Six more moth 'year-ticks'.

Sunday 28th May 2023.

A Common Buzzard soaring over the woods over Center Parcs. However, it was always harassed by the local Carrion Crows.

Yes, it was a very relaxing day yesterday, with a nice walk through the Forest to get from one end of the complex at Center Parcs to the other and several pints by the Sports Bar overlooking the large lake there. We finished the day with a BBQ on the patio and all the time throughout the day, I was keeping an eye out on the local wildlife. Common Buzzards circled over the area and Siskins flew back and forth, calling overhead while I was enjoying a cold pint of Atlantic Pale Ale. Now that's what I call ‘chilled-out birding’!

A Knot Grass moth was new for the year.

Cuckoo Flower growing by our Chalet.

I was up again early this morning, but still had a bit of a lay-in and eventually, I bleary-eyed got out of bed and went off to check on the moth box again. A further six ‘new for the year moths’ were present in and around the moth box, much to my delight, which included a few I have not seen for a few years. A Little Thorn moth was resting inside the box, a species I have only ever seen once and that was many years ago. Other nice moths included a Scalloped Hook-tip and a Waved Umber (one of my favourite moths).

Above, both Green Carpet and below, a Waved Umber, were new for the year.

Last night, before going to bed, I had a quick look at the moth box and found a Hornet Wasp struggling to free itself from some spider web. Tempted to help free the insect, I knew it was going to free itself armed with its huge jaws and sure enough, there was no sign of it this morning. Also around the egg trays, were at least four large Caddis Flies; however, to ID them is not very easy as a lot of the species are very similar and require dissection.

Above, Scalloped Hook-tip moth and below, Little Thorn, were also both new for the year.

The moths present this morning included the following:

• 1 Waved Umber (NFY)
• 1 Green Carpet (NFY)
• 1 Little Thorn (NFY)
• 1 Treble Lines (NFY)
• 1 Scalloped Hook-tip (NFY)
• 1 Knot Grass (NFY)
• 4 Spruce Carpet
• 2 Red Twin-spot Carpet
• 1 Least Black Arches
• 1 Dwarf Pug
• 1 Scoparia ambigualis
• 2 Tawny-barred Angle 
• 2 Grey Pine Carpet

This Jay came down several times to pick off a peanut or two.

While writing this up, the peanuts put out for the birds and Squirrels this morning have brought in a variety of wildlife including two Squirrels, a Jay, Coal Tit, Robin and a Blackbird.