Oohhh - a new book!!!

Typically quiet trap with just a few familiar moths and 3 NfGs namely Lesser Swallow Prominent, Dusky Thorn and Yellow Shell the latter, both before potting and after release, being determined to decorate the outside of the conservatory - not a good survival strategy. Garden Tiger again in trap but pretty sure it was yesterday's individual so no trap tonight. Now 129 +(1) in 62 days. A Green Woodpecker loped over the garden silently and a Herring Gull was having a spat with an adult Lesser Black-back, making considerably more noise.

Royal Mail tried to deliver a package yesterday which, when collected this morning, was the new Wildguide British Birds  - looking forward to perusing it; first impression was 'My! that's big'!!

QECP for coffee and brunch and a pitch to reception and restaurant staff about placing RSPB pin badge boxes; time will tell.

A tatty Silver-washed Fritillary was near the tractor barn, a few fresh male Brimstones along the dead end road and a male Chalkhill Blue was along the access road. Meliscaeva cinctella (my first new hover for ages and only the second for 2016) was the only notable hover. The lower path was too overgrown to make much progress.

Bit of a shocker

Noticeably darker now the days are getting shorter when checking the trap early on. Despite being still, it was presumably too cool last night as the trap was virtually empty, no micros at all and not a single moth perched up on adjacent brickwork or fence panels. Just four moths in total but to ensure some interest one NfG in the shape of Garden Tiger which made it worthwhile, the 125th species in 61 days. Lack of moths now doesn't bode well for the months ahead. On the bright side a Hedgehog, maybe last month's individual was snuffling about in the undergrowth close to the trap but staying hidden; maybe I should buy it a 'home'! Finally, a Willow Warbler was 'hoo-eeting' from next door's trees and a Bullfinch calling from behind no7.

Later at Pulborough a few hovers including Sericomyia silentis and two Chrysotoxums, festivum and bicinctum plus usual fare. Painted Lady was the best butterfly of the day although the Brown Hairstreaks were performing for others. Birdwise, Peregrine, juvenile Marsh Harrier and single Swift were the best although two Green Sandpipers did provide nice scope views.

Titchfield

Just a brief visit, mostly to discuss pin badge boxes. East side virtually birdless with just a single Buzzard perched distantly. South Scrape had 70+ Black 'wits nervously flashing around with a handful of Dunlin and single Common Sandpiper, presumably disturbed by a perched Sparrowhawk. About 80+ Common Terns, mostly resting or feeding offshore. Finally, a handful of Turnstones flew across the harbour as I drove past. Peacock and Common Darter were the only obvious and photogenic inverts.

Childless Blashford!!

A quiet day with no family activities and a quiet rummage through the trap with Bob and Tracy over a cuppa. Only four or five species which I have not had in the garden yet including this Poplar Hawkmoth and Pale Prominent although Archer's Dart was a new species; I should probably have made more effort to get a decent photo.

Birds were pretty thin with just Buzzard(8), Sparrowhawk and Hobby, probably 30 each of House and Sand Martin, two Swifts which could well be last of the year, 50 Egyptian Geese and 60+ Grey Herons. All Common Terns now gone.
Highlight was probably a single female type Redstart pumping its tail sat atop a fence post.

Wet start

Rather caught out this morning by early drizzle so a few slightly damp egg boxes in the trap. Three new micros and two macros, Knot Grass(3) and a single rather worn Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. Sycamore was probably the smartest specimen, the bulk of the catch being a variety of Rustic/Uncertain/Common Rustic.
The conservatory is becoming a bit of a death-trap for insects with Large and Small White butterflies, Meadow Brown and Gatekeepers regularly bumbling around and falling foul of spiders and their webs, along with numerous flies, the odd hover and a sizeable and uncatchable cricket today.

Little flurry of NFGs

Again few moths but six NFGs out of sixteen species and twenty one individuals wasn't too bad. A big shape flashed out of the trap and between my legs but luckily pitched up on a fence panel, a surprising Red Underwing. It was far too hyper to sit for a photo and when released hammered off high towards the big trees on the A3. Garden list now on 121. A Bullfinch was  calling distantly but very quiet otherwise.

Off to the bioblitz shortly.

A nice black Adder sunning, plenty of Blue-tailed Damsels, one or two Southern Hawkers and an Emperor. Two Common Blue were the best butterflies. Bird wise four Buzzards and a few overflying Med Gulls.

The late evening bat walk was well attended and with plenty of detectirs to go round. Very close encounters with pipistrelles near the ponds but no other species. Back tomorrow morning to see which moths were caught, my trap being virtually empty, only four macros and no NfGs this time, nor photos.

Saturday morning was almost too hot for insects with the few moths in the trap at Hazleton all very fired up. Nothing particularly interesting surprisingly.
A few more hovers and the only Small Heath of the morning.

Agapeta zoegana

Chrysotoxum bicinctum

Southern Hawker

No trapping but still moths

Driving through Midhurst a couple of Buzzards soaring overhead plus a single Swift. At Pulborough a few more hoverflies despite the strong wind with Platycheirus rosarum being a year tick and this Sercomyia silentis the best looking.

Just distant Red Kite and five Buzzards and two Green Sandpipers, one just a dot in Carey's scope. No snakes today but two moths, Antler Moth on ragwort which I don't recall seeing before and a Red Underwing on the totem thanks to Anna.
Much quieter on the dragonfly front with a male Emperor and Brown Hawker disputing use of reception pond and just a single Southern Hawker on Black Pond. Both the Antler moth and Musca autumnalis showing how important ragwort is.