Moths..

 All this good seawatching weather recently has been a death knell for moth trapping, but I have had a few before the winds swung north. One in particular was a new species for me and might be the most Northerly UK record to date - 

Clay Triple Lines.

I used to record these in my first attempts at moth trapping in the 90s at Stobswood. They didnt occur in the county then and I was only using the Chinery insect guide for id purposes. I was clearly miss identifying Riband Wave of the non banded form....

More standard autumn species are the mainstay of the sessions - 

Grey Chi

Yellow line Quaker

Canary shouldered Thorn, in short supply again this year.

Large Wainscot

Pink barred Sallow

Flounced Chestnut

Lunar Underwing of the plainer orange form. 

Proper Autumn..

When I get up for work now I have to put a light on. Same when I come home. Its not dark then, but its 90 minutes away. With this equinoctal ( is that even a word?) lighting, things are changing all around. Leaves are beginning to fall, things smell damp and the Robins Pincushions are reddening up nicely. Just like a page from the Ladybird Book of What to Look for in Autumn.

On Tuesday I found my earliest ever county Yellow-browed Warbler on the coast path when I was out with Bunty at first light. It called twice and stayed unseen. But I knew that was it. The year was passing on.

On Bunty's 'before bed walk' it was still and clear outside, and very mild. Either 4 or 6 Tawny Owls were calling, a pair of which ended up keeping us awake in our garden later, a Barn Owl was hissing and a Golden Plover whistled off key as it flew west in the darkness . The bats feeding under our two streetlights didnt seem to notice.

On Wednesday morning, the YBW was still in the same spot but calling its head off and flickering around the bushes. I noticed for the first time since April that there were no hirundines above our village. None on passage either. Maybe its just our locals have taken advantage of the recent Northerlies to give them a lift on their way?

50 Meadow Pipits, 2 Grey Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails headed south without a swallow escort.

This morning, I flushed the YBW from some nettles along the coast path, a very sheltered spot from the southerly breeze. A Whimbrel trilled S and 3 Ruff were with 25 Curlews flying across the bay. Two young Swallows tacked S, but that was all.

In an average year the main arrival time here for Yellow brows is 22nd Sept while our village Swallows tend to move off on 23rd. This year both have been early.

I wonder if it is an omen of something?

Autumn creeps...

I've just been looking through my recent photos and can't find much to post about. They all seem to be moths! Despite a few identification cock-ups, this has been a decent season for new species in the garden, and August always has potential for more.

Meanwhile, sitting counting moths, more groggy than a zombie on methadone due to too many late nights and early starts, autumn sneaks up. Yesterday we had a short trip down to Cresswell for breakfast  er, to see the two adult Curlew Sandpipers on the causeway scrape and very nice they were too. Alongside them were 80+ Dunlin, a Common Sandpiper and 500+ Sand Martins.

Up at Amble, the Coquet Estuary held 6 summer plumaged Knot, 22 Black tailed Godwit and 30+ Dunlin, but the oddest thing occurred as I took Bunty out before work this morning.

Not rare, but certainly scarce these days, a nice Whinchat was on the roadside fence line just up from our village. A taste of things to come perhaps...we'll see....

 

It takes a bit of luck....

The lane in autumn.

Earlier this week the wind took a turn from the south east. It was mild, and damp with odd thick foggy spells and some drizzle. If only I had booked a holiday from work it was very promising for finding some good birds on the patch. As it was I had to make do with half an hour out with Bunty at first light each day.

On Tuesday it was clear that this weather was grounding a few migrants. As we left the house at 7.05am, 100+ Redwings and a few Fieldfares were flying around the village. A good start. As I rounded the first corner, 2 Little Egrets emerged from the fog at a little over roof top height and flew North, only the third record here in 7 years.

Now, at the coast road most of the time I turn left, north to the coast path, but today I fancied that my short amount of time might be better spent checking the scrub at Rumbling Kern just to the south, so I took a right turn.

This is where the gods of fate kick in. Bunty lead the way along the road for about 100 yards when she flushed a small bird at her feet right on the road verge. In a split second I thought 'pipit?' but soon focussed onto a small wader - a Jack Snipe no less! It flew just along the road and dropped back in to the opposite fence line. As we approached it got up again, giving a better view this time as it circled over then flew off west. Unusually it made a very brief call as it took off, a faint 'cough' sound a bit like part of a Common Snipe call. I cant say I've ever heard a Jack call before?

This is a bird I have looked for in damp areas on the patch but have never found, so this  a real patch list bonus!

Also here a Grey Wagtail fed along the manure heap.

Jack Snipe notes...

On Wednesday birds continued to arrive with many Fieldfares, Blackbirds and Redwings with a few Goldcrests and Brambling to look through. On my return from work, in the dark, a Woodcock was sat on the road in the village then flew off into the night. Many Redwings were calling, easily 5 calls per minute at various distances. Its great to see and hear migration in action.

This is what gets my blood flowing, but I've still heard birders saying that it was 'quiet' simply because there were no rarities locally.  I was happy with my 'jack' and the sight of so many birds arriving from across the North Sea. Most birders are just too used to getting rare birds regularly. They need a spell wandering around my patch!

By Thursday, bird numbers began to dwindle as the weather changed. It remains mild and the moth trap has been out, catching my first December Moth of 2015 this morning. This moth usually marks the end of the mothing season for me, but I'll keep trying as long as it stays mild...

December Moth

144. Little Egret
145. Jack Snipe


 

The smell of decay...

While autumn does its stuff to the plant life around the garden, the small of dampness fills the air. Its a sweet 'soily' smell and it feels cool. A Red Admiral is still flitting around this afternoon and a huge female Sparrowhawk flew in then ran around the garden under the shrubs before flying off emmpty handed.

This Merveille du Jour is my third of the season and always brightens the day...

Killers....

Despite the steady north easterly breeze and the fact that Norfolk is grid locked with rare sibes we still managed to get out this morning and find little in the way of 'good' birds. John  and myself covered the whole of Warkworth North Side - Birling area but it was rather quiet. Still, after a dull start, the day turned out to be very pleasant with some nice autumn sunshine.

As there were no birds, our attentions drifted elsewhere. In the dunes, this Red legged Shield bug  Spiked Shieldbug ( thanks to Graeme Lyons...)was doing something despicable to a small caterpillar. The photo has come out quite well with the 300 lens.

Up at the car park, the wildlife took on a 'big game' feel when we were disturbed from our morning cuppa by some distressed squealing in the picnic area. Now, in a car park like this, that could have been anything, but this time it was a seriously myxied rabbit doing its best to avoid being eaten by a young Stoat. After some 'Benny Hill style' chasing around and wrestling, the Stoat ran off and the Rabbit left by another exit. I bet the Stoat tracks it down again later...

Flying Stoat.

May not be as good as one getting a lift off a Woodpecker, but I was still pleased to get this one...

You wouldnt think it from this shot, but the Stoat was spooked by us watching and legged it. The Rabbit recovered and ran to cover.

So, with all this carnage around, I was pleased to get back home to do the moths...Lately rather than just trying some voucher shots on slate, I have been trying to show some off on some nice surfaces...

The Dark Chestnut

and the Brick, both looking very seasonal.