Anne's Journal

 Thursday June 19 June is always considered to be a quiet month for birds,so far, this one is no exception, even worse if possible. In common with many other birders, mothing takes first place, especially using pheromone lures in the garden. The lures can be used for various micro moths, our targets are macro moths of the family Clearwing.  So far this year we have trapped five different species, three of which I've been able to photograph.  White-barred Clearwing Was a new species for us, spreading slowly from the Broads area, a nationally NB species.   Currant Clearwing New for the  garden, previously seen at Wiveton Fruit Farm.   Lunar Hornet Clearwing Trapped in the garden every year so far.    The unphotographed species are:  Yellow-legged Clearwing and Red-tipped Clearwing.

 Sunday June 1 I believe that we'd have seen almost as many birds if we'd stayed at home and watched the garden. Although relatively warm, with sun most of the day, a strong wind is not conducive to birds. They stay hidden and don't sing as much - if at all. List ready, pen posed, I'd added two birds by the time we got to North Walsham, Carrion Crow and Wood Pigeon. It's sad that, for the first time since we have lived here, 1974, there are no Swifts around the White House. No Swallows in the village and no House Martins on our house, John's next door and the Hughes's across the road. The three weeks of no rain also meant no mud for nests. Did this deter them? We did see one Swift, and both the mentioned hirundine, during the day, but very few. We checked Strumpshaw Mill for Spotted Flycatchers, unsuccessfully. We don't know of anyone who has seen them this year, they do move their nesting sites around, some more viewable than others.  I've read that...