Lade-in-the-mist

Lade - 0830hrs - low cloud, drizzle, mist, ludicrously mild - In my haste to empty the garden moth trap the other morning it would appear that (after a suggestion from Mrs Moth to re-visit its identity) the late, mankey Mouse Moth may well had been a Porter`s Rustic, after consulting Manley, but as I didn`t take a pic I shall never know. That`ll teach me to be hasty in future, but looking at how mild its going to be this coming week I`ve decided to carry on trapping into November.
We trudged out across the shingle this morning in a thick mist and fine drizzle which gave an ethereal feel to the local patch, although Barney wasn't thinking that as he hates the wet. The lakes were swathed in a dense fog, so there could`ve been any number of rare ducks out there... Ok, dream on, I know, but there were a few Pochards about, which have been noticeable by their absence of late. With not a breath of wind we checked the willow swamp for a late crippler, but there was just the usual scattering of Robins, Chiffs, crests and tits, plus vocal Marsh Frogs, Water Rails and Cetti`s Warblers. A Kingfisher called as it crossed north lake unseen and a Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the firs by the camp. On the walk back across the shingle ridges three Stonechats and a single Ring Ouzel were the only birds of note.
The rain persisted throughout the day, heavy at times, and by 4pm it was almost dark.