23rd February - 3rd April 2019

Well not done any blogging for a while but still getting out & about locally & as JG asked nicely i'll start posting again..... With an unexpected warm spell in late Feb we recorded the 1st Butterfly in the garden on the 24th along with 3 species of Bee & 2 species of Hoverfly on the 23rd

Red Admiral

Honey Bee mimic (Eristalis Tenax)

Honey Bee

Eristalis Tenax

Tree Bumblebee

My 1st migrants of the year were Sand Martin & Chiffchaff at Coton Lakes on 18th March a trip just over the border into Staffs for the Alvecote Pools Ferruginous Duck on Pretty Pigs pool on 24th March. Sadly always distant & into the sun.

I then spent a cpl hrs watching Bee-fly & Clark's Mining Bees in the nearby wood.

Last cpl of days looking for migrants with 4+ Swallow at Shustoke res 31/3/19 Little Ringed Plover x2 at Middleton 1/4/19 House Martin 2/4/19 at Shustoke res & Willow Warbler at Coton Lakes 2/4/19.

Not done any Moth traps this year so far with work & low overnight temps but found this above the front door this afternoon 3/4/19 a new moth for myself.

Shoulder Stripe

Just to break it up a little a confiding Nuthatch from Middleton Lakes in March.

2018

Not really done a great deal of birding over the last 7 months with adopting a rescue Bulldog & concentrating on turning the garden into a proper wildlife garden, only really been out with the camera a handful of times with a few visits to Hams Hall outflow in late winter for my annual fix of Siberian Chiffchaffs  a cracking Whinchat on 15th April at Whittleford Park & Ladywalk in early June for the Spoonbill.

Spent more time Moth trapping in the garden with some cracking new moths & some good local records.........

Clouded-bordered Brindle

Clouded Brindle

May Highflyer

Satelite

Purple Thorn

Early Thorn

September Thorn

Dusky Thorn

Lime Hawkmoth

 Chocolate-tip

 Alder Kitten

 White Ermine

Scalloped Hook-tip

 Pale Tussock

 Chocolate-tip

 Scorched Wing

Gold Spot

 Orange Footman

Large Twin-spot Carpet

 Leopard Moth

Elephant Hawkmoth

Grey Shoulder-knot

 Peach Blossum

Small Ranunculus

 White Satin

 Scarce Silver-lines

Blackneck

 Yellow-tail

 Coronet

Miller

Black Arches

 Obscure Wainscot

Clouded Magpie

Tawny Pinion

 Waved Umber

and finally Buster our rescue British Bulldog that we adopted in January............