Bird Fair and Waterstock Mill

Day time temperatures hit about 38 C today and the forecast is for night time temperatures to be over 23 C tonight. We've got another day of extreme heat tomorrow and then things begin to cool down on Wednesday. Seems more oppressive inside the house now than it did all day outside, actually quite nice outside, started the day off at Waterstock Mill and then spent the rest of the day in the garden tidying things up. Will do an Old Vic shift summary tomorrow before heading back to London.

Needless to say the weather has been great for moths. Set a couple of traps up at Waterstock Mill last night and got approx 450 individuals of 108 species. Great to see Henry again and be trapping at the Mill again. 

Went to Global Bird Fair on Saturday and invited the family along too for the first in a few 50th birthday celebrations. Great to see Bird Fair resurrected, not so many familiar faces there this time but hopefully things will continue to grow in future. Highlight was my sister Angela, embarrassing me by getting the food hall to sing happy birthday to me. 

Reed Smudge, Orthotelia sparganella. A lifer

Closest I can get to this is Giant Water Veneer, Schoenobius gigantella. The spotted forewing, dark lines and spotted sub-terminal line seem are better fit than the other similar species? Will be a lifer if correct. Update 270722- maybe not, see comments from Dave Wilton here. 

Campion- new for year. Also had the similar looking Lychnis as new for year in last few days at the Old Vic. 

At least seven Olives at Waterstock 

Small Clouded Brindle? Still getting confused by these. See comments. 

Bordered Pug- a new for year

Maybe Pine  or Smoky-barred Marble here and here. See comments 

Maybe a Hawthorn Cosmet 

Three above, still need to identify these. The macro is presumably something obvious but I can't place it. 

Waterstock Mill, the main trap was in the garden lawn next to river, with a small reed bed and surrounded in mixed garden habitats in the vicinity of a very large Oak, so a pretty good mix. We put the Heath Trap up in a more wooded area. 

Getting embarrassed at Bird Fair

Jacob on a Bird Fair tractor and some of the gang (below)