I’ve been rising early to do Late Visits for the BTO Bird Atlas out on the western fringes of RXworld, checking tetrads I first surveyed in April for evidence of breeding success.
Stepping over the rabbit guts on the doorstep and swerving round Collared Doves in the road, I head away from the coastal sunshine to where the High Weald meets the Low Cloud-base and rags of the night’s rain remain tangled in the treetops of the gloomy pine plantations.
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Highlights this morning in the Lime Kiln moth trap were several Privet Hawk-moth (below). This is probably the largest moth I catch regularly here, and is one of those species that still manages to elicit a little gasp of excitement whenever they turn up. As the name suggests, the larvae of this species feed on Privet, though they can also be found on Ash and Lilac.
Privet Hawk-moth
this garden centre is having a Nature Lovers Weekend this Saturday 9am-5:30pm and Sunday 10:30am-5:30pm. Many birdy bargains 01580 860666.
OWLS - See many of our British Owls, BATS - Find out about our Bats, BEES - Learn about our Bees, BIRDS - How to attract garden birds, RYE HARBOUR - Our favourite reserve