Summer Moth highlights so far

I've owned a Moth Trap for a few years, but having moved a few times (the trap likely to cause disturbance in a couple of locations) coupled with some shocking summers, only now have I been making a constant effort to trap, almost nightly. Truly bitten by the bug now. The excellent Norfolk Moths website has been a real help, as has a chap on Twitter who goes by the moniker @mothiduk ! I have also attended a Moth morning at Strumpshaw and one here in Claxton, hosted by the SYWG. Both of these mornings amassed some impressive totals, over 100 species at Strumpshaw (a few micros pending) and 39 at Claxton (excluding micros). I particularly enjoyed the Wainscots at Strumpshaw, and of course a migrant Tree Lichen Beauty was an obvious highlight. In the village, a Reed Dagger was probably the scarcest Moth trapped.

At home, species counts have varied from 10-40, many micros on top of that not yet being identified. The Micro fieldguide is on the birthday list. Highlights have included my first Antler Moth, Webb's Wainscot, Fen Wainscot, Balsam Carpet and The Tissue. The Tissue is a rare Moth in Norfolk, and looking at previous records on the aforementioned website, the last record for TG30 was 1938! This was in the Rockland area. There appears to have been a peak of 3 records in 2013, otherwise this species is encountered intermittently. Balsam Carpet is another decent record, around 10 recorded each year locally in The Broads. Not every night has delivered something of such interest; last night for example was pants, just 10 species recorded after a clear moon-lit night. Still, we go again, trap out tonight providing the rain holds off.

Tissue, this individual showing a pink-ish tinge, which threw myself and a few others initially.

Antler Moth.

Pebble and Swallow Prominent

Balsam Carpet, confirmed by the field-guide!

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Grey Phalarope- a new patch bird

The 7th of April was another bitterly cold Spring day, hats and gloves in prime position on pegs and in bags ready to be deployed. A few brave Garganey have been reported north of the river, but it was a bird from the north itself that had me rushing for the thermals and the telescope late in the day. I was thankful for the local Whatsapp group who were quick to report that a Grey Phalarope had been seen on Rockland Broad. This tiny Wader would have come in on the northerlies over the last few days, although to grace one of the broads is a real surprise, since most stick pretty close to the coast before moving on. Indeed, my experience of the birds has usually been on a sea watch in the Autumn, waves crashing and foam flying, my eyes straining to pick them out as they fly low just above the surf. They are fantastic birds, and now one was here on the patch. I had a brief panic when I realised my scope was in my car at the garage (thankfully I do have a much older spare) but once the ho

A change is as good as a rest

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Foulden Common- Skippers and a Hairstreak

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Notes from the valley

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