Birds

30/05/23 In the rough grassland around Area 7A 6 Lapwing were seen displaying and showing territorial behaviour towards encroaching corvids/red kites by Paul O'Neill.

27/05/23 Paul Bright Thomas was in his Area 4 garden this evening and saw 4 Ring-necked Parakeet over low North calling, 2 House Martin , 3 Rook and a Hobby to the East.

26/05/23 Flying high over Eamer Crescent in Area 7A early evening were 2 Swift seen by Paul O'Neill . Meanwhile earlier in the day at lunch time, Paul Bright Thomas saw 4 Swift screaming overhead in Area 4 (heard several times recently). No sign so far in the vicinity of the only remaining local breeding pair.

25/05/23 Flying over the river and Woosehill roundabout in Area 5 a Cormorrant was seen heading for Windmill Pond.

22/05/23 The male Lesser Whitethroat was still in the centre copse of the Area 10 Car park field occasionally singing. Also seen and heard in the field were a calling Ring necked Parakeet , Green Woodpecker , male Blackcap , male Chiffchaff and 2 flyover Greylag Goose .

21/05/23 In the centre copse of the Area 10 Car park field a Lesser Whitethroat was seen and heard by Fraser Cottington. It later was moving between the Copse and the back hedge.

19/05/23 Over Area 1 at lunchtime 2 Common Buzzard were enjoying the thermals over the fields. The flooded fields opposite Ludgrove Schhol held 2 Grey Heron and 8 Mallard. A Skylark was also heard over Greys Farm.

15/05/23 Its that time of year again when the Juvenile Starling have fledged and are noisily begging for food from their parents. In a serendipitious moment I was walking along the Spine Road in Area 5 at 19:45 and glanced at the weir pool as I went by only to see a preening male Mandarin duck. In Area 10 a Hobby was over the car park field and a Whitethroat was in the paddock. Seen by Nick.

14/05/23 I spent the afternoon in my Area 4 garden and Swift numbers are up to 3. Also seen checking out the Area was a Sparrowhawk .In Area 10 a Hobby was over the car park field seen by Fraser Cottington.

13/05/23 Seen over Black Swan Lake in Area 10 by Fraser Cottington today were 50+ Swift ,40 + Swallow with House Martin and Sand Martin in limited numbers.

10/05/23 At lunchtime another Hobby flew over my Area 4 garden calling. Once again heading West.

09/05/23 In Area 10 a Green Woodpecker was in the Car Park field and 2 Common Tern were by the Dinton Activity Centre all sightings by Andrew Curd.

Insects

29/05/23 The warm weather continues and so the moth trap was out again at dusk on 28/05/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and despite my expectations I was dissapointed with a catch of just 6 moths of 3 species . There were no highlights with 4 Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica , 1 Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis ' and a White-shouldered House-moth Endrosis sarcitrella. No new moth's on the night were added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year ,however with yesterdays moth the total for 2023 is now 64.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

28/05/23 Whilst moving pots around the patio in my Area 4 garden a Mint Moth Pyrausta aurata was seen visiting the garden mint Also seen at the bottom of an empty pot was the False Widow spider Steatoda nobilis ' There are six species of false widow spiders that live in the UK . They are black or brown in colour, rotund, and small - growing up to about the size of a small finger-nail. The maximum body length of an adult female is 15 mm. Although they resemble black widow spiders, they are not as harmful.

27/05/23 The moth trap was out again at dusk on 26/05/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and numbers were down again with 11 moths of 9 species caught . Highlights were Peppered Moth Biston betularia , Heart & Dart Agrotis exclamationis ' Turnip Moth Agrotis segetum and a Red-green Carpet Chloroclysta siterata all new for the year. The best of the rest were 2 Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica . With 5 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 63.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

24/05/23 With mild days and nights the moth trap was out at dusk on 23/05/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and the catch is getting better with 13 moths of 12 species . Highlights were Oak Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria , Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata and a male Muslin Moth Diaphora mendica . Muslin Moyh show distinct sexual dimorphism , the males of this moth are soft brown, the females white, both sparsely speckled with black. With 5 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 58.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

22/05/23 Back to Area 10 today and the various Lavells Lake Nettle patches. Seen was my first Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens Damselfly of the year and the Red-headed Cardinal Beetle Pyrochroa serraticornis . and cauht up in a Spiders web was the Mayfly Ephemera vulgata Meanwhile on the Meadow Buttercup in the Car park field were Common Malachite Beetle Malachius bipustulatus . The large red spot at the rear of each shiny green elytron is characteristic of this species.

