Twice in a Blue Moon

 Friday, August 21

 

We were late getting to the moth traps this morning, as is usual on a Friday. Adrian is here to help with the garden and, as he is inexperienced, Pam works with him. Recent traps have been full of non moth items. Ants, Wasps, Hornets, Beetles and so many Red-legged Shieldbugs. Most of the latter are adults with a few green instars.

 

The bugs have very sticky legs, they hold on firmly to the egg boxes, my fingers, my trousers and the floor. They also walk all over the moths, causing immense disturbance. 20 immigrant Silver Ys also bomb about, blundering into everything. So, a general scene of disruption and frustration at the moths lost unidentified. One of them could have been really good.

At the bottom of the Robinson Actinic, something large made a brief appearance from under an ant and beetle filled eggbox. The large pot I used to successfully catch it  wasn't big enough, nor did I have a lid to hand. I covered the pot with my hand whilst Pam departed to find a large container. Blue Underwings showed through my fingers. Waw, a Clifden Nonpareil, we had a garden one last year too, and another in Kent. How lucky is that.

 

 Norfolk status
Rare immigrant.
This is the Victorian collector's classic all-time favourite, often named the 'Blue Underwing'.

Modern-day Norfolk records are of assumed migrants, recorded mainly along the coast usually in late August - September. In 1976 an astonishing seven specimens were recorded in Norfolk.

In 2019, ten confirmed and one unconfirmed were recorded, the most ever on record in a single year.

Everything else paled into insignificance. Even the Lesser Stag Beetle.

 

We still need to identify these two cricket species found indoors last night. Not the best of photographs, taken in a pot again.

 

We did do some birding yesterday. Breaking the journey at Selbrigg, we sat in isolation and shade, enjoying the comings and goings of Marsh, Coal, Blue, and Great Tits, Dunnock and Grey Squirrel. 

On to Wells North Point. We parked in our usual spot so that I could scope the east pool, the sun burning down. Remarkably little heat haze considering the temperature - 27C. Two sleeping Spoonbills, two Little Egrets, half a dozen Ruff, 100+ Black-tailed Godwits, the inevitable motley Greylag crew and, probably 300+ Barnacle Geese. The Holkham House flock most probably, increasing every year.

Holkham reserve had 28 pairs of breeding Spoonbills this year - same as 2018 and 2019 - but - they produced a record 56 fledged young. Cattle Egrets also bred again. fior the second year that I know of.

Driving down to the car park, I scoped the west pool, seeing not a lot. As we started on lunch, a red car drew up parallel to us. I looked across, it was Sue and Ian. They'd been picking Victoria plums at Drove Orchards and were about to try again to see the Garganey here. Everything is moulting, the ducks into eclipse plumage, preening geese and waders producing enough feathers and down on the ground for it to look like a smattering of snow.

Whilst finishing our lunch we had a long overdue catch-up chat, enjoying a gift plum each, before driving home. It was good to be out.