ALL WASHED UP

Recent strong high tides have taken their toll on the marine plant-life as the beach at the park on Monday 1st was covered in washed up algae. Instead of the nice soft sand to walk on, masses of brown and green algae has been washed off the mudflats and dumped on the beach. Being a high spring tide has also meant that no part of the beach was spared this algal blanket.

An attempt to find one or two sea-birds flying past during the afternoon high tide with Nick Green proved unsuccessful and we ended up getting rained on for our efforts. Finding some shelter in the hide we had to make do with watching 20 teal, 2 shoveler, 10 mallard and a pair of gadwall.

Earlier in the morning a lesser redpoll flew round calling, dropping down to join a large foraging group of about 25 tits. Amongst the long-tailed, great and blue tits were a couple of goldcrests, their presence only noted because of their regular high-pitched calls.

The moth trap was put back into action in the park after a fortnight off and on there was a real autumnal look to the catch on the Monday morning. The only disappointment was having to hurriedly clear away the trap two hours early, as it started to rain at 5.30am. Only 50 moths of 16 species were noted but there were several new ones for the year including this striking and handsome black rustic pictured above. This is quite a common moth here but it certainly catches the eye when most of the moths are generally at the moment, some shade of brown in the trap.

The flounced chestnut was another moth to catch the eye as it had a brighter brown colour than many of the other moths in the trap. Other species seen included autumnal rustic, lunar underwing, beaded chestnut, flounced rustic, brindled green, rosy rustic, L-album wainscot and a willow beauty. There was also a common darter dragonfly resting up, attracted in by the bright light.