HAWKS RETURN

Despite the current spell of wet and windy weather, the moth trap was put out at the country park on the night of Friday 11th. Most creatures obviously had the sense not to fly around, so there was little to see in the trap in the morning - except for....a poplar hawkmoth. This chunky and large moth has a strange wing profile, which probably resembles some loose tree bark. It is very docile to handle and clings on tight to anything it is standing on. If it feels threatened it flicks open its wings so that it can flash a chestnut patch on each hind-wing.

The moth was caught regularly last summer and as the name implies, the foodplant of the caterpillars are poplar leaves. A few years ago one of the caterpillars was seen on a white poplar tree, only 15 metres from the site of this light trap.

A couple of these intricately marked latticed heaths were also found, their finely traced chequered patterns show clearly both above and under the wings. It is a dainty and delicate moth but very flighty and eager to hide away from the bright daylight.

Only two other moths were seen, the swallow prominent and a shuttle-shaped dart.

During some mid morning sunshine a holly blue fluttered around some trees away from the strong wind.

During a quick morning walk round the park, I stopped beside a thick plantation of 30 year old oak and pine trees. I could just make out the pine tree where sparrowhawks nested for the first time in the park last year. Peering and squinting through the twigs and branches, there was a female standing on the same nest it used last year. I could see the fine dark barring on her chest and after I shuffled a step to the side, there was the bold yellow eye, staring hard at me and watching my every move.
The birds are expert at keeping their nest sites secret during the first part of the nesting season. Last year the nest was only discovered late into the season, despite walking regularly along a nearby path on numerous occasions previously.

There appeared to be a small influx of birds arriving onto the Island during the morning. A willow warbler sang from my garden, which is unusual enough to suggest it arrived overnight. Several swifts and swallows came over the sea heading westwards, as did a yellow wagtail and more interestingly a corn bunting. Several house martins and swallows hawking over the fields may have been local ones already settled in.

On the saltmarsh pools near the Golfhouse, two little terns crouched down in the strong wind. Three dunlin and a ringed plover fed here as they waited for the high tide to recede. Nearby a group of ten dunlin flew past with many showing their black bellies.

Chattering from the reeds lining the dyke were three reed warblers, also keeping a low profile in the wind, while a male pochard struggled to get airborne as it flew off the water.

Big excitement at the park pond today with the arrival finally, of a brood of five cygnets. It seems like the female swan has been sitting forever, although it will have been only 35 days. The long patient wait is over for the parents but now the real hard work starts in protecting the youngsters.

Yesterday on Friday morning the welcome purring sound of a turtle dove was heard coming from overhead lines beside the car park. Nice to welcome back a summer migrant that is decreasing in numbers each year.