Natural History Diary : May 2026
Sunday 31st May
There were 78 moths from 21 species in the trap this morning. Firsts of the year were Brindled Pug, Brown Moss-moth and Spruce Carpet. The most numerous species was Marbled Minor with 22. The next was Heart & Dart with 12.
As it was a mostly cloudy day there was little butterfly activity. I saw a Painted Lady at the allotment, and another in the garden. I found six or seven Mullein moth larvae on the Buddleia at the allotment.
Brindled Pug, Aston, Oxon, 31st May
Marbled Minor, Aston, Oxon, 31st May
Spruce Carpet, Aston, Oxon, 31st May
Brindled Pug | Aston, Oxon Marbled Minor | Aston, Oxon Spruce Carpet | Aston, Oxon
Saturday 30th May
This morning I saw two Painted Ladies and a Large Skipper in the garden before 8.30am. I found a Treble Brown Spot resting on a window. Birds seen today were Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker and Stock Dove. In the afternoon in a friend's garden at Southrop a Hummingbird Hawk-moth was nectaring on Red Valerian.
Treble Brown Spot, Aston, Oxon, 30th May
    
Treble Brown Spot | Aston, Oxon    
Friday 29th May
I went to the west end of Radley Lakes this afternoon to look for Variable Damselfly at Barton Pool. I didn't find any but I saw a dozen Banded Demoiselle, lots of Azure Damselfly, two Large Red Damselfly, two Blue-tail Damselfly and two female White-legged Damselfly. There were a few butterflies about: five Speckled Wood, two Brimstone, a Red Admiral, a Painted Lady and four Large Skipper. And a couple of moths: Common Wave and Cinnabar. A Cuckoo was calling but I couldn't locate it.
I relocated to Dry Sandford Pit. I found my first Keeled Skimmer of the year in the marsh, and four Beautiful Demoiselle near the stream. Other odonada seen were three Large Red Damselflies, two [Azure Damselflies and a Broad-bodied Chaser. Butterflies seen were three Speckled Wood, four Painted Lady, a Common Blue, a Small Copper, a Brimstone, and my first Meadow Brown of the year (it was very flighty and I couldn't get a shot of it). Moths seen were two probable Lesser Treble-bar, a Cinnabar and a Silver Y.
Beautiful Demoiselle ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 29th May
Beautiful Demoiselle ♀, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 29th May
Keeled Skimmer ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 29th May
Beautiful Demoiselle ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Beautiful Demoiselle ♀ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Keeled Skimmer ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon
Lesser Treble-bar, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 29th May
Banded Demoiselle ♂, Radley Lakes, Oxon, 29th May
Banded Demoiselle ♀, Radley Lakes, Oxon, 29th May
Lesser Treble-bar | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Banded Demoiselle ♂ | Radley Lakes, Oxon Banded Demoiselle ♀ | Radley Lakes, Oxon
Blue-tailed Damselfly (imm. ♂), Radley Lakes, Oxon, 29th May
Large Skipper ♂, Radley Lakes, Oxon, 29th May
White-legged Damselfly (imm. ♀), Radley Lakes, Oxon, 29th May
Blue-tailed Damselfly (imm. ♂) | Radley Lakes, Oxon Large Skipper ♂ | Radley Lakes, Oxon White-legged Damselfly (imm. ♀) | Radley Lakes, Oxon
Thursday 28th May
After another mild night there were 104 moths from 36 species in or around the trap this morning. Most notable of the latter were six Puss Moths, which were resting on walls or fences. There was even a mating pair. This was a new species for me. The other new species was the much smaller Pale-backed Detritus Moth. Firsts of the year were Beautiful Hook-tip, Bordered Straw, Garden Pearl, Garden Straw, Green Oak Tortrix, Light Emerald, Mottled Rustic, Riband Wave, Scorched Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet and White Plume.
There were only four garden butterflies today: Small Heath, Painted lady, Brown Argus and Brimstone. There were three odonata: my first Banded Demoiselle of the year, an Emperor Dragonfly which flew through in the late afternoon, and a female Common Blue Damselfly which was ovipositing in the pond.
In the late afternoon a Red-legged Partridge came into the garden, and I heard a Grey Partridge calling from not far away.
