Carlton Marsh

This morning c30 Siskins (JP)

This afternoon with Paul and Ruth Thorpe at the wader scrape, 4 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 18 Lapwings, 35 Goldfinches on Knapweed. 2 juv. Whinchats feeding on the dike side in low scrub on the east side. They were the first since September 2015. A juv. Redstart was feeding from a large Hawthorn near them.

Today's butterfly count from Chris Parkin included, 2 Painted Lady, 9 Red Admiral, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Meadow Brown, 13 Speckled Wood, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 7 Large White, 4 Small White and 2 GV White. There up to 25 Silver Y moths and 1 Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) 

This evening c300 Canada and 110 Greylag Geese were feeding on stubble in a field overlooking the marsh. (JP) This is a new maximum for Greylag here beating the previous record of 60 south in 2016.

 A little later there was an estimated 400 Canada Geese on the stubble field and c1000 Swallows roosted in the reed beds. A Tawny Owl flew over the scrape at dusk. (Dave Standish)

Yesterday at Lttleworth Park 

102 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Copper, 9 Common  Blue, 12 Small Heath and c30 Silver Y moths. (Chris Parkin)