Finch finding

I mentioned recently that the Hawfinch invasion was in danger of passing me by - I finally caught up with one last weekend on a visit to friends in Kent but had still yet to see one at home in Dorset, so I set out this morning with the aim of doing just that. Several sites seem to be holding Hawfinch since they arrived but Bonsley Wood near Blandford Forum sounded like one of the most reliable so I headed there. I bumped into one of these chunky, short-tailed birds before I got to the main wood, a few more whilst there, and even more on the way back, confirming the impression formed from recent reports that they can be seen just about anywhere in suitable habitat at the moment. Brambling, Redpoll and Bullfinch were also in the wood, an enjoyable couple of hours in a location I hadn't checked out before.

Hawfinch, Bonsley Wood

This head-on view shows the bulk of a Hawfinch bill

Side view of the impressive bill

The best flight shot I could manage - note the curled tips to the primaries can just be seen on the edge of the folded wing

A few Brambling were in with the Chaffinch flock in Bonsley Wood

Grey Wagtail, Bonsley Wood

Bullfinch last weekend at Sissinghurst in Kent

Fieldfare, Sissinghurst, Kent

Fieldfare, Sissinghurst

Mistle Thrush in Yew at Igtham Mote, Kent

Redwing, Sissinghurst

Nuthatch, Sissinghurst

Busy...

Busy, busy...no time for blogging...some photos from the last few weeks...but not getting out much lately...Hawfinch invasion passing me by...can't win an argument at home because every time I get close they play the 'Shetland' joker...etc etc.

The Red Admiral is having a great year - I saw one at Wareham station this morning but this one on Ivy was taken last weekend at Middlebere

Kingfisher at Lodmoor

An obliging individual

Always brightens a dull day

A long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor 

The second I have seen this year in Dorset....

...after another long staying bird at Lytchett last winter

Avocet are returning to Middlebere in numbers

A Middlebere Merlin put the waders to flight

A dashing male

Rare to get such a good view

Yellow-legged Gull also at Middlebere

Like the Merlin it was intimidating the waders

House-bound

Since returning from Shetland I haven't been out much - penance for all that time away from the family - but being house-bound has meant plenty of time to road test a new moth trap: a dinky, portable little number from Anglian Lepidoptera Supplies. My small urban garden, surrounded by street lights, badly over-grazed by guinea pigs and under-managed by their owners, never looks too promising for moths, but periodic trapping sessions over the past couple of years suggest otherwise. The latest visitor lured by the light last weekend was one of the most attractive - the Merveille du Jour, an exquisite creature highly sought after by moth-lovers. Stand by for more house-bound highlights in the coming days and months...

Merveille du Jour

A beautiful, cryptic moth



The caterpillar feeds on oaks

I took this in full sunlight which brought out the colours nicely

Another smart moth attracted to the new light was this Black Rustic