Beautiful Hook-tip, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Bordered Straw, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Garden Pearl, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Beautiful Hook-tip | Aston, Oxon Bordered Straw | Aston, Oxon Garden Pearl | Aston, Oxon
Light Emerald, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Mottled Rustic, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Puss Moth ♂, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Light Emerald | Aston, Oxon Mottled Rustic | Aston, Oxon Puss Moth ♂ | Aston, Oxon
Riband Wave, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Scorched Carpet, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Silver-ground Carpet, Aston, Oxon, 28th May
Riband Wave | Aston, Oxon Scorched Carpet | Aston, Oxon Silver-ground Carpet | Aston, Oxon
Wednesday 27th May
A cooler and fresher day than yesterday. I went to Bucknell Wood near Silverstone. I had the place to myself. Wood Whites were showing well. I counted 19, but there were probably more. Other species were Speckled Wood (10) and singles of Red Admiral, Painted Lady and Small Copper. There were a few moths about, notably around ten Yellow-banded Longhorns and a Brown Silver-line. Dragonflies seen were Broad-bodied Chaser (5), Beautiful Demoiselle (6), Large Red Damselfly and Azure Damselfly.
After 90 minutes there I relocated to Ardley Wood Quarry. Here I saw four Brimstones, five Painted Ladies, three Common Blues, one Large Skipper, one Holly Blue, two Speckled Wood, four Small Heath and two Cinnabar.
Finally, at home a Small Yellow Underwing came to feed on Ox-eye Daisy flowers. Butterflies seen were five Painted Ladies (one still active at 8pm), a Peacock, two Brown Argus, a Holly Blue, a Large Skipper, and a female Common Blue Damselfly.
Painted Lady, Ardley Wood Quarry, Oxon, 27th May
Small Yellow Underwing, Aston, Oxon, 27th May
Beautiful Demoiselle ♂, Bucknell Wood, Northants, 27th May
Painted Lady | Ardley Wood Quarry, Oxon Small Yellow Underwing | Aston, Oxon Beautiful Demoiselle ♂ | Bucknell Wood, Northants
Broad-bodied Chaser ♂, Bucknell Wood, Northants, 27th May
Brown Silver-line, Bucknell Wood, Northants, 27th May
Emperor Dragonfly (imm. ♂), Bucknell Wood, Northants, 27th May
Broad-bodied Chaser ♂ | Bucknell Wood, Northants Brown Silver-line | Bucknell Wood, Northants Emperor Dragonfly (imm. ♂) | Bucknell Wood, Northants
Wood White ♂, Bucknell Wood, Northants, 27th May
    
Wood White ♂ | Bucknell Wood, Northants    
Tuesday 26th May
Another hot day. The first butterfly was an Orange-tip at 8.15am. Then during the day I saw a Large White, a Common Blue, a Brimstone, a Speckled Wood, a Large Skipper (FOY), and a Holly Blue. There were only a few moths around: a couple of Mint Moths, a Silver Y, and a rather unexpected Hummingbird Hawk-moth. It was feeding on the flowers of a cultivated geranium called "Salmon Startel" at 7pm. Birds today were a Whitethroat at the allotment, a Jay, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers and two Stock Doves. The Blue Tits in the nest box appear to have fledged, as the adults weren't going in today.
Jay, Aston, Oxon, 26th May
Large Skipper ♂, Aston, Oxon, 26th May
Stock Dove, Aston, Oxon, 26th May
Jay | Aston, Oxon Large Skipper ♂ | Aston, Oxon Stock Dove | Aston, Oxon
Monday 25th May
A hot day, which suppressed most butterfly activity. I saw a Painted Lady at the allotment before 10am, and nothing else until a garden Holly Blue after 4pm.
Sunday 24th May
Two moth traps were run at Alvescot last night: my actinic and Chris's MV. This morning the actinic trap had 43 moths from 13 species, and the MV had around 250 from 44 species. Firsts of the year were Blood-vein, Brimstone Moth, Brown-spot Grey, Buff Ermine, Buff-tip, Eyed Hawk-moth, Figure of Eighty, Flame Shoulder, Garden Pebble, Lesser Treble-bar, Maiden's Blush, Oak Hook-tip, Pale Mottled Willow, Poplar Hawk-moth, Red-green Carpet, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Scorched Wing, Shears, Small Magpie and Spectacle. The most numerous species by far was Treble Lines with 98 individuals, followed by Marbled Minor with 25 and Pale Tussock with 15 (counts combined over both traps).
I saw two Painted Ladies at Aston Pottery, and two more in the garden. Other garden butterflies were Speckled Wood, Holly Blue and a female Orange-tip. A Mother Shipton was feeding on Ox-eye Daisy flowers in the hot afternoon sun; a new garden record.
