QUIET FEW DAYS

After some recent chilly nights the moth trap was operated at the country park on Thursday 25th. A typically low autumnal catch resulted in twenty-six moths of only eight species. There were several of these feathered thorns, pictured above, with their rich brown colouring. The feather-shaped antennae that give the moth its name, can just be seen here on this male.

The other moths included several November / Pale November moths (identification too tricky to separate), mallow, green-brindled crescent and black rustic.

The suitably named streak moth displays its long white flashes on each wing. This moth was also seen at the park last autumn but its distribution generally in Essex appears to be scarce because of the thinly scattered distribution of broom, which is the food-plant of the caterpillars.

The overcast weather of the last few days have not been ideal insect conditions but the sun on Saturday 27th saw several common darters flying about.

Only one or two bits of bird interest for the last few days. A brambling flew west over Firs Chase calling just after dawn on Tuesday morning and later, five siskin flew east over the park.
In the grazing fields 250 brent geese were feeding, which is the first group to start using the fields this autumn. It is always a welcome sound hearing all the geese chattering excitedly and noisily to each other as they munch their way across the grass.

Martin Cock was on a stonechat count for the Island and with his two at Maydays and another two also at Rewsalls, this brings the tally in recent days to 14 for the Island which is the highest count there's ever been here.
There was also a grey wagtail at Rewsalls on Wednesday and one flew over the park on Friday heading west.