Stubcroft Farm

Spent the last few days at Stubcroft Farm with the family, on the Selsey Peninsula. Despite being within a few miles of both Medmerry and Pagham Harbour I didn't manage to get out birding  which was a shame as there was Squacco Heron,  Temminck's Stint, Glossy Ibis and Pied Flycatcher in the area. On the bird front the best I could muster up was Green Sandpiper , Sandwich Tern and Yellowhammers over the camp site and lots of Mediterranean Gulls at West Wittering/East Head.  We visited Arundel WWT, there was a flock of 17 Cattle Egret from the Ramsar Hide and quite a few Kingfishers darting around. 

I did manage to get the moth trap out in the Farm House garden, thanks to Simon and Michaela.  40 species in the trap including a few migrant Rush Veneers, Diamond-backs, European Corn Borers, Rusty-dot Pearls and Silver Y. 

Hopefully I can get back down there later in the autumn to do some more trapping and birding. Will have to be without the family unfortunately as it is now literally impossible to do anything remotely focused with both a 5 year old and a 7 month old boy. Fun times though, plenty of Monopoly, BBQs, Beach time, Bognor arcade, Fun fair, far too much food and games. Visiting Arundel WWT is a good family day out too with plenty of stuff for the kids to do.   

Cattle Egrets at Arundel (above and below)

Mandarin in flight- a distinctive and unique jizz

Harlequin duck in the collection at Arundel WWT  (without clipped primaries) - they've got a large aviary in there now with free flying birds including Redshanks and Avocets and a range of wildfowl. Also Dalmatian Pelicans are now the star attraction. 

Peacock moth at Stubcroft 

I presume this is a Small White Wave- nope it's a Satin Wave, even better, a lifer. One day I'll get these the right way round see here

Black-headed (above) and Ox-tongue Conch (below) at Stubcroft 

and for comparison a White-bodied Conch back at the Old Vic