1) I was unable to generate an opportunity to get time off of work in the week, and I was constrained yesterday as Nichola was working. So - I could have driven all the way to Cornwall today in a solo attempt to see the American Bittern but I quickly decided that would be completely stupid in many ways and opted to do something else. Just aswell as it appears to have fucked off last night ahead of the impending weather doom.
2) Aside from having charge of the family with Nichola working yesterday, my brother had managed to offload his two with my Mum for the weekend, and she suggested in a way that I couldn't refuse that we should all meet up for the afternoon at Bradgate Park. Fecking Snow Bunting pops up at Rutland Water and I can't get there.
So, today rather than worrying about what are essentially petty things like mega rarities and catching up a couple of County Ticks (Bearded Tits still at Rutland Water aswell), I spent a couple of hours this morning bashing a local tetrad for the BTO Atlas and then I cleaned out the fish tank (which is doing very well now - recently added Clown Loach and 3 Odessa Barbs looking very smart). Both being very relaxing and worthwhile.
Here's a variety from Bradgate Park and a couple from this morning.
Black-headed Gull
Mute Swan
Red Deer
Fallow Deer
Horse Chestnut
Oak
I really can't get to grips with fungi, but I think this could be Hypholoma sublateritium (aka Brick-red Hypholoma) I've been advised that this is Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare - quite a few clumps under a very big oak.
The most exciting aspects of the tetrad recording this morning were not avian. I walked along a disused railway track near to Cosby that I've not been along before. I was very pleased to find a bit of Aspen along there, and also lots of Traveller's Joy - definitely worth a speculative moth-trapping effort next season.
Traveller's Joy
Otherwise, nothing unexpected in poor arable farmland in between suburban estates. Grey Wagtail was nice, and I picked up a handful of Goldcrests tagging along with a tit flock. Only the wrong sort of partridges were noted.
Red-legged Partridge
A late bit of mothing news - Thursday night's effort was much poorer than the temperatures promised but with the extreme wind it was not surprising.
Light Brown Apple Moth 3
Acleris sparsana 1
Rush Veneer 1
Blair's Shoulder-knot 1
Brick 1
I ran a trap last night as well - clear and cold and bugger all this morning.
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