A Wonderful Fool's Spring Day

The weather was lovely today, even more so as the last couple of months have been non-stop grey and rain. The wind was a light southerly and temperatures were around 15 C and it was sunny all day. 

I was at the Bill at dawn in order to make the most of the day. There was a bit on the move HERE with highlights including a nice first-winter Little Gull, a flock of 15 Shoveler moving east, 6 Red-throated Divers , 5 Great Northern Diver, Kittiwake, a few Common Scoters and a few Brents. Also Black-headed Gulls were on the move with 88 moving east with a few Med Gulls.

I had to get back to the Lodge for 9am for a planned work day in the garden with Matt and Holly. We did a bit of a Spring clear out with a visit to the recycling centre and drew up the Spring garden plan. Was keeping my eyes out while working- highlight was a Red Kite. This morning while doing the moths I had Coot and Moorhen calling and last night a Wigeon flew over calling. Checklist from the garden today HERE.

After Matt left I went over to Church Norton to make the most of the fine weather. Highlight was catching up with the Spoonbill (albiet distant views as it flew towards Chichester cathedral) which was found earlier in the day and there were a few Siskins in the Severals alders and a nice Greenshank in the harbour. Checklist HERE. 

Red Kite and Spoonbill were local year ticks so now on 125 for the year (the community total is 147- another record for the Peninsula). 

Despite the amazing weather the moth trap was quiet (too clear and humid) but there were a few day flying insects including Bumblebees and a Peacock butterfly.

Glad to make the most of the glimpse of Spring as soon the rain is starting again and no doubt we still have a bit of winter sting to endure yet before Spring proper. 

Greenshank

Adult Red Kite over the garden

Siskin

Adult Med nearly in summer plumage- more birds were calling today too

Shovelers on the move- the first migrating ducks I've seen this Spring

Black-headed and Med Gulls on the move 

Neat Cosmet, Mompha divisella. I caught this dusking yesterday evening. A site first if confirmed by gen dent. Only one previous confirmed Sussex record according to the Sussex Moth Group website. 

Dingy Flat-body, Depressaria daucella- nearly double figures yesterday evening