Brown-spot Grey, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Buff-tip, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Eyed Hawk-moth ♂, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Brown-spot Grey | Alvescot, Oxon Buff-tip | Alvescot, Oxon Eyed Hawk-moth ♂ | Alvescot, Oxon
Figure of Eighty, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Lesser Treble-bar, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Maiden's Blush, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Figure of Eighty | Alvescot, Oxon Lesser Treble-bar | Alvescot, Oxon Maiden's Blush | Alvescot, Oxon
Red-green Carpet ♀, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Shears, Alvescot, Oxon, 24th May
Mother Shipton, Aston, Oxon, 24th May
Red-green Carpet ♀ | Alvescot, Oxon Shears | Alvescot, Oxon Mother Shipton | Aston, Oxon
Saturday 23rd May
After a mild night there were at least 95 moths from 34 species in the trap this morning. A new species for me was Small Mottled Willow - an immigrant. A new garden record was Australian Orange-tip. Firsts of the year were Brown House-moth, Burnished Brass (earliest ever record), Common Marble, Common Wave (earliest ever record), Cypress Carpet (earliest ever record), Garden Carpet, Green Carpet, Heart & Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, Meadow Grass-moth, Middle-barred Minor, Sandy Carpet, Small Square-spot, Toadflax Pug, Vine's Rustic and Willow Beauty. The most numerous species was Treble Lines with 24.
Garden butterflies seen were Orange-tip, Speckled Wood, Peacock, Green-veined White (mating pair), Painted Lady, Holly Blue and Brimstone. Also a Cinnabar moth.
Australian Orange-tip, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Burnished Brass, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Common Wave, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Australian Orange-tip | Aston, Oxon Burnished Brass | Aston, Oxon Common Wave | Aston, Oxon
Cypress Carpet, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Heart and Dart, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Sandy Carpet, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Cypress Carpet | Aston, Oxon Heart and Dart | Aston, Oxon Sandy Carpet | Aston, Oxon
Small Mottled Willow, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Toadflax Pug, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Willow Beauty, Aston, Oxon, 23rd May
Small Mottled Willow | Aston, Oxon Toadflax Pug | Aston, Oxon Willow Beauty | Aston, Oxon
Friday 22nd May
There was a Jay in the garden this morning - my first garden sighting for a year.
I went over to Crog Hill. I soon started to see Small Blues, although numbers were lower than I'd recorded there before. I probably saw 30 in total, all males. A Duke of Burgundy had established a territory some distance from the usual spot. I also saw a few Common Blues, a Green Hairstreak, a Small Heath and two Brimstones. Moths seen were Rattle Pearl, Silver Y and Cinnabar.
After an hour I relocated to The Coombes at Hinton Parva. The wind here was a bit annoying; anything that flew up was blown northwards. I found Marsh Fritillaries at the very bottom of the valley; at least 15 in total, most looking quite fresh. Small Heath was quite numerous, with 18 seen. Other species seen were Large White, Dingy Skipper, Common Blue, Orange-tip, Brown Argus, Brimstone and Peacock. Just a couple of moths: a Silver Y and a Meadow Grass-moth.
When I got home I was surprised to see a Grey Partridge fly up from the horse paddock and go right past me. Having been out all day I didn't see many garden butterflies, but a Small White, an Orange-tip and a Holly Blue put in late appearances.
Duke of Burgundy ♂, Crog Hill, Oxon, 22nd May
Small Blue ♂, Crog Hill, Oxon, 22nd May
Marsh Fritillary ♂, The Coombes, Wilts, 22nd May
Duke of Burgundy ♂ | Crog Hill, Oxon Small Blue ♂ | Crog Hill, Oxon Marsh Fritillary ♂ | The Coombes, Wilts
Thursday 21st May
There were 22 moths from 9 species in the trap this morning. Firsts of the year were Bee Moth, Common Pug, Light Brocade (my earliest ever record of this species), Lime-speck Pug, Oak-tree Pug and White-point. Treble Lines was the most numerous, with 9. I spotted three Mullein larvae on Verbascums, and 3 Vapourer larvae on Raspberries.
Although it was a warm day there weren't many butterflies about. I saw one male and two female Brimstones, 2 Holly Blues, a female Green-veined White, my first garden Small Heath of the year, and a Painted Lady.
Bee Moth ♂, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Common Pug ♂, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Light Brocade ♂, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Bee Moth ♂ | Aston, Oxon Common Pug ♂ | Aston, Oxon Light Brocade ♂ | Aston, Oxon
Lime-speck Pug ♂, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Oak-tree Pug, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Vapourer (larva), Aston, Oxon, 21st May
Lime-speck Pug ♂ | Aston, Oxon Oak-tree Pug | Aston, Oxon Vapourer (larva) | Aston, Oxon
White-point ♂, Aston, Oxon, 21st May
    
White-point ♂ | Aston, Oxon    
Wednesday 20th May
A mostly cloudy day, but there were a few butterflies about: a Painted Lady, a female Large White, a male Small White, a female Holly Blue and two Brimstones. There were several Vapourer Moth larvae on Raspberry and Plum leaves. Both Great Spotted Woodpeckers came to drink, a Grey Heron flew over, and a Green Woodpecker was on next door's lawn again.
