Redshank #2

Easy to gloss over things that are already on the list but the Redshank that Richard Thewlis found on the flood this lunchtime was only the second in 2011 (and was only my second ever at The Lakes - and my first 'on the deck' - when I wandered down to have a look this evening). Oystercatcher numbers are now up to 6 adults with (at least) 2 chicks, and Egyptian Geese are now into double figures, the latter likely to increase as birds that have (presumably) bred on surrounding farmland congregate here post-breeding.

As for our TEAL figure, it wouldn't be right to unveil where we've got to without one of our all-taxa leaders, Andy Musgrove, who is currently AWL (like AWOL but 'with' rather than 'without') in Greece... he's back 8/6 so watch this space.

601

We've finally gotten round to putting the complete Lodge list together. Already we've found some gaps (my Black-tailed Skimmer isn't on there for instance!), so the figure will go up after the weekend. Take a look here.

Birds - 125
Other taxa - 476
Grand Total - 601

We're sure BTO are thrashing us though...

Moth-tastic avec trap

Despite windy and clear conditions over the weekend, Saturday night produced another decent haul of moths, including 7 hawkmoths of 4 species (Pine, Eyed and two of my favourites, Elephant and Small Elephant). On a personal note, sorting out Epiblema cynosbatella (with its diagnostic yellow labial palps - handy info for my next pub quiz, I'm sure) and Ancylis mitterbacheriana without assistance was surprisingly gratifying!

LRPOTL

I nearly didn't wander down to the flood this morning... glad I did though because there was a smart adult Little Ringed Plover on it, 128! As I moved in for a better look my 'phone went - Neil Calbrade about to tell me there was a LRP on the flood (he was watching from under the trees on the Barnhamcross Common side so we hadn't seen each other)! A minute or two later a Common Sandpiper appeared, and there was a burst of song from the Nightingale too - not a bad detour on the way to work.

Moth-tastic sans trap

You don't need a moth-trap to get a shedload of species at this time of year. Didn't make it to the lakes today, but walked along the thin strip of BTO land that goes alongside the R Thet. A good selection of moths, mostly common and expected stuff but several new for the year - always nice to see Nemophora degeerella, Micropterix calthella and the tiny Glyphipterix simpliciella, but I don't see so many Adela croesella or A rufimitrella so these were particularly pleasing. Other newbies were Grapholita jungiella, Udea olivalis, Anthophila fabriciana and Dingy Shell, but pick of the bunch was my first Endothenia nigricostana, which appears to be the 4th Norfolk record since 2000, according to the mighty Norfolk Moths website. A couple of Coleophora also require further attention...

Non-leps were represented by Water Forget-me-not and Dock Bug, plus a Melangyna hoverfly that may be barbifrons, although needs more careful checking still.

Birds - what are they?

Dragon slaying

Scarce Chaser (2nd record for The Lodge, photo by Nigel Willits), and Hairy Dragonfly (from a few years ago by Katie Fuller).

The Lodge dragon and damsel count is currently 11 species, with a Black-tailed Skimmer I saw on the heath today a new addition. The full run-down is as follows:

Hairy Dragonfly

Scarce Chaser

Four-spotted Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Black-tailed Skimmer

Azure Damselfly

Common Blue Damselfly

Large Red Damselfly

Banded Demoiselle

Red-eyed Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly

The Hairy Dragon and Scarce Chaser are both interesting as they are both relatively new to the area, having presumably worked their way down the rivers Great Ouse, and Ivel. The closest known Scarce Chaser colony is around four miles away, so having them occasionally turn up in the middle of the Lodge woodland is rather surprising. Hairy Dragonflies have increased in number around The Lodge in the last few years, with small colonies now around the swimming pool and Jacks pond. They can however, be one of our most elusive of dragonflies to see!

Minor grip back

I walked down to the south-western extremity of the reserve this lunchtime, hoping to bag the Acros at Warren Villas NR. Sedge was available on arrival, the Cetti's was blasting away and I thought I could hear the slower-paced chuntering of a distant Reed, but couldn't be 100%, so it stays off for now.

Still, both Cetti's and Sedge were 'reserve ticks' for me. We move to 126.