Friday, 15 August 2025
Moth Mig and the first Antigastra catalaunalis
Thursday, 14 August 2025
The week back home
Finally catching up after being away. The last week has been pretty busy, more so as it's school holidays. After getting back home last Wednesday, it was back to work in London on Thursday and then back to London again on Friday to meet up with Lee and Rachel to visit the Dinosaur exhibition at the Lightroom in King's Cross. A walk along the canal and past London Wildlife Trust's Camley Street Natural Park was pleasant.
My sister Chrissy was staying in the caravan last week and then Roger came down for the weekend before guests this week. Roger jammed into a bit of passerine migrant activity with 3 Spotted Flycatcher at Northcommon Farm, a nice fall of Willow Warblers and Wheatears and we also had Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Warblers and Reed Warbler in the Lane. Whitethroats are more or less everywhere at the moment. Had a few Whimbrel going over the garden on the weekend too. Ebird lists from the garden HERE and from Pagham Harbour HERE. Spot Fly and Tree Pipit were Peninsula year ticks- now on 173 for the year.
The moth trap was really quiet despite the current heat wave until a couple of days ago when the migrant activity picked up culminating in the garden's first Ni-moth this morning. Also Rush Veneers, Rusty-dots and Small Mottled Willow. Now on 610 for the garden and 518 for the year so smashing the targets. It's the first time I've had a garden that I've done over 500 in a year.
Sunday, 10 August 2025
France 2025, Days Seven to Nine, The Journey Home
Thursday, 7 August 2025
France 2025, Days Two to Seven, Le Moulin de Pensol
We had a fantastic five night stay at Le Moulin de Pensol HERE which is a magical 20 acre re-wilding project in the Perigold-Limousin Natural Park in south west France run by Nick and Heidi Smith.
Bird wise the highlights included Honey Buzzards, Crested Tits, Firecrest and Golden Oriole from the garden and there were Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike, Black Kites and Black Redstarts in the local area.
Had a mammal lifer, a brief view of a Pine Martin and also a heard only tick in the form of Edible Dormouse which we were reliably informed was the scurrying sound at night in the walls and roofs. Wood mice were running around the garden and we had Red Squirrel locally too.
Also had a couple of herps including Western Whipsnake and Wall Lizard.
The main reason for visiting was for the moths and butterflies and other entomology. My I-nat observations HERE which include about 170 moth species including a few lifers. Photo highlights below.
A fantastic visit.