Sunday May 26

A cloudy morning with frequent showers and a light westerly breeze.

The disappointing weather heralded a less than thrilling visit. There was no sign of the Garden Warbler, which was a pity as I was hoping to improve on the brown blur photograph taken last time I was here.

The Willow Warbler is still mixed singing, although a second bird at Stapenhill Wood was singing normally. The flash field still hosts single pairs of Teal and Gadwall plus a single Little Ringed Plover. There are still no Lapwing chicks.

A Cuckoo called a few times in the distance, while the local House Martins now total at least 15 individuals and were visiting the dragonfly pools to collect mud.

House Martins

It was relatively warm and muggy between the showers at first, and we saw several Small Heaths, a couple of whites, and a Red Admiral. The dragonflies on the wing were just ones recorded in previous visits, so it was left to day-flying moths to give us something different to look at.

The first Cinnabar Moth of the year was a welcome distraction.

Cinnabar Moth

The same field produced quite a few insects including a tiny moth which I think is Elachista argentella, my first anywhere, although this is more a reflection of my past ambivalence regarding the identity of micro-moths here than any suggestion it is scarce.

Elachista argentella

Even further out of my comfort zone are plants. However the field was full of an inconspicuous vetch which, with the aid of a field guide, I have concluded is Hairy Tare.

Hairy Tare

So there we are. making the best of a dull day.