Sunday 9 March 2014

Sunny spring weekend

 Male Brimstone on Colt's Foot- 4+ Brimstones around this weekend
 Comma on Colt's Foot- Colt's Foot an important early source of nectar- 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and 4 Brimstone today- the first 'butterfly weekend' of the year
 Common Buzzard- been up to 10 in the week- in recent years an early spring Buzzard 'passage' is typical. The passage is presumably birds exploring for breeding territories or being pushed out of establishing territories? Also perhaps some are true migrants coming from further south heading north?
 The first Ringed Plover of the year. Also a flock of 14 Ruff went through yesterday and the first Yellowhammer of the year flew over this morning. Other migrants over weekend included a first-summer male Wigeon, a Pintail, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 4 Water Pipit (up from 2), 15+ Redwing, a Blackcap singing on the bridge and 2-3 Common Chiffchaff singing. Still waiting for the first 'African migrant'.
 2 pairs of Shelduck are on site. Lapwing also taking up territories on 100 acre and South east Corner
 Early spring view of 'the obs'. Charlock flowering in foreground and Cherry Plum in blossom in background
 Tree Bumblebee- on the obs window sill this morning. 10+ bumblebees around today.
Met up with Roger Booth this morning (aka Beetlejuice) and he gave me his id results from some beetles that we caught in the light traps last year. Roger works at the Natural History Museum as a world beetle expert- he even has beetles named after him. The beetle second from bottom on right is a rare one apparantely. Great stuff and beautiful work.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Must be good knowing a beetle expert, damned if I can tell what half the little bugs that turn up in my moth trap are :)

Peter Alfrey said...

It is well handy :-)