Unfortunately there are certain things you can't put off, and with the lawn looking like the lush pampas lowlands of South America, it was time to get the lawnmower out. Looking back I have a feeling the last time the mower was out, was in June. After that the ground was rock hard and void of grass for quite a few months.
The highlight of the day though, started before I got the mower out, between 9:30 - 10:00. In that 30 minute period I had 25 Siskins flying north in 3 flocks, followed by 4 Grey Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit. In the opposite direction there were Swallows, House Martins and a lone Yellow Wagtail heading down the island.
That was in the morning and by the afternoon, there was very little bird movement other than a few more Swallows. The main highlight this afternoon was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth, appearing for the umpteenth time this year. When the sun comes out, so does this very busy moth.
Here are a few images and videos from today:
A spectacular moth.
And it is amazing that it allowed me to get so close.
Though you do get the feeling it has one eye on me.
A very busy Hummingbird Hawk-moth
Here it is on another Valerian.
Just the one 22-spot Ladybird seen and yep on the same Marrow leaf that it and 6 others have been on all Summer. There was no sign of the others.
It looks very much like we might have a Robin overwintering in the back garden.
When there is plenty of food about then why not
And Ted of course.
Birds Recorded: Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, House Martin, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellow Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, 25 Siskin and Goldfinch
Butterflies Recorded: Large White, Small White and Red Admiral
Moths Recorded: 1 Hummingbird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum), 1 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) and a Lesser Yellow Underwing ( Noctua comes)
Bees Recorded: Common Carder (Bombus pascuorum)
Wasps Recorded: Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Dead Head Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) and a Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax)
Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 22-Spot Ladybird (Psyllobora 22-punctata)