Swifts and Ice-cream

Wednesday May 31

Despite the cold north easterly wind and grey skies, we spent an hour or so at Hickling NNT this afternoon. We'd been kept indoors for various reasons, and thought that we'd like some fresh air and, end of May, Norfolk birding. 

Pam went into the Centre to request the usual permission to drive to Whiteslea Lodge whilst  also showing our membership card. She was also able to look at the results of this morning's moth traps catch. A mere eight species, which is astonishing for the time of year. We'd already caught all of them, apart from the Ghost Moth. Where were the reedbed specialities? The Ronaldo's ice-cream tub was very welcome. 

Driving slowly as far as the bank access to look over Brendon's marsh, I was made aware of the only birds present. The displaying horde of non-formation Black Arrows jinking and swooping over the track and marsh. Exhilarating and awesome. I tried to photograph one. First find the bird through the car window,, then focus, and press the shutter. What a challenge. I took  a few air photos, blurred ink blots, and was accepting of one record image. 

 


Brendon's Marsh had no waders at all, Greylag Geese and their goslings were the main residents. At the end of the track, we parked and heard Reed Warbler and Cetti's. Pam heard a Bittern. The conundrum. I was present and should have heard the Bittern if my hearing was good. Do I count it because of thet? No I don't. It's like a one -legged person accepting the medal for a race because he had run a better time when he was fit. maybe not the best comparison, but it will do.

We did have an interesting insect in a moth trap today. ObsId tells me that it's a Tree Bumblebee. I looked at photos on the internet and it looks good for that species. new for us and our garden.

Our first new potatoes for tea tonight, freshly dug. I grew Vivaldi this year, they were good. The cucumber plants which accompanied us to Scotland and back, are in the ground in the leanto greenhouse, the pepper plants potted on.

A few new moths this morning

Brown Rustic




Pale Tussock

Silver -ground carpet

Vine's Rustic




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 12

Image
 Monday May 6 Most of the morning was occupied getting in touch with the car insurance people and then Autoglass - then waiting for Autoglass to get back to us.  A  stone chipped our windscreen on the way through Skye, since then its become a one foot plus horizontal crack on Pam's side. End result. We take the car to Lewis or Skye or wait until we get home. The garage here 'doesn't have the equipment to deal with the sensor in the front screen'. Ian, Heather's husband, says he does them all the time! Ah well, live with it.  Almost the first bird we saw as we drove north was a lovely male Hen Harrier. It was distant but I had to try, one of these days I'll get a decent photo. Original photo before editing, taken with 500mm lens    Edited     As we drove down to Loch Paible, a flock of fifteen Whimbrel dropped in to the near corner.We needed to turn the car, by which time the birds had gone, this Wheatear posed nicely for me.    A short d...
Read more

Moth Migration

Image
 Wednesday October 9 Like birds, moths migrate when the season and weather conditions are right. Recently, we have had easterly winds with a mouth watering fall of birds which we have been unable to walk and see. Many Yellow-browed Warblers, Eastern Crowned Warbler in Shetland, a possible Amur Stonechat and an Asian Desert Warbler in Norfolk. Our moth traps have had a reasonable sprinkling of the migrant moths - although some could be breeding here by now. Palpita Vitrialis Scarce Bordered Straw Delicate   and Rusty Dot Pearl
Read more

Day 19

Image
  Monday May 13   The day started slowly and ended at a gallop. A morning spent doing chores meant an even later start than usual, well past mid-day. Loch Druidibeg was the intended destination but we missed the turning and ended up at Loch Eynort. Both are in South Uist, but Druidibeg is not signposted on the northern approach. We even found a parking space in the small six car parking area, where we sat looking at a pretty empty sea. Eventually, Red-breasted Merganser, Shags, a Great Northern Diver and an Otter on the sea and Willow Warbler, Chaffinch, Robin, Blackbird, Dunnock, Cuckoo, and a Lesser Redpoll from the small wood alongside. AS we reversed away, Pam noticed the reg plate on the car beside us. It was WOC, Ian and Sue's car. We left them a note and drove on in the rain. We found Druidibeg this time. RSPB Scotland Loch Druidibeg, a community nature reserve formed in partnership with local crofters and the community estate. It is a Special Protection Area and Site...
Read more