Tuesday 5 May 2020

Old Vicarage- Lockdown continues

Like half the world we are still trying to amuse ourselves during lockdown so its been more wildlife stuff around the garden, food growing, noc-migging, photography, vis-missing and a few daily walks- mainly to the airfield but also to Bernwood Forest yesterday (singing Willow Warbler and Cuckoo). 

Here's a few highlight in pics. The biggest surprise was a briefly singing Reed Warbler in the front garden. 

BIRDS


 The local Red Kites are always a good photography subject 
 Northern Wheatear (presumed nominate) on Airfield today again (anyone know what the strange looking plant is in background?) 
 Corn Bunting on the airfield 
 The best pic I could get of the Airfield Grey Partridge 
 Had seven Common Terns go over the airfield this morning 
Summer male Pied Wagtail 

MAMMALS

 Fallow Deer in Bernwood Forest
 Brown Hare on the Airfield- quite a few up there. Also had Fox on the camera trap. 

MOTHS
 Syndemis musculana- a new one for the Old Vic
 Had a couple of Poplar Hawk-moths
 I went for Small Square-spot on this 
 Seraphims (above and below) showing variation 

 Pinion-spotted Pug again! I had one last month which was only one of six records in the UK (See Birguides article HERE). Maybe the same individual? 

NOC-MIG
The noc-mig highlights include Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper and Lesser Whitethroat migrating over at night. 

 Oystercatcher 

 Common Sandpiper 

Lesser Whitethroat 
Sound files HERE

WILDLIFE/FOOD GARDENING
Recent additions include Sweetcorn going into the beds 


5 comments:

Steve Gale said...

Peter, the plant is an emerging species of Horsetail - can’t be any more specific I’m afraid.

Phil Bishop said...

The plant appears to be a type of Horsetail

mikenetherwood said...

Plant looks like Horsetail in bud

Gavin Haig said...

The plant in your Wheatear photo is horsetail sp, probably field horsetail. Poisonous to livestock.

Peter Alfrey said...

Thanks all! Sorry for delay in replying, just noticed I had put comments moderator on.