Could Sunday be a precursor?

Hopefully this Wednesday we will be trapping at work again, and by the looks of the weather it seems like the next few nights are going to be similar. So I put the trap out with great expectations. It certainly had that feel about it - calm, warmish, patchy cloudy. I even got that frisson of a hope that the Elephants might be on the charge, but I was let down on that one.

Lobesia littoralis

Peppered Moth

The rest of the trap contents however, were pretty good with 6 new for years and the one right awaiting confirmation (EDIT: it has been confirmed that this is Lobesia littoralis, my 2nd record for the garden!). Out of the usual array of early summer visitors the stand out inhabitants of the trap this morning were a Peppered Moth, 2 x Small Dusty Waves, Treble-bar, the first Willow Beauty of the year.

Broom Moth

Marbled Minor agg

Flax Tortrix

Celypha striana

This beautifully subtly marked Broom Moth (my 2nd ever!) plus Flax Tortrix, Celypha striana, and a pale version of the Clouded-bordered Brindle. There was also some variety to the Marbled Minor agg. which got me excited but I think they're all just Marbled Minor, and I won't get them chopped up anyway so that's what they go down on the list as!

Brimstone

Red-barred Tortrix

Common Swift

Juxta-birding

A stunning weekend of beautiful sunshine yet annoyingly cold nights has produced several 'firsts'. My first Brimstone butterflies were seen in someone's front garden down my road whilst he sat watching TV completely oblivious to two superb butter-yellow males dancing under his window. My first wasp in the kitchen, not quite as pleasant as the Brimstone's but a sure sign of warmer times ahead. Our first trip to the park to play footie and throw the frisbee!

So it was quite an odd feeling this morning when, after dropping Jordan off at school, I popped in to Wilne Lane, and whilst listening to the Skylarks belting out their melancholy tunes and feeling the sun on the back of my neck I stood by the river watching my first Whooper Swan of the year. Lovely bird, no doubt. But not one I usually associate with blazing sun, and the signs of Spring all around me.

Also on the river were a pair of Goosander who, in typical style, only let me get to a certain distance before belting off down stream. Here they are zipping past me! Just left of the Swan (Mute not Whooper).

Also heard a Green Woodpecker, but it wouldn't be seen. I think I'm never going to see one this year (cue the Green Woodpecker population to go into hiding now).

Bird Yearlist = 124