Duty, BBQ and moths

A late start at PB today with the evening's BBQ in mind. A fairly slow meander around produced little although Small Skippers and Brown Hawkers were new for the year and the very dainty hover Bacchia elongata was nice to see although virtually impossible to photograph. Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers were still singing and the recently regular Marsh Harrier was seen by others. The North Brooks are drying fast; Redshank, Common and Green Sandpipers and a couple of LRPs. Back at base caught up briefly with Pete Hughes although distracted by the bee man trying to discourage a good number from entering the building around the education area and office.

Pete W and I had a cuppa on the tea terrace, made by Lucy (and thank you too!!),  had a Sparrowhawk zip through flushing all the doves and starlings and photographed this robberfly, Machimus atricapillus.

We took a stroll to Hail's View where an incredibly confiding Roe Deer buck watched us go by. On return it was still there and I assumed it was injured but it did eventually stand and bound off a little; it seemed to move OK, wasn't lame or carrying any obvious injury. Sadly the camera was in the car!!

Some moths and cold drinks kept us entertained prior to a short and informative briefing; if only everyone who visited the reserve could understand how much goes on behind the scenes - truly amazing.

As always the BBQ went well, the food was really nice and it was good to catch up with  other volunteers, some I hadn't seen since the last BBQ!!

It was forecast overcast, mild, dry and windless so I put the moth trap out.
With about eighteen street lights in direct sight of the garden I'm amazed it catches anything. Up early to check, and again very little, but another Elephant Hawk Moth and first Leopard Moth were good although outclassed by this super Privet Hawkmoth.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew over silently whilst having a post-trap cuppa and I could hear a Grey Heron calling but probably best of all was a Hedgehog, the first (live or dead) I've seen in ages. Hopefully it will return and thin out the slugs and snails.