Ringing: August
Monday 31st No ringing today due to the strength of the wind. It is interesting to compare August 2026 with August 2025. Amazingly we ringed the same number of birds in each – 668. Individual species totals showed more variation, particularly amongst the warblers. Blackcap increased from 120 to 141 but most others showed a decrease e.g. Willow Warbler 73,…
Moths: August
Monday 31st Despite some thundery showers which resulted in the trap being moved to a sheltered position there was a very good catch of 195 moths of 51 species. The best moth clung to the side of the Observatory – our first record of Lace Border. This might have wandered just a short distance from the Downs but other moths linked…
Ringing: July
Wednesday 30th It was good to be able to get a team out today and they were rewarded with a successful morning. There were 58 new birds of 14 species. The highlight was a juvenile Cuckoo. Colour was added by a Jay and a Green Woodpecker. Migrants are definitely on the move and, although we still have not caught a…
Moths: February
Saturday 22nd Three actinics in The Elms caught only two moths – a Pale Brindled Beauty and a Tortricoides alternella. Sunday 2nd It has just not been suitable for the moth trap to be used until last night when the rain stayed away and the wind dropped. The trap on Sandown Road caught four moths – a Common Quaker and…