Tuesday 27 July 2010

Old Lady tops the bill

Lesser Whitethroat in the pines near Ocean Edge this evening. Thanks Janet

Heysham Obs
Hardly the forecasted wash-out, but just too risky to mist net the Sedge Warblers etc at Middleton NR this am.  One Common Sandpiper on the model boat pond edge.  Red Nab dead at high tide.

Moths 
Predictably, after a cloudy night, the moth trap was rather full, but the excellent variety on the walls was followed by a rather disappointing procession of the usual culprits on the egg cases.  New for the year/autumn were: Barred Rivulet, Old Lady, Canary-shouldered Thorn, Six-striped Rustic, Agonopterix arenella,  Ruby Tiger and Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet.  The more notable species included Bordered Beauty, 5 Dingy Footman, Grass Emerald, Slender Pug, 2 Golden-rod Pug, and 2 Dingy Shears.  Straw Underwing was the most common species at 28, with the high trap entrance, as usual, rationing the Large Yellow Underwing catch, with just 16 of them!