MIGRANTS AND MOTHS

The firecrest that turned up at the park yesterday, was still in the park on Wednesday 7th. In contrast to being quiet on Tuesday, it was tracked down today very quickly as it sang repeatedly from the pine trees near the overflow car park, pictured above. It was singing its fast and short high-pitched song as it foraged through the branches. However there was no sign of the goldcrest that kept it company yesterday.

Another migrant that was welcomed back today was the nightingale by the park entrance. Usually the first spring nightingales are registered by hearing their loud and varied song. This time the bird was first heard just after dark as I closed the park, as it called out its distinctive "hooet" call-note, from the same location just inside the gates where they've bred for the last four years.

Other migrants seen over the park today were a pair of swallows flying over the flooded field and also two brightly coloured male yellow wagtails which dropped down to feed on the field. However there was no sign of the two sand martins that were seen flying around the cliff yesterday but the chiffchaff was still singing from the sallow bushes by the pond.

Martin Cock found a wheatear on the seawall by the Reeveshall pool today and Michael Thorley saw one on the Youth Camp beach yesterday.

On the grazing fields today were 250 brent geese, 50 redshank, 20 teal, 10 lapwing, 6 gadwall and 3 black-tailed godwits. On the pond there were 10 tufted ducks and a pair of pochard, while the pair of mute swans appear to have their nest ready on one of the islands.

There was only the one adder out on an overcast Wednesday afternoon, whereas yesterday there were 7 seen around the park.


The moth trap was set over Tuesday night on a relatively still and partially cloudy night. Although the temperature dropped and there was a heavy dew, the catch was quite pleasing for the time of year. Nearly 100 moths of 14 species were noted which is a better tally than any early April sessions for 3 years.

The herald moth pictured above was the most eye-catching with its orange-red markings and distinctive heraldic outline. Last year it was recorded on three nights during April and maybe the name heralds the start of the mothing season, as the nights slowly warm up.

Another common moth with an unusual profile is the angle shades that looks like a withered leaf when it lies on the ground.

Several blossom underwings pictured above, were noted and there should be several more to see at the trap during the next fortnight or so.

The red chestnut was also present in the trap with a handful of individuals noted. Amongst many of the other browner coloured moths, these ones stand out with their reddish colours.

This clouded drab wasn't as drab in colour as some of the usual ones found in the trap. This one is showing a richer reddish-chestnut colour which caught the eye. It's a common early spring moth to the trap here, turning up in small numbers through April.

Some of the other moths noted included March, small quaker, common quaker, twin-spotted quaker, dotted border, lots of hebrew character and early grey.

MIGRANTS AND MOTHS

The sunny start to the morning and near calm conditions, made it a very pleasant autumnal Thursday 25th at the country park. There was a light passage of birds but strangely they were heading into the direction of the light breeze, which was north-easterly.

A group of a dozen swallows passed over the park, a mixed group of thrushes with 8 local mistle thrushes homing in on the rowan tree berries in the car park, also three newly arrived continental song thrushes flying high overhead calling. The plaintive calls of 10 siskins were heard as they trickled north-eastwards in ones and twos. Three lesser redpoll were also heard heading in the same direction over the park during the morning.

The various bushes and trees around the car park were popular with the local mixed tit flock which included 3 chiffchaffs, blackcap and a handful of goldcrests. These tiny "crests" were hard to spot amongst the thick foliage on the trees but they did call persistently to each other, so you had a rough idea where they were.

A sparrowhawk hunted low along a field hedge with a couple of carrion crows chasing it. Two kestrels headed towards the grazing fields and the seawall for some morning hunting for food.
On the fields there was a roosting group of 75 curlew, waiting for the tide to recede.

At the park pond, a little egret perched high on a willow tree, while below 2 wigeon and 5 teal joined the larger group of mallard.

The warm weather brought out a few butterflies such as comma, red admiral, speckled wood, small heath and small white. Southern hawker and common darter were the dragonflies noted.

The moth trap operated throughout Wednesday night into Thursday morning which was the first opportunity for two weeks. A few more different species were found including this interestingly marked buff arches pictured above. It's a common moth in early summer when most are seen, whereas this individual will be from the second generation this year.

About 70 moths of 20 species were noted including lunar underwing, sallow, dusky lemon sallow, frosted orange, rosy rustic, feathered ranunculus, common marbled carpet, spruce carpet, L-album wainscot, white-point, deep-brown dart, mallow, brindled green and burnished brass.

This neatly marked Silver-Y moth will probably be the last one of the summer. Like a lot of migrant moths, it has not been as numerous this summer as in previous years. Close up the silver-Y has a wonderful contrast of various shades of brown from chestnut through to pale grey-brown.

Up to 15 black rustics were found in the morning, some inside the trap, while others were trying to hide in the nearby grass. The jet black velvet appearance makes it a very striking moth, when seen alongside the more regular brown coloured moth species.

Another very autumnal looking moth is this barred sallow pictured above, a regularly recorded moth in previous Septembers here at the country park.

Martin Cock had good views at Coopers Beach on Tuesday of a male hen harrier that came in off the sea and hunted over the grass fields. Also seen were 3 of the first brent geese to arrive from Siberia for the winter, a grey wagtail, kingfisher and wheatear noted here too.