Saturday night turned up trumps with an overnight temperature of 12°C, even out here in the countryside, and brought with it a good number of Insects. Most notable among these was our first
MERVEILLE du JOUR
of the year,
a superb creature, and similarly
LARGE WAINSCOT
of the year before our attention was diverted elsewhere.
Just when we thought the last of the Hirundines might already have been seen
at 08:00 yesterday the sky suddenly appeared to be full of them again. Both
SWALLOW
(thought to number in the region of 300)
along with a dozen
HOUSE MARTIN
(both of the above photos are from the archive)
While not the greatest of images ever produced through these pages,
it does give some idea of many of these migrants gathering amid the
tops of the tall Ash Trees in Harbins Garden.
In addition there was a lone, fly-over REDWING which was our first of the Autumn.
In addition there was a lone, fly-over REDWING which was our first of the Autumn.
Back to the Moth Traps and something of an unexpected male
FOUR-POTTED FOOTMAN
followed by a couple of
shade variations of
GREY PINE CARPET
Other things didn't even get going until reaching
Merritown Heath
where
LONG-TAILED TIT
now abound along with rather acrobatic
CHIFFCHAFF
which caught the Insect also pictured.
Good numbers of
STONECHAT
are also knocking about up there and are readily showing themselves
while Dartford Warbler, now very vocal, outnumber them but seem far
more reluctant to show.
If we are discussing increases in numbers, look no further than
MAGPIE
which have now returned 'mob-handed'
this individual being just one
of a count of 22 at this particular spot.
It's not often we get photographs let alone
Video Footage
of these wily birds.
COMMON BUZZARD
was also showing interest at the same spot, suggesting that there
might be a Sheep carcass somewhere in the area.
SMALL TORTOISESHELL
are still on the wing
As the new building on the Airport continues to grow.
Now we have some idea of the dimension it can be seen that on
completion it will totally block the view of the hangers beyond and
in turn the
Mixed Gull Breeding Colony.
STORKSBILL
is also still in bloom, and finally a little more footage of
our 28th
SMOOTH SNAKE
of the year.
