Sunday July 20 - Earlswood and Morton Bagot (and moths)

 Trying to predict the best place to go birding, taking account of the weather, is a rather inexact science. I suspect most committed birders (or those who should be committed) do this. 

This morning it seemed like a no brainer. It was pouring with rain at 05:30, so within forty minutes I was at the largest water body within my Circle, Earlswood Lakes, hoping for the best. I'm reluctant to say expecting to see something because disappointment is also part of the game.

Sadly it didn't do the business. I got thoroughly wet for the sake of a Little Egret, three Common Sandpipers, three Common Terns, and a tatty second-summer Common Gull. The latter was only my second or third this year (they're not common around here), so I guess that got the accolade of best bird.

The Little Egret

In fact Earlswood is in a rather sorry state at the moment. The low water levels may bring the promise of wader passage, but they're also bringing death to the bigger fish in the lakes. Numerous dead Pike and Carp floated in the shallows. The Canals and River Trust have at least contracted someone to try to do something about it, and this morning water was being pumped into Windmill Pool with the intention, I assume, of increasing the oxygen levels.

After a late breakfast I headed for Morton Bagot in order to meet up with Dave who'd started at our normal time. The rain was now more showery, but after failing at Earlswood I was no longer feeling optimistic. Dave's best find was a Hobby which I missed after failing to follow his directions, but between us we managed to muster 10 Green Sandpipers, two Grasshopper Warblers, a Willow Warbler, and four Lesser Whitethroats. So pretty much the usual stuff.

Predicting moths is slightly different. The main prerequisite seems to be a warm night, preferably with not much breeze and maybe a little rain. Moonless is best. I picked Thursday night, mainly because Lyn and I were going to the theatre on Saturday and I didn't want to be too knackered. I still expected a big haul of moths, so 174 of 54 species was good, but not that good.

There were no major surprises either. About half the catch were the tiny Yponomeuta micros, and most of those were Bird-cherry Ermines. The rest were mostly familiar ones, and only 11 species were new for the year. There was also one which was new for the garden, but it was a tiny micro (6mm) and also apparently common (just not in our garden). That was Buff Mompha Mompha epilobiella. I should say that it never ceases to amaze me that common moths should wait this long to make their debut on my list. 

Mompha epilobiella

There were still a few noteworthy species. The first Least Yellow Underwing for four years, the first Maple Pug for a similar length of time (I proved myself lamentably inept at identifying it, having thought it was the very similar Slender Pug). An on-line expert came to my aid.

Least Yellow Underwing on the right (the other one is a worn Mint Moth)

Maple Pug on the window

White Satin Moth (first for two years)

Beautiful Plume. I see roughly one per year although they no doubt live in the garden.

Finally, the following evening I was pleased to see another Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on the Valerian, this one avoiding the local sparrows.