FOUR DAYS TO MY HOLS!!!

Unfortunately, no wildlife for me this weekend. I've been a bit under the weather and spent the weekend on the couch feeling sorry for myself. Still, it gave me a chance to swat up on the birds I might come across in Egypt next week. You can never be TOO prepared! Obviously there are 1 or 2 species I wouldnt mind seeing, especially the Sandgrouses and the Sinai Rosefinch at St Catherines Monastery, but I'm just gona take things as they come and not set myself too many targets. Any new birds would be welcome!

ICTERINE WARBLER

Another message from Steve had me popping over to The Leas after work today to look for a migrant ICTERINE WARBLER. The last one I saw was in 2006 at Cresswell Pond so this was a bit overdue. When I got there the rain was lashing down and not a single person was around, so I trudged through the foliage getting absolutely drenched looking for the bird. At first there were no signs of any life, but after ten minutes I just happened to have a look behind me and saw a bird fly out from a bush and onto an exposed perch. It was an obvious big warbler and I instinctively knew it was the Icky. Checking it through my binoculars confirmed it. It flitted about in the open for a good 20 minutes giving me excellent views before eventually flying off to some thick bushes to the far right of the mound. As the rain was getting heavier I decided to head off, but not before watching a calling Whimbrel fly low overhead.

ICTERINE WARBLER

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT!

I suppose it was always going to happen sooner or later. As my interest in all things that flew grew it was inevitable that I moved onto moths at some point. Its such a daunting prospect for the beginner (which I am!) as there are well over a 1000 moths in the UK! But I'm nothing if not keen. So, about 3 weeks ago I bought myself a basic moth trap, and have had a couple of go's in the back garden. I have to say its both extremely exciting and extremely frustrating in equal amounts. There are tonnes of similar looking species and making a positive i.d. is sometimes exceptionally difficult! So far I've managed to identify 19 different species that I've trapped, but many more have gone unidentified. I suppose it'll get better with experience, and nobody becomes an expert overnight. By far the commonest species is the LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING. There's always loads of them in the trap, and sometimes can be a right pain cos they very rarely settle for very long and disturb everything else in there. The prettiest one so far has to be the BRIMSTONE. Its a beautiful yellow colour, and is also reasonably common. The one's I'm really after are the Hawkmoths. Martin trapped one a few weeks ago and I'd love to trap one myself. Hopefully its just a matter of time!

MOTHS

BIRD CHERRY ERMINE MOTH (top) BRIMSTONE MOTH (middle) & BURNISHED BRASS MOTH (bottom)

MOTHS

GOLD SPANGLE MOTH (top) LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING MOTH (middle) & LESSER BROAD BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING (botom)

MOTHS

LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING MOTH (top) MOTHER OF PEARL MOTH (middle) & PEBBLE HOOK TIP MOTH (bottom)

MOTHS

SCALLOPED OAK MOTH (top) SILVER Y MOTH (middle) & WILLOW BEAUTY MOTH (bottom)