The first frost of winter

Gone pishin'...

A local walk with some warmth still in the sun and virtually no wind found a few insects still on the wing. Several quite fresh Speckled Woods, quite a few Yellow Dung Flies and soldierflies which I assume were Sargus bipunctatus but no late Common Darters nor Red Admirals.

Birdwise a birdtrack list of 34 species in 30 minutes or so saw several species missing- Great Tit, Pied Wagtail and Dunnock - but made up for by the very noisy Water Rail, the first Cettis for a while and, best of all, a Firecrest along 'butterfly alley', my first ever on Portsea Island. Luckily, it came out of thick scrub, enticed by my pishing and gave good views.

Raptors have been a bit thin but a Common Buzzard went west and then came back eastwards but much lower annoying all the gulls and feral doves.

A nice 'first'....

 

This Death's-head Hawkmoth caterpillar was picked up by Ed, brought on over 7 weeks or thereabouts, and then displayed for one day in a container on the TH reception desk - a first for me and, I guess, a few others.

A Pulborough day with 8 raptor species - no eagles but Merlin and a late(ish) Hobby.

At Titchfield a flyover Woodlark and the three Ibises which arrived from the north and conveniently perched up in the dead tree adjacent to the river nicely coloured by strong sunny conditions.

This Green Shieldbug (below) , three Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, a roosting Little Egret and ones and two of Chiffchaffs still - all local.