Old Vicarage- Winter lockdown

Hopefully should be a busy winter here at the Old Vicarage. Bryan (Holly's dad) is getting a conversion done on the Coach House and at the same time the garden area is being extended and also got some plans to plant up some pollinator borders. Should keep us busy through lockdown as can't get much food growing done this time of year (but going to try some broad beans) so mainly planting and landscaping time. 

Had the noc-mig gear out over last few nights (calm evenings have been a bit rare this autumn)- been good numbers of Redwings and also a few migrants including Teal, Coot and a garden first - Snipe. Snipe recording below and a few recordings HERE (interesting comparison of two redwing NFCs- showing differences in sonogram signatures.)

The moth trapping has been pretty good for this time of year. The small flush of migrants continue over the last couple of nights with up to 4 Silver Y, single Rusty-Dot Pearls and Turnip. Also a late Setaceous Hebrew Character (which could be a migrant too). Local fair include up to five Feathered Thorns, Chestnuts, Cypress and Red-Green Carpets, Sprawlers, Blair's Shoulder Knots, Satellite and December moth etc.  

Goodbye to the old shed (above)- opens the space right up (below)

Watch this space for the garden and food growing extension

Rusty Dot Pearl- still can't move up the migrant league from Silver Y, Rusty Dot Pearl, Turnips, Angle Shades etc. Would be nice to get a next level migrant such Olive-tree Pearl, Dark Sword Grass, Gem or up to first division with a Radford's Flame Shoulder  - all these migrants are currently influxing into the south coast with some inland records including a Radford's in Herts. 

The Silver-Y specimens have all been pristine - the winds are coming up from the Canaries, Iberia and North Africa but not sure how far these are travelling from but can't be very old as the condition is so fresh. 

Wakely's Dowd

Cypress Carpet- quite good for these parts 

Autumn challenge selection (above and below)- not quite sure how many species here, is this Chestnut (above) and Brick and Dark Chestnut below or all Chestnuts!? 

Snipe over the Old Vicarage, nocturnal bird