The Big Sit

Moth Quiz 10  
This raptor is well liked in Lombardy

Poplar Hawkmoth

Moth Quiz 11
These antlers need bleaching 


Sunday, May 10

Every day is a big sit for me, yesterday's had a specific focus - garden bird records for NENBC. Our garden is at the eastern limits of the designated area. We totalled 27 birds, three of them 'heards' only. The heard birds were : Tawny Owl, Garden Warbler and Chiffchaff.

Pam started at dawn when she carried in the moth traps, but all the birds she recorded at that time were also seen later in the day. 

Birds seen:

Blue, Great, Coal and Marsh Tits, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Blackcap, Nuthatch, Jackdaw,  Stock and Collared Doves, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Swift, House Martin, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Pheasant, Wren and Mallard.

Other regulars did not appear e.g. Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Jay, Long-tailed Tit. We never see Starlings at home.

All these were recorded at dawn and in a two-hour session late afternoon. The owlet called when Pam checked the moth traps before bed. 

We had the best catch of the year, species wise, yesterday morning 43 of 24 species, of which eight were new for the year. Chocolate Tip, Buff Ermine, Marbled Minor, V Pug, Flame Shoulder, Pebble Hook-tip, Common Carpet and one we've asked for help to identify.

Chocolate Tip

Buff Ermine

Pale Tussock

Pale Tussock face

Pebble Hook-tip

Every year, I produce my own photographs desk calendar. May's photo is of the lovely Belted Beauty which Ian found on the Isle of Barra last year. We should be on North Uist to-day, having already visited Aard an Runair at Balranald twice - off the ferry last night and after breakfast this morning - to check the Skua passage. Or, lack of it as is the norm. We were incredibly lucky to hit a fantastic passage the very first year we visited the Outer Hebrides. We're already booked for 2021.

There's a tremendous wind blowing from the north east to-day, an unwelcome change after the last few days. A couple of the plants in my alpine sinks are brightening the day. 

Delospermum. One of my favourite families, the colours are jewel-like.

It was good to witness the Bee Hotel in use. Not by the intended Solitary Bee though.