The moth surveys have been recording more species as the weather improves. August provided a diverse range included swallow prominent and lesser swallow prominent as well as poplar hawkmoth, bulrush wainscot, black arches, leopard moth, and garden tiger. More recently, we've had more red underwings at night, in addition to the daytime sighting of one in a car park, and migrant species such a the delicate.
August sightings
Red underwing by Henry Stanier
Warmer temperatures have finally produced some better moth records, both day and night.
Red underwing by Henry Stanier
Swallow prominent (top) and lesser swallow prominent (bottom). By Henry Stanier
Poplar hawk-moth (left), 2x bulrush wainscots (top), black arches (right) and leopard moth (bottom). By Henry Stanier
Garden tiger by Henry Stanier
Delicate. Moth by Henry Stanier
Meanwhile, during the day the flocks of birds continued to build, and the migrant birds started the increase in number. The flocks of lapwing still have dunlin joining them by the water's edge, in search of invertebrates to feed on. In the fields, the whinchats have arrived as expected.
Dunlin by Henry Stanier
As we move into September, spiders become more noticeable, and the stunning female wasp spiders has been found amongst our bulrush crop in the wet farming test beds.
This week, the yellow wagtails have appeared, moving through the Great Fen en masse. Flocks of over 50 have been gathering on the barn roof tops; it's all happening.
Henry Stanier (Great Fen Monitoring & Research Officer)
Female wasp spider. By Henry Stanier