The run-up to this morning's birding had been somewhat inauspicious, visits to Mappleborough Green and Earlswood merely confirming the presence of a Little Ringed Plover at the former, and lots of hirundines at the latter. There was however a significant moth in my garden trap on Saturday morning, which I'll come to later.
So this morning, in the teeth of a fresh south-westerly, I met Dave at Morton Bagot with relatively little optimism. Oh ye of little faith.
We started reasonably well, soon hearing our first Whitethroat of what turned out to be a tally of five. A couple showed quite well but not for long enough for my camera to be deployed. Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were also evident, and I logged eleven of the former and five of the latter. A Peregrine was seen a couple of times.
The first good bird of the day was seen as a result of a bit of fieldcraft when we realised that the more sheltered side of the hedges might be better. Thus, along the footpath down from the church I caught sight of a male Redstart, a bird to warm the cockles of any heart.
Experience told us that attempting to approach the bird would be likely to lead to disappointment, so I settled for a record shot.
On the other side of the hedge lay the flash field, and it was populated by a remarkable number of Brown Hares. At least eight were charging around the field, tempting me to get the camera out once more.
The flash pools hosted at least seven Avocets but only four Teal. I'm intending to re-enter the West Midlands spring alldayer at Morton Bagot at the beginning of May this year, and as usual birds such as Teal are starting to disappear. The Coot was also nowhere to be seen.
Moving down the Morton Brook we could hear nothing of the Cetti's Warbler (perhaps also gone) but a scan of the ploughed strip on the other side of the stream produced a single male Wheatear, too distant for a photo.
Neither Redstart nor Wheatear were found at Morton Bagot last year.
Dave had to depart early, so I was left to spend a little time in Stapenhill Wood where a Great Spotted Woodpecker showed well.
News of a Spotted Crake at Upton Warren might have of upset the balance, but I envisaged a long wait in a cramped hide (or more likely outside it queuing to get in) so I wasn't tempted.
Instead my final noteworthy sighting as I was preparing to leave was a party of three Little Egrets which flew in and landed at Clowse Farm.
Anyway, back to the moth. With only eight moths in the trap it could have been a forgettable experience, but the eighth moth was something a bit special. The Silver Cloud is described as a Nationally scarce category A species. Normally this would mean there would be no chance of ever catching one, but the reason for its status is its limited distribution. Almost the entire British population is confined to the lower Severn/Avon valleys in Gloucestershire/Worcestershire and to some extent south Warwickshire, so I've always thought I had a slight chance of seeing one.
OK I admit they are not much to look at, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I was delighted to see it. A great start to the 2026 moth season.
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