21/05/23 The moth trap was out at dusk on 20/05/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and again a very poor catch of just 4 moths of 3 species . All 3 were however new for the year with a Poplar Hawk Moth Laothoe populi and the simply named Treble Lines Charanyca trigrammica . and 2 Oak tree Pug Eupithecia dodoneata With 3 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 53.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. In the garden in the afternoon Xysticus cristatus a Crab spider was laying in wait for its prey to wander into its jaws.

18/05/23 In the Area 10 car park field a Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas butterfly was seen and photographed by Nick.

17/05/23 After 2 days of reasonable weather it seemed ideal conditions to put out the moth trap at dusk on 16/05/23 in my Area 4 garden.The trap was emptied this morning and strangely held just 7 moths of 4 species . It was a trap of extreme's with Great Prominent Peridea anceps Wingspan 50-65mm and 3 micro moth. White Shouldered House- Moth Endrosis sarcitrella Wingspan 15-21mm and 2 Epdonia angustea 17-21 mm. Highlight was 2 Small Dusty Wave Idaea seriata new for the year With 1 new moth added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is now 50.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

16/05/23 A quick walk around Area 10 at Lavells Lake after work proved very productive and therapeutic, seen in the sun was my first Male Beautiful Demoiselle Calopteryx virgo of the year. there were numerous Green Drake Mayfly Ephemera danica on the wing, enjoying their very short existence by the Bridge over the Emm Brook at the car park field. The moth Silver Ground Carpet Xanthorhoe montanata numerous Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus. and what I believe to be the Stretch Spider Tetragnatha montana . The addition of another new moth for the year bring's the total for 2023 to 49. Also seen was the Scorpion Fly Panorpa communis

15/05/23 Working from home and in my Area 4 garden at lunchtime I noticed several Psyche casta on my garden fence Known as 'bagworms' or 'case-bearers', the larvae of the Psychidae construct cases from fragments of plant material, in this instance, pieces of grass/plants. The case is attached to a tree trunk or foliage, or quite often to a wooden fence or gate. The larvae feed on grasses, lichens and decaying vegetable matter. The adult males are plain, dull brownish moths. The females are wingless and grub-like in appearance. Both sexes emerge between May and July. Found on my garden shed long after the moth trap had been emptied yesterday (14/05/23) was a Dwarf Pug Eupithecia tantillaria and also a Eudonia angustea both new for the year bringing the total for 2023 to 48.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released. A Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus butterfly was also seen flying across my garden.

14/05/23 The moth trap was put out at dusk on 13/05/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Only 16 moths of 10 species but with a quick walquick walk 5/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. However once again it was quality over quantity. New for the year were Angle Shades Phlogophora meticulosa , Swallow Prominent Pheosia tremula and an Early Thorn Selenia dentaria . The rest consisted of and , and Light Brown Apple Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . With 3 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is 40.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

10/05/23 In-between the rain and thunderclaps , I paid an afternoon visit to Area 7 and the vegetation alonside the river. During a brief spell of sunshine I managed to catch up with Lare Red Damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula a female Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella a Silver Y Autographa gamma a migratory moth . On the riverside Docks were Dock Bug Coreus marginatus a Squash Bug. Also seen were several as yet unidentified Hoverflies.With 1 new moth added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is 37.

08/05/23 Lured in by the afternoon sunshine the moth trap was put out at dusk on 07/05/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Another dissapointing catch with only 10 moths of 6 species. However it was quality over quantity. New for the year were The Seraphim Lobophora halterataa Lesser Swallow Prominent Pheosia gnoma and Pale Prominent Pterostoma palpina . The rest consisted of 3 Brimstone Moth Drymonia ruficornis a Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis , and 3 Light Brown Apple Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . Also caught was the Caddisfly Glyphotaelius pellucidus . A medium to large sized caddis fly with marbled brown and cream wings, although the patterning varies between male and female in this species. The forewings have a notched outer margin and is readily attracted to light. My first Maybug Melolontha melolontha of the season a Common Striped Woodlouse Philoscia muscorum and a Ground Beetle Poecilus cupreus sp. With 3 new moth's added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is 36.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

07/05/23 Whilst in my Area 4 garden this afternoon a Brimstone Tachystola acroxantha butterfly flew through. A Holly Blue Tachystola acroxantha was also seen but thankfully lingered long enough for a photo.

06/05/23 Attracted to a lit kitchen window in Area 4 was the micro moth Tachystola acroxantha .An adventive species, which was first noted in Devon in 1908, and was probably imported with Australian plants. In recent years it has expanded its range rapidly northwards. A first for the year, this brings the total for 2023 to 33.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

05/05/23 The moth trap was put out at dusk on 04/05/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Not a great catch with only 8 moths of 5 species. New for the year was an Iron Prominent Notodonta dromedarius The rest consisted of 4 Brimstone Moth Drymonia ruficornis a Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis , a very worn and as yet unidentified Pug sp and a White -shoulderd House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . With 1 new moth added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year , the total for 2023 is 32.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

03/05/23 On the wing on a sunny morning in Area 10 around the bridge across the Emm Brook from the Car Park field were 2 male Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines and a Peacock Aglais io butterfly, The Hoverfly Myathropa florea and my first Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum of the year. On the underside of a Dock leaf were the eggs of a Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula The female lays over 1,000 eggs, laying them in clusters of 20 to 45 on the underside of the food plant's leaves. The eggs are oval in shape, and are cream to yellow, turning orange prior to hatching. After about 3 to 6 days, the larva hatches from the egg.

