Nordic Jackdaw

I know this is a terrible shot but this bird has been around for some time and has totally evaded photos until now. You can at least see the pale silvery collar and the contrast between the black crown and grey face and nape. There are other subtle differences between this bird and our regular spermologus birds. I hope to get better shots but visits to the garden are brief and I only catch it every other week or so.

Nordic Jackdaw Corvus monedula monedula

Canon Powershot A640

Pink-footed Goose

Often written off as escapes the odd different goose occasionally joins the feral flock at Orton Brick Pit. No way of knowing for sure where this one has come from but there are no records from summer.

This adult has a very dark back and it could easily be called as a Bean Goose on poor views.

Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Slavonian Grebe

Only had to wait five days to add another species to my area year list. I can't remember the last time I checked Bradley Fen so it was a stroke of luck to turn this up in my lunch break today. This used to be my WeBS count years ago when it was known as Drysides Pit and I found a Slavonian Grebe here once before on 18th Oct 1998. Crikey, that's ten years ago!

There were also a couple of Chiffchaffs and a couple of Goldcrests about.

Could this even be one of the birds we saw in Finland back in June?!

Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x32

Scaup, Holme Fen

Been checking the meres here at Holme Fen NNR for the past few weeks as the wildfowl numbers build up. Rewarded today with a first-winter Scaup on Jackson's Mere; not an easy species to catch up with - only one or two a year get seen in the area. This takes my 2008 area year list to 188.

Scaup Aythya marila


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x32

A couple from Cornwall

The Bluethroat was a Cornish tick for me and approached ridiculously closely. The 4x zoom on the A640 was all that was needed. The Kestrel was digiscoped.

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica


Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Little Stints, Maxey GP

Very similar to last year when two juveniles arrived here on the 5th of October.

Little Stints Calidris minuta, juveniles

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x32

Some kind of joke?

This sign was next to a practically impenetrable footpath through a hedge near King's Cliffe.

Serpentine Fall

This Stonechat was the cream of a large number of migrants at Serpentine BP this morning. The rest included at least 14 Blackcaps, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest, 1 Reed Warbler, 8 Redwing, 10 Song Thrush, 10 Blackbird, 4 Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll.

Stonechat Saxicola rubicola

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Common Lizard, Castor Hanglands

Dogsthorpe Star Pit

Flock of Siskin through plus Chiffchaffs and a Lesser Whitethroat with a huge flock of Long-tailed Tits. A migrant Common Buzzard through in addition to the local birds but no Honeys today. Insects included Small Copper and Comma butterflies.

Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Migrant Hawker Aeshna mixta

Canon Powershot A640

Tree Pipits, Castor Hanglands

Jonathon Taylor found two Tree Pipits here today and after a lot of searching they showed very well. Species number 183 for the year in Peterborough for me.

There were also at least three Redstarts here, two males and a female, which, along with the two I saw at Ferry Meadows in the morning makes five in a day in the area. There were at least seven in all between the two sites and goodness knows how many others undetected elsewhere.

Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis



Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Hornet, Silver Y and the mimic

Castor Hanglands, where the insect life was very rich in the hot weather today. Fifteen species of lepidoptera: Large, Small and Green-veined White, Brimstone, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Small Copper, Common Blue, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Comma, Silver Y and Angle Shades.

Amazing to watch this Hornet carrying off a Silver Y moth then devour it in front of us. Good to see the hoverfly that mimics Hornet here too.

Brimstone Gonepteryx rhamni

Canon Powershot A640

Hornet Vespa crabro eating Silver Y Autographa gamma

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Volucella inanis

Canon Powershot A640

Redstarts at Ferry Meadows

A good morning at Ferry Meadows hoping for Pied Flycatcher or Tree Pipit but more than happy with two Redstarts and a host of Spotted Flycatchers and common warblers. The first Redstart was one on Heron Meadow for its sixth day but the other I found near the carparks in a clump of vegetation around two large poplars packed with migrants. This is the the first Redstart I've found in the PBC area.

Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus


Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

It only takes a Linnet

A large party of Linnets (200?) were near Portland Bill and couldn't resist some shots. Didn't do a lot of birding while there.

Linnets Carduelis cannabina


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Black Terns, Ferry Meadows

One of my favourite birds. These adults are part of a group of 5 birds present on Gunwade Lake for a couple of days now.

Black Tern Chlidonias niger


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

August Shag

An unusual time of year for one to occur here. We get about one a year but they are usually in the winter months. Another great find for Matt Webb who has found five outstanding rarities for Ferry Meadows in the past month alone.

European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Slug love

Bath time

We came across this fabulous mixed flock of birds bathing in a puddle along the eastern edge of Bedford Purlieus today. As well as the family of Spotted Flycatchers feeding their young there were Great Tit, Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Blue Tit Parus caeruleus and Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata


Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus and Great Tit Parus major


Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata




Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Brown Argus

In an insect rich patch by Cow Pasture Plantation, Great Gidding.


Canon Powershot A640

Caloptilia tringipennella

Unexpected garden first just resting on the kitchen door in the daytime.

Caloptilia tringipennella

Canon Powershot A640

Knot, Maxey GP

Checking out Woodgate Lane is a good move while the water levels are high at Etton road. Thanks to John for letting me shoot through his scope for this distant shot.

Knot Calidris canuta

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Kowa TSN883 x30

Juvenile Green Woodpecker

This juvenile was feeding along the path at Ferry Meadows this morning. Despite the very dull conditions managed to get a shot.

Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Dark Coxcomb Prominent

226 moths of 68 species to the 125W MV in the garden last night. Notable numbers of the very small leaf miners. The Coxcomb Prominent is only the second for the garden.

