Bonza!

108 up! A much hoped-for but hardly expected Merlin flashed through the back of the garden on Sunday - lightning fast and tiny, and only for Simon, alas! But at least we know there's one around - we'll need to keep looking....

Bird list advances

When you've already seen 105 species in/over/from your garden, new additions get pretty hard to come by, but this week, we've had not one but two new ones - both migrant passerines: Spotted Flycatcher and Whitethroat. Also a Tree Pipit flew over to the west about ten days ago.

On another point, "Rameses" the wholly leucistic Egyptian Goose remains safe and well on the fields along Snails Lane - hasn't been picked off by a Fox yet!

Longer still between posts! Eft-swounds....

Yesterday we added a top new species, one which we really hoped for one day, but surely not this soon in the history of the pond? But we weren't totally surprised, as a suspected eft sighting last autumn turned today into a confirmation - a Newt in the pond! Whether it's a Smooth or a Palmate, we're not yet sure.....but no doubt we'll see more if him/her/them in the weeks ahead. Spring is definitely in the air!

More moths and a new Odo

Yet another good moth trap (another Light Crimson Underwing included), plus a new Odo in the form of Ruddy Darter, found during Geoff and Elaine's visit. Also Greenshank at Rockford Lake and the first Wigeon back on Snails Lake.

Ruddy Darter

Nutmeg

Mullein Wave

Mouse Moth

Lychnis

Beautiful Yellow Underwing

Garden Tiger

Small Rivulet

All systems go

A cracking wildlife day in the garden started with our best ever moth trap - 130+ moths of 40+ species, including our very own Light Crimson Underwing (a Red Data Book species in our garden!), Poplar and Sallow Kitten, Lime-speck Pug, Reddish Light Arches and Twin-spotted Wainscot.

Light Crimson Underwing

Supporting the cause....

Lime-speck Pug

Twin-spotted Wainscot

Maiden's Blush

The last act of the day trumped even that, however - a dusk vigil out on the patio, and an unmistakable silhouette flew right over the top of us - NIGHTJAR! Fantastic - 104 for the garden.

More local megas!

Some really top insect action on the Reserve today - Bob called us with news of a LESSER EMPEROR on Ellingham Pound (only poor photos so far), and was able to show us our first ever Light Crimson Underwing in his trap!

More moths....and foxes

More recent moth activity, plus a wacky "pink morph" Meadow Grasshopper....and some inevitable Fox shots!

Yellowtail Moth

Tawny-barred Angle - lifer!

Evergestis pallidata - a Pyralid lifer

And another one bites the dust!

Yet another new species - the fourth for July - finally, a Peregrine flew over this afternoon. And no less than a life Orthoptera tick - Roesel's Bush-cricket (at last!) in the long grass in the field.

Also a couple more recent snaps:

Yet another Reynard special - this one down to eight feet on the patio.

Swallow Prominent - new for The Willows

More newbies - 102 up and mammal photos

Two new bird species this week - both waders. Julia had a pair of Oystercatchers flying over, and today a Greenshank flew high overhead, calling.

But the photo action has been mammalian and nocturnal - Badgers! And Foxes! Just fantastic to enjoy these two flagship mammals up close and regular, right in front of the patio door. Some decent moth traps of late have also turned up some good 'uns, the best of which was probably the very scarce and local Cloaked Carpet.

Buff Arches

Cloaked Carpet

True Lovers' Knot

The Miller

Small Phoenix

And a bonus Frog Orchid, photographed at Martin Down....

...plus a Dark Green Fritillary, also at Martin Down

More remote camera success - and some!

Last night we set the camera trap up for video rather than stills - and got a massive surprise when we checked the files this morning! BADGERS! Not just one, but five of them snuffling about by the feeders - and in one video sequence, there's a Fox in the frame as well! A garden tick - but more than that - just fabulous.