Tuesday 16 January 2024

Foxes and a Bittern

Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
This morning I spotted a pair of foxes basking in the sun below our flat. I saw one Sunday morning at 7am trotting along in the drive but it saw me and turned round.

 During the morning I received a call from Southern Foam to say our sofa and armchair cushions were ready after having new foam fitted. We have been using our balcony chairs for the past week, very confortable but not the same! They've done an excellent job.
 At lunchtime I spotted an Arundel WWT post on FB saying a bittern had been spotted by staff early in the morning so I headed off to Arundel and the Scrape Hide, without much hope. "We've seen it a few times this afternoon" I was told, "the last time 5 minutes before you came in"! Before long there were excited whispers and the bird appeared at the front of a far reed bed, then disappeared and reappeared a couple of times during the next 30 minutes. It was too far way for a good photo with my 300mm lens, but I had some great views of it with the binoculars. A first for me, very satisfied!
Bittern, Botaurus stellaris


Monday 6 November 2023

Arundel Wildfowl and Wetland Trust

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis

On Sunday I visited Arundel Wildfowl and Wetland Trust for the first time in ages. It was good to walk round the various areas again and photograph the birds. A lot of the previously open areas of water are now hidden by the reed growth. I spotted some Magpie Inkcaps beside a path. I had an excellent lunch there - vegi pastie and a cappuccino



Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo

Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus

Great White Egret, Ardea alba

Greylag Geese, Anser anser 

Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus

Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis

Magpie Inkcap, Coprinus picaceus

Magpie Inkcap

Marsh Marigold, Caltha palustris #

Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus

Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta

Red Kite, Milvus milvus

Redshank, Tringa totanus

Scaly-sided Merganser, Mergus squamatus

Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna

Shovelers, Anas clypeata

Spectacled Eider, Somateria fischeri

Stonechat, Saxicola torquata

Friday 15 September 2023

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing

Whenever a Clifden nonpareil moth visits the balcony it's a great mothing night. Wednesday night gave us a perfect specimen which obliged with an open wing pose after some encouragement with a paint brush. This followed the previous night's two Red Underwings. also cross channel experts. Conditions were perfect both nights - the sea was flat calm. It's been a good start to the month with some interesting mothy visitors.

Clifden Nonpareil, Catocala fraxini 


Red Underwing, Catocala nupta 

Red Underwing, Catocala nupta 

Channel Islands Pug, Eupithecia ultimaria 

Clancy's Rustic, Caradrina kadenii

Cypress Pug, Eupithecia phoeniceata 

L-album Wainscot, Mythimna l-album 

Olive-tree Pearl, Palpita vitrealis

possible Angle Shades larva, Phlogophora meticulosa 

Lacewing, Micromus species

Marbled Beauty, Bryophila domestica 

Dusky Thorn, Ennomos fuscantaria 

Garden Carpet, Xanthorhoe fluctuata 

Lesser Yellow Underwing, Noctua comes 

Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Noctua fimbriata 

Oak Hook-tip, Watsonalla binaria

The Vestal, Rhodometra sacraria 

Blair's Mocha, Cyclophora puppillaria 

Brimstone Moth, Opisthograptis luteolata

Burnished Brass, Diachrysia chrysitis 

Large Yellow Underwing, Noctua pronuba 

Marbled Green, Nyctobrya muralis

Orange Swift, Triodia sylvina 

Pale Mottled Willow, Caradrina clavipalpis 

Old Lady Mormo maura