02/05/23 The moth trap was put out at dusk on 01/05/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Another very dissapointng catch with only 4 moths of 4 species. The highlight was a Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Also seen were Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis , Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana and White -shoulderd House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . No new moths were added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year ,so the total for 2023 stays at 31.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

03/05/23 On the wing on a sunny morning in Area 10 around the bridge across the Emm Brook from the Car Park field were 2 male Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines and a Peacock Aglais io butterfly, The Hoverfly Myathropa florea and my first Common Blue Damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum of the year. On the underside of a Dock leaf were the eggs of a Green Dock Beetle Gastrophysa viridula The female lays over 1,000 eggs, laying them in clusters of 20 to 45 on the underside of the food plant's leaves. The eggs are oval in shape, and are cream to yellow, turning orange prior to hatching. After about 3 to 6 days, the larva hatches from the egg.

02/05/23 The moth trap was put out at dusk on 01/05/23 in my Area 4 garden and emptied this morning. Another very dissapointng catch with only 4 moths of 4 species. The highlight was a Brimstone Moth Opisthograptis luteolata Also seen were Lunar Marbled Brown Drymonia ruficornis , Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana and White -shoulderd House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella . No new moths were added to the FOTEB Moth list for the year ,so the total for 2023 stays at 31.Following inspection and recording/photographing anything caught was released.

01/05/23 Seen in Area 5 were mating Tiger Cranefly Nephrotoma flavescens This cranefly has a yellow and black thorax and yellow abdomen with a thin and normally broken black stripe down the centre. It also has a black 'ace of spades' mark on the back of its head.

Plants/ Trees

19/05/23 On the banks of the small pool at Heathlake in Area 1 Flag Iris Iris pseudacorus is now in bloom.

06/05/23 One of the most striking of our trees is the , with its multitude of candles, as the flowers are so often called. No other tree can put on such a magnificent display of flowers. The sight of a horse chestnut festooned with countless cone-shaped blooms makes it appear like a giant candelabra lighting up the countryside.This one was in Area 4.

01/05/23 In Area 5 near Dragonfly Bridge is a small group of Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta .Bluebell is an ancient-woodland-indicator plant. Also seen was Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea , Cuckoo Pint Arum maculatum , Red Campion Silene dioica

Fungi Do not eat any fungi that have not been properly identified , some are DEADLY when ingested .

Amphibians and Reptiles

04/05/23 Another Grass Snake Natrix natrix was seen leaving the beach from the Dinton Activity Centre in Area 10, to swim across Black Swan Lake by Nigel Hoult.

13/05/23 During the litter pick today, Tadpoles of the Common Frog Rana temporaria were seen in one of the ponds in Area 4 & 5.

09/05/23 In Area 7 a Common Frog Rana temporaria was found in a garden by Carol Woodman.

04/05/23 In Area 10 a Grass Snake Natrix natrix was seen in the Wet Meadow by Alan Rymer.

Mammals

30/05/23 As they say "Necessity is the mother of invention" and if you need your breakfast, well you have to adapt like this Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis on my garden feeders in Area 4 .

22/05/23 I was woken up again this morning by a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes calling outside my houde in Area 4 00:30.

14/05/23 Seen on the River bank in Area 4 by Kingfisher bridge was a Bank Vole Myodes glareolus Photo courtesy of Brian Moffatt.

11/05/23 Calling at 04:20 I was woken by a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes calling in Area 4 this morning.

08/05/23 Carol Woodman had a Red Fox Vulpes vulpes appear in her Area 7 garden this afternoon. Later at dusk, what were probably Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus were seen flying around her garden.

Molluscs

22/05/23 On the nettles in Area 10 was a White-lipped snail Cepaea hortensis . The White-lipped snail varies in colour, but is typically yellow or pinkish. It has up to five brown bands around the whorl of the shell. It can be identified by the white branding around the lip of its shell, which distinguishes it from the similar Brown-lipped snail.

15/05/23 In my Area 4 garden pond , I noticed this large Pond Snail as yet unidentified. There are about 40 different kinds of water snails in Britain, varying in size when fully grown from the tiny Nautilus Ram’s-horn – just 2 or 3 mm across – to the Great Pond Snail which grows up to 4 cm.