The last four days have been reasonably productive without ever warranting a post of their own. I suppose I should tell the story in chronological order, so let's start with Thursday.
Earlswood was the destination, and things started really well as I spotted a Wheatear, my third this year, in a horse paddock off Springbrook Lane. Unfortunately the bird saw me first, so I only really had flight views as it flew over my head to pause briefly in the top of an oak before disappearing never to be seen again. After that the morning settled down, and the highlights were photographing a Common Sandpiper on the stoney island which is now visible at the edge of Engine Pool, and estimating/counting at least 96 Sand Martins accompanied by only a handful of Swallows and House Martins.
On Saturday, after emptying my moth trap (just six moths of five species in the end), I found I had time to make a quick trip to the patch. I'll come back to the mothing later.
Morton Bagot looked splendid in the sunshine all weekend, and I was able to hear my first Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat of the year on that first visit. The highlight for me though was hearing the singing Water Rail again (this time in the flesh) although there was no realistic chance of actually seeing it. What I didn't realise until today was that the song was being uttered by the female bird. I would like to think that a male is also present, and if left undisturbed they may successfully breed.
The main surprise was the reappearance of Janet's Mute Swan, a second calendar year bird which looks remarkably similar to the one which flew over in January.
This morning I was joined by Andy Gooding and Dave. Andy had already established that there were three Grasshopper Warblers singing, and we set out to relocate them. We also heard three Lesser Whitethroats and probably double-figures of Whitethroats. The Cetti's Warbler which I'd heard quite well on Saturday was now only singing distantly from the back of the flash field. Avocets had dropped from four to two, and Teal to five. A single Green Sandpiper was visible on the back flash both days. The big frustration was when Dave thought he heard a Yellow Wagtail call, which Andy and I missed. It was filed under 'maybe". Hearing birds was generally a lot easier than seeing them, but at the end of the morning I spotted the first House Martin here this year, and a male Pied Wagtail took pity and posed for the camera.
We were more successful with insects. At least six butterfly species were seen including Holly Blues and Orange-tips. We also spotted a nice male Large Red Damselfly to kick off the odonata season. It was probably my earliest ever, but I don't have very good records to fall back on.
Going back to the garden moth trapping on Friday night, although a Streamer seen on the side of the trap late in the evening was absent by morning, a small moth on the fence turned out to be my first ever Currant Pug.
I had lazily dismissed it as the more likely Brindled Pug, but when I actually looked at it properly the identification was hastily corrected. Currant Pugs are not usually on the wing until May or June, so this garden first was especially unexpected.
I also had a near calamity when carrying a cardboard box containing egg boxes with moths down the side of the house. I keep them in the shade of the front porch before releasing them the following evening. Somehow, by pure good fortune, I stepped over an unseen Hedgehog which had understandably rolled into a ball when it saw me coming.
Ten minutes later it was legging it through the front gate.
The following evening I heard grunting noises coming from the end of the back garden so I grabbed my thermal imager and discovered the presence of two Hedgehogs sounding each other out.
I'm hoping they will stay and control our slugs and snails.
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