MILD AUTUMNAL NIGHT

Saturday 13th began with a check of the moth traps. For once the Friday night-time weather appeared ideal for insect activity as the wind had dropped, no rain was forecast, there was no bright moon and it was cloudy. As a result 140 moths of about 30 species was a worthwhile return from the two traps operating at the park. One of the daintiest and attractive of the autumn moths is this red-green carpet pictured above with its combination of green and subtle red colours.

Other moths recorded were large wainscot, L-album wainscot, mallow, angle shades, barred sallow, satellite, black rustic, streak, green brindled crescent, yellow-line quaker, common marbled carpet, mottled umber, autumnal rustic and lunar underwing.
One of the moths with the richest brown markings is this dark chestnut, pictured below.

The mild night-time weather brought out all the crane-flies who swarmed into the trap, along with several fiercesome looking ichneumon flies and thousands of tiny flies that collected in heaps at the bottom of the traps.

Birdwise on the park, the first fieldfare of the autumn was heard "chacking" but not seen, while a group of 12 blackbirds and 2 song thrushes along one of the hedges were probably new immigrants. The male sparrowhawk was glimpsed flying through the trees and the local kestrel continued to hunt over the neighbouring "weed-field". A yellowhammer called as it flew over the park, whilst at the Point a wheatear was seen on the beach.

As there was a sunny end to the day the last hour of daylight was spent along the Pyefleet. The sun set low over the pool at Reeveshall where the only ducks on view were plastic decoys, put in place by a couple of wildfowlers who hid nearby for the real ducks to fly over.

The regular pair of stonechats perched up on the fence near the Shop Lane seawall. Martin Cock earlier in the afternoon had a pair of stonechats at the west side of Reeveshall and a third bird at Maydays farm. He also saw a merlin and was able to hear some bearded tits calling from Broad Fleet on Reeveshall in the still conditions.

The only other birds seen on Reeveshall were 150 lapwings and a handful of golden plover. No real waders or wildfowl of note along the Pyefleet other than the usual suspects. One marsh harrier flew over Langenhoe Point and once the sun had dropped down, 250 rooks and jackdaws headed off the Island north-eastwards to their roost near Alresford. A little owl called from somewhere to the west of Shop Lane.