It was a busy week with work catching up after last week away. I managed to get out in the field today for a few hours and checked out East side and North Wall. 60 species in 2.5 hours the highlights being finally catching up with Spotted Redshank this year, an influx of Common Snipe (about 55 in the salt marsh) and the Long-eared Owls were still present. The most noteable thing was the reduction in wintering birds with only 300 Brents, a few Lapwings and I didn't see a single Golden Plover. Ebird list HERE .
The days have been pleasant and sunny with a high pressure in place but it does mean cold nights this time of year so still no uptick in the moths here (seems like a missed the first wave when away last week). I had Dotted Border and Common Flatbody attracted to the garden office lights but haven't bothered putting the moth trap out as getting to nearly zero during the night.
The first Wheatear arrived at Portland on Wednesday and there have been a few other summer migrants elsewhere. The only sign of that sort of thing round here was a Chiffchaff in the garden in the week. A garden watch on on 26th was the most interesting day this year with 43 species including Shelduck flying round. Ebird list HERE.
With March approaching there is a lot to do on the next stages of the wildlife garden plant up. Matt and I planted up the fruit beds this week (with strawberries, redcurrants and raspberries) and we've also planted some more trees including a dwarf Willow and a Magnolia in the front garden, a Liquidamber and Purple Plum in the back garden and Cherry and Cotoneaster in the visitor's garden. The sweetcorn has been seeded in the propogator and I'm waiting for a big delivery of compost on Monday to get the potatoes in and compost up the mixed hedge that we planted in the winter. Kyle got us 18 duck eggs today so they are now in the incubator so hoping Jimmy gets the animal fencing done in the next 28 days before they hatch.
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