Cullen has become one of our favourite places to visit whilst in Scotland. Today’s walk there was excellent, but sadly we were vividly reminded of the ongoing avian flu epidemic: There were at least half a dozen dead guillemots washed up on the beach, and then we saw one very close in to the shore …
Brenda writes: “Although I’m not running a moth trap moths will still come to light and we had a lovely one on the wall in one of the bedrooms, an orange sallow. There was also an unwanted visitor in the kitchen, a brown house moth, which was evicted! “ New species for August 30th:Moths: orange sallow …
Today we interrupted our decorating and DIY to have a walk on one of the many paths around Bennachie. I didn’t see many birds at all on this walk, but did get close views of a handful of goldcrests. Brenda writes: “I don’t have the moth trap with me but it was still nice to …
Brenda writes: “Today I travelled the length of the country and it’s really interesting to observe what’s flourishing as the train takes me north. First, as I drove to Peterborough, I saw hops festooning a roadside tree. The sight of hops always makes me think of Walthamstow: my walks, when we lived there, took me …
Brenda writes: “Numbers in the trap were further reduced to 95 today and I was beating off some very determined wasps. The trap will be off for a week from tomorrow, so no more easy meals! There was one new moth today, a centre-barred sallow, so very beautiful. As I dotted back and forth between …
Brenda writes: “Last night’s rain cooled things down and the numbers of moths were significantly reduced – although still over 100, further reduced by predation. Moths are always at risk, hence their elaborate camouflage and warning markings but at this time of year the litter of wings and partly-eaten moths is ample evidence that I …
Brenda writes: “With the air a little fresher there were fewer moths in the trap, although overall numbers were still good. Like the other day today’s new moth was not in the trap. As I finished clearing the last of the moths I saw a sharp-angled peacock sitting on the grass. What a beauty.” New …
Nothing to see here today I’m afraid! I was up in Scotland with Chris, mostly starting to decorate one of our bedrooms, and Brenda had no new moths in the trap and no new flowers… I was pleased though, as always, to see our resident tree sparrows here: Lovely little birds that I never tire …
On the second leg of my journey up to Scotland today I picked up my son Chris from Leeds station and we headed north. We had a stop at Musselburgh and went out to view the Firth of Forth from the Musselburgh Lagoons area near the racecourse. I’ve stopped here a couple of times before …
I was heading as far as Leeds today and decided to have two stops – one at Titchwell and one at Frampton Marsh. Titchwell produced nothing unexpected, but there was a nice flock of golden plover. Frampton Marsh was awash with birds, though I didn’t see the juvenile black stork that’s been there recently. The …
