A really wet and windy start to the day with persistent heavy showers lingering until midday. The afternoon was much brighter and more pleasant for birding. The Swift, Swallow and House Martin were all feeding low over the Pines/Broad Water. We had the first juvenile Whitethroat of the year noisily begging for food from their parents. There was a Hobby yesterday, so well worth looking out for them at the moment.

Another quiet day for the moths, but not surprising with the continued unsettled wet and windy conditions. We had 3 Bordered White, 2 Common Swift, 2 Light Brown Apple, 3 Mottled Rustic, 7 Cinnabar, 1 Heart and Dart, 2 Small Elephant Hawk, 8 White Ermine, 1 Meadow Grass Moth, 1 Flame Shoulder, 1 Large Elephant Hawk, 1 Common Marble, 1 Garden Grass Veneer, 1 Dark Arches and 1 Brown Rustic.

We have been catching quite a few Bordered White recently, but usually they just fly off instantly as soon as you open the trap. This one, however, was happy to sit on my finger for a few seconds giving me the chance to look at one properly. They have these amazing feathered antennae….

Bordered White

Quiet for other insects with the wet morning with Four-spot Chaser Dragonfly, Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly around.

Shannon Clifford – Assistant Warden

NORFOLK BIRD NEWS FROM RARE BIRD ALERT

Norfolk Spotted Redshank c.52.9582,1.0480

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling ad Melton Constable in gardens between Kitchener Road + Gordon Road. Please park sensibly. C52.8569,1.0363

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling ad Melton Constable still 3.48pm iwest of Coalville Road. Please park sensibly. C52.8563,1.0365

Norfolk Rose-coloured Starling ad Melton Constable still 4.05pm Gordon Road. Please park sensibly. C52.8570,1.0357