Is this mustelid the fittest in winter?
Buff Ermine
Moth Quiz 15
A feathered missile resembling the Enterprise, Challenger, and Columbia
Wednesday, May 20
Yesterday seems like a long time ago. Our first full day out, we loved the birding, seeing two new year birds and several new for the month. We were both very tired when we got home and then had the traps to sort out. Several new micros, all of which were potted and refrigerated, same goes for a fair number of macros. I have spent much of last night and to-day, processing photographs - and cooking a kilo of aged frozen mince into something edible for Pam's evening meals. It's the least I can do as a contribution to household chores. At last - it's nearly 3.30 - I am starting on this.
Roger Brownsword caught a very good moth on Monday, a Pinion-spotted Pug, which he was unable to share owing to lockdown restrictions and an underlying health situation. Frustrating but understandable.
Back to yesterday. Sculthorpe Mill is beautifully situated, down a 400m track, the Inn is built astride the River Glaven. Grey Wagtails have habitually nested beneath the mill race arch. We spent a happy half hour watching the two adults carrying nesting material into the arch above which we were standing.
Not much else around until, on our return to the car, Pam noticed a Spotted Flycatcher fly high into a willow tree overhanging one of the cottages' outbuildings. It flew away before I could raise my camera but was soon back onto what may be its usual song branch. Delightful birds and always a pleasure to see. A decreasing population in the UK.
It wouldn't have been visible from the car park. I only know that it was singing as its beak was open in one of my photos. Its song is high pitched and weak, maybe my aids need tweaking.
This Inn is owned by the same group as the Lifeboat at Thornham. The manager recognised us and came over for a chat before going on a cycle ride to alleviate his boredom - his words. In this morning's phone call, Sara said that she wished that she had an obsession to take her mind off work. Easy......
Every time we pass Abbey Farm grounds on the back road, we stop in a gateway to look at the base of an ancient oak tree. For the first time this year, we were successful. A Little Owl was peering out from the gnarled opening formed when the tree blew down many years ago. The tree still looks very healthy.
I was eager to visit my beloved Snettisham again, despite low tide, the appalling entry road through the chalets and the uncertainty of admission - it's an RSPB reserve. No problem with admission. An exceedingly low tide left acres of mud dotted by the pale bulk of a few hundred Shelducks.
Tufted Duck, Cormorant, and Common Terns added to the list whilst we enjoyed coffee.
We knew that the public P and D car park is now open. We gave it a try so that we could listen for the migrants always found there. We also found a good number of cars. No school and many parents off work makes every day like a holiday or a weekend.
Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were the only birds heard from our distant parking spot. A call made Pam aware that friends Sue and Ian and Richard and Julie were also parked there. They'd been walking for some time and had seen Turtle Dove and Cuckoo before returning to eat lunch. Sue and Julie walked to within hailing distance and had a conversation with Pam. We've missed seeing and chatting with all our moth-ing/birding friends. This contact is better than nothing. Ian called that we might be able to see the Turtle Dove on the wires from the road. We didn't, but that was helpful.
Pam heard a Cuckoo from our garden this morning.
Few Hirundine and Swifts around. Plenty of House Martins at Harpley Cottages and Thornham, one Swallow on a roadside wire and the usual small group of Swifts at West Rudham.
House Martins have made a welcome return to Brinton, ignoring the expensive RSPB crete nests and building their own above them in the east-facing apex.
Moth Update
Buff Ermine
Moth Quiz 15
A feathered missile resembling the Enterprise, Challenger, and Columbia
Wednesday, May 20
Yesterday seems like a long time ago. Our first full day out, we loved the birding, seeing two new year birds and several new for the month. We were both very tired when we got home and then had the traps to sort out. Several new micros, all of which were potted and refrigerated, same goes for a fair number of macros. I have spent much of last night and to-day, processing photographs - and cooking a kilo of aged frozen mince into something edible for Pam's evening meals. It's the least I can do as a contribution to household chores. At last - it's nearly 3.30 - I am starting on this.
Roger Brownsword caught a very good moth on Monday, a Pinion-spotted Pug, which he was unable to share owing to lockdown restrictions and an underlying health situation. Frustrating but understandable.
 |
| Photo was taken by Michael Harcup |
 |
| male |
 |
| Female with building material moustache |
It wouldn't have been visible from the car park. I only know that it was singing as its beak was open in one of my photos. Its song is high pitched and weak, maybe my aids need tweaking.
This Inn is owned by the same group as the Lifeboat at Thornham. The manager recognised us and came over for a chat before going on a cycle ride to alleviate his boredom - his words. In this morning's phone call, Sara said that she wished that she had an obsession to take her mind off work. Easy......
Every time we pass Abbey Farm grounds on the back road, we stop in a gateway to look at the base of an ancient oak tree. For the first time this year, we were successful. A Little Owl was peering out from the gnarled opening formed when the tree blew down many years ago. The tree still looks very healthy.
I was eager to visit my beloved Snettisham again, despite low tide, the appalling entry road through the chalets and the uncertainty of admission - it's an RSPB reserve. No problem with admission. An exceedingly low tide left acres of mud dotted by the pale bulk of a few hundred Shelducks.
Tufted Duck, Cormorant, and Common Terns added to the list whilst we enjoyed coffee.
We knew that the public P and D car park is now open. We gave it a try so that we could listen for the migrants always found there. We also found a good number of cars. No school and many parents off work makes every day like a holiday or a weekend.
Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were the only birds heard from our distant parking spot. A call made Pam aware that friends Sue and Ian and Richard and Julie were also parked there. They'd been walking for some time and had seen Turtle Dove and Cuckoo before returning to eat lunch. Sue and Julie walked to within hailing distance and had a conversation with Pam. We've missed seeing and chatting with all our moth-ing/birding friends. This contact is better than nothing. Ian called that we might be able to see the Turtle Dove on the wires from the road. We didn't, but that was helpful.
Pam heard a Cuckoo from our garden this morning.
Few Hirundine and Swifts around. Plenty of House Martins at Harpley Cottages and Thornham, one Swallow on a roadside wire and the usual small group of Swifts at West Rudham.
House Martins have made a welcome return to Brinton, ignoring the expensive RSPB crete nests and building their own above them in the east-facing apex.
Moth Update
Every day brings at least one new species. Bee Moth, Scorched Wing, Brown Silver-lines,
Cochylis atricapitana (Black-headed Conch), May Highflyer, Green Carpet, and various Minors amongst the latest. |
| May High-flyer |
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| Clouded Border |
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| Monopis obviella (Yellow-backed Clothes Moth !!) |
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| Alder Kitten |
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| Poplar Grey |
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