To Moth or Not To Moth

 Thursday March 14

Last night it was announced that two traps would be put out at Cley today, the first of the year. We'd had a very enjoyable session at Natural Surroundings yesterday, despite two traps being empty, the third held over 200 moths.We mooted that the lamps had not come on in the two barren traps. 

We'd planned a day to the Brecks - again. Two previous trips had been cancelled. What should we do. On balance, there would be fewer moths at Cley and little chance of anything different. For various reasons, the Brecks trip was postponed until the reserves and facilities are open. After seeing the couple who had come to clean our gutters and plastic, we went north west. The sun was shining, the hedgerows are a gentle hazy of emerging green, trees show glistening buds, and the birds are in good voice, heralding the Spring. 

It was not a good birding day but I enjoyed taking some photos of commoner birds in their breeding finery.




I had two year ticks. A Chiffchaff 'singing' its onomatopoeic call from seaside scrub - I prefer this to an inland bird, many of which have overwintered. Pam heard one in the garden earlier this month. The second, three Mediterranean Gulls in a roadside field approaching Flitcham.

Almost better was finding a 'new' place to drive and view at Hunstanton. We saw a van drive down here on Tuesday so thought we'd investigate. A large enough beachside car parking area, the east end for Sailing Club members only. We drove to the eastern most end, from which we could view the cliffs and their nesting Fulmars and Rock Doves. A good find.

The Black-tailed Godwits at Brancaster Staithe are coming into breeding plumage, shame that the light was so bad, their finery is not shown to the best advantage. 

Moth catches have increased in number, with occasional year ticks. Last night we had our first Early Thorn. This one is a female, she left us some green eggs.



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