A Bit of Patch Birding

As promised yesterday, I have managed to get out on patch this afternoon and actually do a spot of birding. I visited Colyford Common and Black Hole Marsh, actually I visited the latter twice, once alone and then again with Ian who I met in the Colyford Box. On Colyford Marsh there were 7 Redshank, loads of Mallards, a few Shelduck, a couple of Grey Herons, a small gang of Little Egrets, a pair of Wigeon (!!??) and the juvenile Cattle Egret. On the drained lagoon on Colyford Common there were 4 Green Sandpipers, while on Black Hole Marsh there were 4 Common Sandpipers, another Green Sandpiper, 4 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and a Little Ringed Plover. Also a delightful feeding flock of 100+ mixed hirundines.

I did a spot of dire digiscoping too, as follows:

One of the Blackwits.
In this exquisite shot you can see that it is wearing a set of four colour rings, you may even be able to make out the colours!

I took a snap of the Cattle Egret even though it was about as far away as it could be, and still be on Colyford Marsh!

Here's a slightly better one.
It's the LRP and a Dunlin

The moth trap was up and running again at Bun's house last night, catching a total of 55 moths of 27 species. There were eight new to garden ones which were: Peppered Moth, Little Emerald,Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Double Square Spot, The Drinker, Shuttle Shaped Dart, Dark Marbled Carpet, and Small Phoenix.

Peppered Moth

Double Square Spot

Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing,
a lovely coloured moth this one with a striking lime green head!

A very strange looking moth, The Drinker

This jazzy one is a Small Phoenix.

I was stumped by this one.
I think it's most likely one of the beauties, possibly Satin Beauty?
It had huge antennae.

A little Grass Snake on Bun's garden.
I've been trying to get a photo of it for the last three days. This morning it just wasn't quite quick enough :)