Thursday April 18

News from the patch says that the male Ring Ouzel is still present, and also a pair of Wheatears (Francis Peplow - via Twitter).

Meanwhile I have spent a pleasant morning examining the moths contained in my overnight moth trap. The final tally (after I discovered a couple of extras clinging to the wall of the house) was 26 moths of 11 species.

The undoubted highlight was a new for the garden (and also a lifer) Swallow Prominent. Its a quite stunning moth.

Swallow Prominent

Its also not especially rare, but I haven't heard of any others caught this year, so its quite early. Of the remainder, only the three Brindled Beauties and the Shuttle-shaped Dart were new for the year.

Brindled Beauty

Shuttle-shaped Dart

All the usual species were present, 12 Common Quakers, two Hebrew Characters, a Clouded Drab, a Twenty-plume Moth, and two Double-striped Pugs. While Twin-spotted Quaker, Brindled Pug and Early Thorn were all the second records this year.

A single Willow Warbler was singing to remind me I am supposed to be a birder.

But then I lapsed and on a visit to Hillers Garden Centre with Lyn during the afternoon, photographed a shieldbug in their garden which looked like it might be something different. I have identified it as a Hairy Shieldbug.

Hairy Shieldbug

I've submitted it to irecord.com for confirmation.