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Friday July 1 

Mainly due to so many medical appointments, lethargy, and lack of impetus, we haven't done any real birding for some time. 'Real' birding ? Sitting outside yesterday afternoon, going through the moth traps :

A Song Thrush sang from a afew gardens away

At least a dozen juvenile Blue Tits swarmed the feeders, until bullied off by the heftier Goldfinches.

Our temporary resident, Garden Warbler, sang from John's Birch tree, his favoured singing post.

Two juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers fed on the sunflower hearts, a Green Woodpecker yaffled as it flew away from our vegetable garden area.

Opening the bathroom window at near dawn this morning, I startled the nine Jackdaws, noisily probing the back lawn, a single bird was on the sun lounge roof below me, appearing to peel away some panel adhesive.  

So, what I meant was leaving the house with the intention of doing some birding in a known birding area. I suppose. A nonsense. I never stop birding, wherever I am. We are planning a day out tomorrow.

The House Martins' nest on John's east apex holds well grown young, they fledged two broods from here last year. The mud nest - they chose not to use the precast ones - on our east facing apex. has failed. Pam found one youngster in the water butt below. In a previous year, the nest was badly made, a hole appearing, big enough for the chicks to fall through, as they did. We haven't inspected this nest through binoculars..

Moth-ing continues to absorb and interest, even on slow days. Most days have a new moth for the year. Here are some of the latest.

Wormwood Pug

Lilac Beauty

Dot Moth

Angle Shades

Beautiful Golden Y                                





Barred Straw


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