Hobby, House Martins and Firehorn

A good arrival of hirundine at the pond with House Martin (800) feeding along with 300 Swallow and 100 Sand Martin though numbers started to dwindle by mid-morning attracting the attention of an adult Hobby which made a number of attacks over the fishing pontoons just as we set out to walk to toft shallows. Common Scoter and Black-necked Grebe still present while the blustery south then south west wind pushed the Meadow Pipits and wagtails into the cattle fields. At least 6 Yellow Wagtail found. Only a single Pochard amongst good numbers of Tufted Duck including the Spanish nasal ringed bird here for its third winter. Disappointingly the only other birds of note were 4 Chiffchaff in toft shallows and adult and third year Yellow-legged Gull. Bob photographed a Shaggy Ink-cap and both Common Darter and Migrant Hawker were on the wing in sheltered areas.

Not surprisingly moths have been thin on the ground though while photographing a Rosy Rustic back at home Bob managed to have a Firehorn Leaf Mine (Phyllonorycter leucographella) land on his camera which was not in my trap. Although pretty common in gardens around here these days since its first discovery in Essex in 1989 it is surprising that something as small (8mm wing span) and delicate could have survived the recent weather onslaught we experienced over the last few days.

Shaggy Ink Cap

Firehorn Leaf Mine