Lockdown List garden ticks

We may be free to jump in our cars and head for our patches, but the garden can still spring surprises.

Last night was a case in point. The overnight temperature has been chilly all week, and I have not been tempted to put the moth trap out. But Friday night is GMS night (Garden Moth Scheme), so I was obliged to. The forecast suggested cloud so I was mildly optimistic.

Having put it on, I couldn't resist periodically stick my head out of the back door to take a look. The sky was cloudless, and my optimism waned. A Light Brown Apple Moth was the only moth I could see. As Graham Norton appeared on the TV we decided it was time to turn in. One last look through the window. A moth shot past, then it or another seemed to pitch down onto the trap. Out I went, peering at a dark shape. Something. Then I was brought up short by a faint call, a sort of strangled purr. Surely not? I thought I knew what it was and I stood on the doorstep for ages (about 30 seconds!) hoping it would call again. It did, this time closer; a Barn Owl. I was sure of it, but not so certain that I didn't head straight for the computer and play the call. It was exactly right. This was not only a lockdown garden tick, but also a full all time garden tick. That list, recently revived thanks to lockdown, now stands at 81.

This morning I was up early to see what moths I'd caught. The LBAM was in the trap, but nothing else. That's strange. Also nothing on the walls or the fence. Finally I spotted it, resting on the wires leading to the trap, a rather worn Swallow Prominent. Not new for the year but at least it was something.

Swallow Prominent

But that was not all. A singing Goldcrest reminded me that my lockdown garden list needed updating.

May 15

60. Barn Owl

May 16

61. Goldcrest

As for the muddle of lockdown lists, I think its time to bring Boris Johnson type clarity to the whole situation.

No bird seen at Morton Bagot will count towards my lockdown list, but I will still add to it if I see one from the garden, or walking from the garden. So the Barn Owl counts as both a garden lockdown tick and as a lockdown tick:

Lockdown list

May 15

72. Barn Owl

But the Goldcrest only counts on the garden lockdown list because I have already recorded one during lockdown, on foot from the house.

The moth lockdown list remains abandoned.

Crystal clear I hope. I may produce a graph to emphasise the points made.