Arundel Wildfowl and Wetland Trust

Canada Goose, Branta canadensis

to view a gallery with more photos, click here

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

Clifden Nonpareil aka Blue Underwing

to view a gallery with more species, click here

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 

Large Skipper, Ochlodes sylvanus

Yesterday afternoon I visited Fairmile Bottom and Houghton Forest near Arundel and was rewarded with plenty of flower and insect photo opportunities. As usual Fairmile had lots of Marbled Whites but in the heat they never stopped long enough for a photo.

I didn't get out in May as I was hospitalized at the end of April with a bad UTI and subsequent sepsis. I came out after 5 days over a stone lighter and burdened with a catheter 😞. My home nurse (Sue) fed me well and I'm back to a sensible weight  and am building my back muscles up again - lying down and sitting for a month meant my back ached after walking for a couple of hours. I have to thank the NHS for excellent treatment and swiftly arranged day surgery to remove a bladder stone.

Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Pyramidal Orchid, Anacamptis pyramidalis

Red Piercer, Lathronympha strigana

Common Spotted-orchid, Dactylorhiza fuchsii 

Common Flower Bug, Anthocoris nemorum 

Hairy St John's-wort, Hypericum hirsutum 

Hook-streak Grass-veneer, Crambus lathoniellus 

Wild rose, Rosa species 

Common Sweep larval case, Psyche casta

Agrimony, Agrimonia eupatoria 

Silver-washed Fritillary male, Argynnis paphia 

Hedge Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica 

Burnet moth pupa

Hedge Bindweed, Calystegia sepium

Silver Y, Autographa gamma

Red Admiral, Vanessa atalanta

Satin Grass-veneer, Crambus perlella f. warringtonellus