Tonight's moths in the garden have so far included Turnip moth, Merveille du Jour, and December Moth.
It's quiet at the moment, but the following were seen this afternoon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Water rails called, 3 Cetti's Warblers sang, 3 Greylags were on the fields, 2 Tawny Owls called at dusk and a Barn Owl put in a brief appearance before leaving through the trees to the adjacent fields. 7 Starlings came in to roost (CG).
2 Peregrine Falcons were on the chimneys at Ardagh Glassworks (M. Littlewood).
This morning's best 2 drake Shovelers, Goldcrest, 2 Buzzards, 4 Cetti's Warblers, Water Rail and 3 Mistle Thrushes (Andrew Corrall).
This afternoon Grey Wagtail, Redpoll, Siskin, Kingfisher, 2 adult Common Gulls and Little Grebe (CG).
A Kingfisher, 3 Greylags and a Little Grebe were on the scrape. 12 Teal and a male Stonechat were on the wader scrape.
Also present at least 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and a Great Spot Woodpecker
Our wildlife group were busy strimming on the embankment etc.
A cold night last night didn't stop a Black Rustic, 2 Blair's Shoulder Knot and a Box Tree Moth flying to the garden trap.
c100 Pink Feet Geese flew SSE at 0923hrs (CG).
Grey Heron and Grey Wagtail photos taken by Clive Mitchell were submitted by Harold Heath.
Our wildlife group was busy scrub bashing this morning, Ringing produced a late male Blackcap.
Also present Kingfisher, Buzzard. Sparrowhawk, Greenfinch, Coal Tit, Water Rail and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
A skein of Pink Feet Geese were heard from a distance heading west at 08.38hrs.
A Rose-ringed Parakeet was found at Shafton Green (Simon Cox).
Cudworth overnight moth trapping 12th &13th Rusty Dot Pearl, Red Line Quaker, Black Rustic, Barred Sallow and Merveille du Jour.
As we enter the autumn many of our summer visitors have left for warmer climes. We await the invasion of Pink Feet Geese and northern thrushes and the possibility of an unusual duck species.
It has been quiet over recent days, the only birds of note being 7 Red-legged Partridge on 5th, 2 Goldcrests and a single Collared Dove on the 8th (its a scarce bird here), and Little Egret, Kingfisher and this autumn's first Redwing on the 9th (K. Bannister/JP/L&A Corrall).
Last nights moths in my Cudworth garden included 6 Lunar Underwings, Shuttle Shaped Dart, Light Emerald, Angle Shades and The Vestal (my first since October 1995)! And 2 Willow Emeralds.
Today's sightings in pictures by Harold Heath & Clive Mitchell.
2 Shovelers and 25 Teal were on the wader scrape. 30 Skylarks were on the east fields this morning (JP).
Last night members of our wildlife group attended the Town hall to receive a Platinum Award from the Yorkshire in Bloom competition.
The plaque below was also presented to the founding members of the reserve to celebrate its 50th year.
A Little Egret was present (K. Bannister).
Both Truxor machines were busy again this morning (R. J. Boland)
Grey Wagtail, 25 Teal, Kingfisher, Great Spot Woodpecker, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers, 2 Water Rails called. (CG).
6 Yellow Buntings were on the east fields and a Yellow Wagtail flew south (JP).
3 pairs of Willow Emerald in tandem, Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker.
Willow Emerald
2 Tawny Owls called at dusk along with 3 Water Rails. 7 Starlings came in to roost.
Birds ringed included 2 Goldcrests, 2 Cetti's warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps.
A Red Kite flew low over the northern meadow.
Butterflies included 7 Red Admiral, 12 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue and 2 Small Copper (Chris Parkin).
The Truxor reed cutting machine hard at work (Melvyn White)
3 Shovelers were present this morning and an Egret species flew over in the distance (Keith Bannister).
At dusk this evening a Bittern came in from the south and alighted in a reed bed near the hide. After a few minutes it got up and began giving an aerial display, croaking as it circled the scrape at height, before leaving south. Normally this behaviour is only given by overwintering birds when they finally leave in March (Dave Standish).
This despite the reserve being disturbed by 2 Truxor machines removing excess reeds during the day!
A Curlew flew east mid morning and a steady stream of Skylarks were moving south, (JP).
A moth session with Chris Parkin produced 9 species of macro that included Lunar Underwing, Angle Shades, Barred Sallow, Old Lady and Black Rustic. Earlier a Noctule Bat was feeding over the scrape.