Coxcomb Prominent Ptilodon capucina, dark form


0263 Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella) 9
0287 Caloptilia alchimiella/robustella 1
0366a Horse Chestnut Leaf-miner (Cameraria ohridella) 11
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 3
0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 2
0424x Yponomeuta sp. 5
0642 Batia unitella 2
0644 Borkhausenia fuscescens 1
0647 Brown House-moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1
0873 Blastobasis adustella 2
0937 Agapeta hamana 1
0947 Aethes smeathmanniana 1
0974 Argyrotaenia ljungiana 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 4
1202 Eucosma obumbratana 1
1205 Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana) 2
1211 Rhyacionia pinicolana 1
1216 Cherry-bark Moth (Enarmonia formosana) 1
1261 Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) 1
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 1
1304 Agriphila straminella 7
1305 Agriphila tristella 7
1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1316 Catoptria falsella 7
1331 Water Veneer (Acentria ephemerella) 9
1356 Garden Pebble (Evergestis forficalis) 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 1
1388 Udea lutealis 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 4
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 2
1424 Endotricha flammealis 12
1439 Trachycera advenella 6
1470 Euzophera pinguis 3
1513 White Plume Moth (Pterophorus pentadactyla) 1
1646 Oak Hook-tip (Drepana binaria) 1
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) 1
1690 Small Blood-vein (Scopula imitaria) 2
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 1
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 2
1884 The Magpie (Abraxas grossulariata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 3
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 3
1997 Sallow Kitten (Furcula furcula) 1
2003 Pebble Prominent (Eligmodonta ziczac) 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1
2011 Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina) 1
2029 Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 6
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 17
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 6
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 19
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 5
2297x Copper Underwing agg. (Amphipyra pyramidea spp.) 1
2299 Mouse Moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis) 1
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1
2318 The Dun-bar (Cosmia trapezina) 2
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 12
2341 Cloaked Minor (Mesoligia furuncula) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 13
2381x The Uncertain/The Rustic (Hoplodrina alsines/blanda) 1
2450 The Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 3

Bullfinch, Ferry Meadows

Ferry Meadows is having a real purple patch (thanks to the ever vigilant Matt Webb). Recent weeks have seen Turnstone, Black-necked Grebe, Spoonbill (yesterday) and Wood Warbler (this morning). Today Mike Weedon & I were in the area of The Mound where the Wood Warbler had been seen for reasons which may or not become apparent. There was little time for checking the warblers that were flitting about the trees so the bird may well have still been there. In any case this slightly tatty male Bullfinch did pose for a photo in a heavily laden Rowan.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Crossbills at last

A countrywide invasion this year has so far passed me by despite vast amounts of time spent in suitable habitat and a permanent crick in the neck from staring up at empty conifers. This morning Southey Wood came up trumps with at least five birds calling and feeding; two males, one female and two juveniles.

Lighting was appalling for photography but here are a couple of poor shots anyway.

Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra



Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Volucellas, Beford Purlieus

Many insects at Bedford Purlieus in the heat today including these two large hoverflies.

Volucella inanis


Volucella pellucens


Cannon A640

Three garden firsts and a White-point

Bit busy last night with 178 moths of 66 species incl 3 garden firsts (*) and only my second ever White-point.

White-point Mythimna albipuncta


Apple Leaf Miner Lyonetia clerkella


Plutella porrectella


Lunar-spotted Pinion Cosmia pyralina


Dusky Sallow Eremobia ochroleuca


Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing Noctua fimbriata



*0263 Apple Leaf Miner (Lyonetia clerkella) 1
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 1
0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella) 4
0465 Plutella porrectella 1
0779 Bryotropha affinis 2
0789 Bryotropha domestica 2
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella 1
0898 Limnaecia phragmitella 1
*0964 Cochylis dubitana 2
0966 Cochylis atricapitana 1
0972 Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis heparana) 2
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana) 1
0994 Clepsis consimilana 2
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana) 1
1016x Cnephasia sp. 6
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 1
1159 Holly Tortrix (Rhopobota naevana) 1
1202 Eucosma obumbratana 1
1205 Bud Moth (Spilonota ocellana) 4
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella) 4
1316 Catoptria falsella 1
1332 Scoparia subfusca 1
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata 1
1398 Phlyctaenia coronata 1
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 1
1413 Gold Triangle (Hypsopygia costalis) 4
1424 Endotricha flammealis 1
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1439 Trachycera advenella 2
1646 Oak Hook-tip (Drepana binaria) 1
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata) 1
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) 1
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) ab. remutata 18
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) typical 5
1724 Red Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe spadicearia) 1
1726 Large Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe quadrifasciata) 1
1851 Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata) f. Nigra 1
1884 The Magpie (Abraxas grossulariata) 2
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 2
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) typical 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2035 Round-winged Muslin (Thumatha senex) 1
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) 3
2044 Dingy Footman (Eilema griseola) ab. stramineola 1
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola) 7
2064 Ruby Tiger (Phragmatobia fuliginosa) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 2
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 5
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 3
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 1
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum) 3
2154 Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae) 1
2194 White-point (Mythimna albipuncta) 1
2293 Marbled Beauty (Cryphia domestica) 2
*2319 Lunar-spotted Pinion (Cosmia pyralina) 1
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) 26
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea) 1
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.) 3
2341 Cloaked Minor (Mesoligia furuncula) 1
2343x Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.) 5
2352 Dusky Sallow (Eremobia ochroleuca) 3
2381x The Uncertain/The Rustic (Hoplodrina alsines/blanda) 13
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) f. aurea 1
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis) 1

Cannon A640