Moths, at last

Lade - 0630hrs - cool, cloudy, nw 2 - Following an overcast, still night the moth trap delivered its first 100 plus catch of the year (mostly Tawny Shears and Light Feathered Rustics) with ten species, of which two were new for the season: Spectacle and Yellow Belle.
Nothing much happening over the pits apart from a singing migrant Blackcap, plus a Spotted Flycatcher (can`t have Portland hogging them all..) this afternoon.

                                Spectacle

                                Yellow Belle

Dengemarsh - 1115hrs - Had a run out with the Joker this morning. We set up camp on the ramp overlooking Hooker`s where at least 6 Med Gulls were hawking flying insects amongst large numbers of Black-headed Gulls, Swifts and several Hobbies. Plenty of activity in the reedbed with Reed Warblers feeding young, plus Reed Bunting, Beardies and Sedge Warblers; also calling Lesser Whitethroat, Long-tailed Tit and Cetti`s Warbler. A pair of Great Crested Grebes showed off three small chicks and 2 Ravens flew high overhead. Marsh Harriers came and went and when SB joined us 4 Blackwits flew over from the hayfields and headed inland.
We paused at the south end of ARC where 2 drake Teal and a single drake Garganey were of note along with a Little Egret, a few Bhgulls, Lapwings and Oystercatchers.