Carrion Crow with chick, right, (Corvus corone) almost as big as the adult.
A clear day, with little wind, a mix of species present with a Greater Spotted Woodpecker once again visiting.. and fully exploring the reserve right to point on the sea brake!. 1 Reed Warbler also out on the reserve. Essex Skipper have now been seen yesterday afternoon and this morning near the manor road car park.
Seawatching produced 2 Curlew south, 1 Cormorant west.
Moth trapping: 104 Species across our 3 traps. Pick of the moths is the Lilac Beauty, formerly an infrequent visitor, it has now more recently become annual, occurring in small numbers. The adult folds its upper wing tips in an interesting way to mimic a leaf (shown in the picture - not seen in many moth species. The caterpillar feeds on honeysuckle (Lonicera) and privet (Ligustrum).
Lilac Beauty (Apeira syringaria)
Bird Ringing: 7 Blue Tit, 2 House Sparrow, 1 Linnet, 1 Whitethroat.