The Week's Round-up

Egyptian Geese - Warnham LNR

At the end of last week and the begging of this we have been visited on a few occasion by three Egyptian Geese. They seem to be loosely associating with a gaggle of Greylag Geese but not the group with the white/hybrid geese in so well worth a look out for.  Other notable birds this week have been mainly winter migrants. At Southwater Country Park I found 7 Shoveler which was the 3rd record for the site following on from a single on the Southwater Quarry on 12th March 2000, a pair which flew over on 23rd April 2007 and a single male on the 14th Feb 2008.

Redwing - Warnham LNR

Meanwhile at Warnham Water Rail numbers are slowly starting to rise with at least 3 squealing around the boardwalks this morning. There are also good numbers of Redwing using the reserve with at least 30 coming into roost most evenings. The tally for Little Egrets has risen once more and we now have four birds roosting with us each evening. Perhaps 2014 will be the year we find them in the heronry!!!

Scarce Umber

Despite a few frosts this week I have persevered with the moth trap and have managed to get a few more moths for the year. The above moth is about as colorful as the winter moths get and is always a pleasure to see in the trap. The picture above is of a male which are occasionally attracted to light traps however the female is wingless and rests on the trunks of tree releasing a pheromone to attract males for mating. Also managed a few more Sprawlers, December Moths and a single Satellite too.

December Moth