nature notes

So a frantic knocking on my door yesterday. It was the three keen birders who live here. They were almost weeing themselves in excitement. Apparently there was a Melodious Warbler in my copse/shrubbery and could they go in and photograph it. Normally I adopt a “get off my land” attitude to visiting twitchers but as they are locals I assented notwithstanding a vigorous under storey of alder and Rosa rugosa that deters all but the most intrepid. Seems it was the first time this species had ever been seen on Fetlar. Looked like a boring greenish-yellow thing to me but then I don’t suppose they’d be interested in the National Poultry Show!
Anyway in order to calm them down I made coffee and the guy who owns the Croft where most of the phalaropes live came from Essex before he moved here eight years ago. I mentioned that a guy on here’s wife worked at a reserve but couldn’t remember it’s name. So, bym, over to you. He’s also a keen microlepidopterist so you might even have met him in your travels (Andy Cooke). Like buses. You wait a lifetime and then two microlepidopterists come at once.

On a more serious vein it infuriates one of the aforementioned birders that I have an unsympathetic attitude to twitchers in my copse. My subsequent research taught me that these warblers migrate at night but drop down for the daylight ours to feed and rest. And here it was being harried out of my copse.
They just can’t grasp the idea that I would spend £6000 on a plantation as a respite centre for migrating birds but not be that interested in what turns up. It’s enough for me to know that wombats exist in Australia but I’ve no plans to go and look at one.
 
I don't personally know him, but a birdwatching friend does.

We wouldn't let any twitcher near anything in our garden, as the majority seem hell bent on trampling down vegetation and getting a picture of the poor exhausted migrant at any cost. Another friend calls them AWACs. A***s with automatic camera's.
One a lighter note this little chappie turned up under cover of darkness on our lake, with the little cape on it can only be ..... Count Duckula
being small and not eating a lot, it can stay.
 

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Sorry Hen-Gen, it's Rainham Marsh, and I believe The aforementioned gentleman knows a Colin Mackenzie Grieve
 
Thanks for the info. I’ve just been on the phone to him and he affirms that he is in regular contact with Colin Mackenzie Grieve.
Despite his twitching predilection he is doing wonderful work on his Croft recreating bird friendly habitats. Also he is the guy I am in partnership with with our Belted Galloway cattle. As you’d imagine he is less interested in their finer points but uses them as habitat management tools.
Googled Rainham Marshes. An amazing area and right on London’s doorstep. Next time I’m tht way I’ll make a point of visiting the reserve. And some seriously heavyweight financial backers! Wish we could get some of them.
Glad I’m not alone in my views on twitchers. Love the AWACS mnemonic. I’ll try and weave that into a conversation soon.
 
My last experience of an AWAC was at Oare Marsh reserve near Faversham. I'd parked my car on the side of the road to go for a walk along the coast path & got back to my car only to find a chap using it as a tripod for his camera & telescope. He was most put out when I suggested that he remove them before I drove away!
 
Lovely place Oare Marshes. What annoys me is the fact the AWAC's park in the lay bys, can't walk from the car park, you see more camera's than telescopes these days. All the gear but no idea brigade.

I'm sure OH will give you a VIP tour Hen-Gen if you come to Rainham. Quite an interesting military history to
 
I hope you’re going to have a good catch on Moth Night, BYM.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/27/underwing-and-a-prayer-moth-night-spotters-hope-for-a-flash-of-fuchsia
 
This sounds an extraordinarily interesting and mind-opening book. Must read it,
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/27/entangled-life-by-merlin-sheldrake-review-a-brilliant-door-opener-book
 
Wow Marigold. I’ve spent this months book/CD allowance but this one is going on next months list.
As a return google “Last of the Curlews” by Fred Bodsworth. A thought provoking and ultimately tragic tale.
 
Just read that also Hen-Gen.
The Salt Path is good follows the story of a woman and her husband around the British coastline after being made homeless and the woman being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The next chapter is out next Thursday, called The Wild Silence. Author Raynor Winn
 
I was fascinated to see half a dozen moths of the same type on my sedum this afternoon. It looked like a gargoyle face on one pic and in another like a golden crusted jewel. BYM I can see how your wife is so interested in this species. I didn't realise moths came out during the day.
 

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it's a Silver Y moth a common migrant moth to UK, day flying especially around sunset, food plant cabbage, Runner Bean, clover, nettles, bedstraw.
Lovely Moth
 
Absolutely fabulous! Great photography, its a treat to see a moth in its natural habitat. Capturing it as a still makes it easier to appreciate somehow, that last picture is just like a stunningly fabulous cape from the C17, Thanks for posting TP and for the ID BYM. Today I noticed a couple of hummingbird hawkmoths, its the turning of the season, its cooler here.
 
How about this for an amazing pic by a wildlife photographer. I didn't realise they had wings, I am looking at earwigs in a whole new light, not just as dahlia munchers now
 

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A few years ago we visited an ancient walled town, just in time for the annual plague of flying earwigs. I have never seen so many, it felt like hundreds of thousands. Walls were moving. We had to leave, it was unbearable!
 
After that tale, I won't look at them in a different light. Luckily I have never seen that many of them
 
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