Mullet & Moths & more

Not much birding to be done or anything really going on but mothing has been OK and it was good to see Thin-lipped Mullet back at the sluice at the North Wall. Pagham Harbour.

Thin-lipped Mullet, you can just about see the diagnostic dark spot above the pectoral fin:

Red-crested Pochard on New Lake while watching Norfolk Hawkers & Lesser Emperors:

Painted Lady, shame about the twine!:

Moth-wise we have had Dewick's Plusia, Light Crimson Underwing, Straw Dot & Rusty Dot Pearl amongst others...I did, however, fail to find a Starry Pearl on Viper's Bugloss at Pagham Spit, surely there somewhere though! Purple Hairstreaks still on the east side oaks and a Yellow-legged Gull, sub-adult type, out on the mud on the rising tide.

Ebernoe

A morning out at Ebernoe found 41 bird sp., best being breeding Tree-creepers, Nightingales and two Hawfinch. I couldn't find any Purple Emperors but there were zillions of Purple Hairstreaks, Gatekeppers, Marbled Whites and Small Skippers plus a singles of Small Copper and Painted Lady. The Red Sussex cattle are also excellent company following around the meadow in leisurely fashion. Very nice.

Silver-washed Fritillary:

 

Painted Lady:

Small Copper:

Small Skipper:

Marbled White, striking a rather odd pose:

Red Sussex bull, a youngster & very friendly, I love cattle!

In the moth trap we had a Dewick's Plusia but I only managed one rushed picture, a good one for us though: