upton

Digiscoped Nikon Coolpix P4 and Leica APO77 x20