Moths, Rails & Butterfly

A late start due to early morning rain gave us a chance to check out my moth trap considering recent night temperatures have been favourable to these nocturnal delights.  Chestnut, Common Quaker and Pale Brindle Beauty present.

By the time we walked 200 yards along farborough bank we had seen the Great-northern Diver, Long-tailed Duck, Smew and Snipe so the rest of our walk to toft shallows was uneventful due to toft bay being full of bank fishermen and fishing boats.

Luckily both Water Rails performed well in toft shallows and a Chiffchaff present. On my return to the visitor centre the sun brought out 2 Raven, 3 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk and a Grey Wagtail.

another cracking shot of the Water Rail by Bob Hazell
 

Gardening mid-afternoon and a Red Kite flew over heading north east mobbed by the local Jackdaws and my first butterfly of the year - Small tortoiseshell