The weather has been poor for moths so far this year and didn't look too good for Tuesday with very chilly nightime temperatures down to 6 C or less and continuing for a few days. I'd rather hoped to get a message or email, saying the event was cancelled!
Arriving a little too early saw a trip to the Co-op where a couple of House Martins were overhead, followed by a quick coffee in Partners.
There was a bit of a queue to get in but eventually about 10-12 of us convened in the comfort of the first hide with Suzi et al where some moths had been potted earlier and some left in the UV Robinson.
In the end about 30/15 was better than expected and include some nice favourites - Poplar Hawkmoth, Treble Lines, Buff-tip, Pale Tussock and, best of all, Chocolate Tip a moth I've never caught and one I've seen on few occasions.
Wind and rain put paid to much invert searching and birdlife was pretty thin - just the male Peregrine cruising along the hanger whilst calling and a female Pochard with just one very tiny and vulnerable looking duckling.
Plenty of Sand Martin activity with all birds flushed skyward by a cruising Sparrowhawk plus a couple or more audible-only Swifts.
No Cattle Egrets, GWE nor harriers today.
Above, a bycatch in the trap was this Cockchafer.
Plenty of these Woundwort Shieldbugs, first Common Spotted Orchid and first Tropidia scita (Tooth-thighed Hoverfly), another Helina interpuncta according to ObsID, a Red Mason Bee, and finally an Alder Fly (Sialis spp).