Great Spotted Woodpecker ♂, Aston, Oxon, 20th May
Green Woodpecker ♂, Aston, Oxon, 20th May
  
Great Spotted Woodpecker ♂ | Aston, Oxon Green Woodpecker ♂ | Aston, Oxon  
Tuesday 19th May
I visited Farmoor this morning. There wasn't much about as I went across the causeway, except for a few Swifts, a House Martin and a Little Grebe. Along the river I saw or heard 7 species of warbler. I had a brief view of a Cuckoo, and followed it down the river to Buckthorn Meadow, but never saw it again. I found an Azure Damselfly at Buckthorn Meadow. On the way back along the causeway two Dunlin had appeared. At the eastern end I heard an Arctic Tern calling, and two of them proceeded to fly north.
At home there were many juvenile Starlings about, making a lot of noise.
Starling (juv), Aston, Oxon, 19th May
Dunlin, Farmoor, Oxon, 19th May
  
Starling (juv) | Aston, Oxon Dunlin | Farmoor, Oxon  
Monday 18th May
Quite a few birds about today. There were two juvenile Blackbirds and two Stock Doves in the garden. I saw a Raven being hotly pursued by Jackdaws. I saw a singing Greenfinch and heard a second one. The Blue Tits were still going in and out of the box regularly; the young must be close to fledging. I saw a Swift overhead.
Sunday 17th May
There were 16 moths from 9 species in the trap this morning. Firsts of the year were Common Wainscot, Large Nutmeg (2), Setaceous Hebrew Character and White Ermine. These were all my earliest ever records of these species. The most numerous species was Shuttle-shaped Dart with 5 individuals.
There were a few butterflies about. I saw Orange-tip, Painted Lady and Large White in the garden, and Holly Blue, and Speckled Wood at the allotment.
In the late afternoon a pair of Red-legged Partridge landed on the garden fence and then flew into next door's garden.
At dusk there were two bats flying around the garden.
Common Wainscot ♂, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Large Nutmeg, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Large White ♂, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Common Wainscot ♂ | Aston, Oxon Large Nutmeg | Aston, Oxon Large White ♂ | Aston, Oxon
Red-legged Partridge, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Setaceous Hebrew Character ♂, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Stock Dove ♂, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
Red-legged Partridge | Aston, Oxon Setaceous Hebrew Character ♂ | Aston, Oxon Stock Dove ♂ | Aston, Oxon
White Ermine ♂, Aston, Oxon, 17th May
    
White Ermine ♂ | Aston, Oxon    
Saturday 16th May
I found a single Mullein moth caterpillar on my Verbascums this morning.
Friday 15th May
Only one garden butterfly today, a Green-veined White.
Thursday 14th May
Another chilly day but there were a few butterflies in the garden: Small White, Holly Blue, Orange-tip (2) and another Painted Lady.
Wednesday 13th May
I saw my first juvenile Blackbird of the year in the garden today. In brief sunny spells I saw a male Brimstone and a female Small White.
Tuesday 12th May
Another chilly day. I was surprised to find yesterday's Painted Lady on the Welsh Onion flower head this morning. The other garden butterflies seen were a female Orange-tip and a male Holly Blue. A pair of Buzzards were circling very high - a C-17 coming into Brize Norton went below them! I also saw 3 Swifts.
Monday 11th May
A pretty chilly day so there wasn't much about. However, during sunny periods in the afternoon a Painted Lady spent some time feeding on Welsh Onion flower heads in the garden, and at one point it basked on a paving slab. (That was my 22nd PL of the year, well above the 15 I saw in the whole of 2025).
Painted Lady, Aston, Oxon, 11th May
Painted Lady, Aston, Oxon, 11th May
Painted Lady, Aston, Oxon, 11th May
Painted Lady | Aston, Oxon Painted Lady | Aston, Oxon Painted Lady | Aston, Oxon
Sunday 10th May
There were 16 moths from 7 species in the trap this morning. Firsts of the year were Common Swift, Marbled Minor, Treble Lines (7) and Waved Umber. Apart from Waved Umber these were my earliest ever records of these species. Although it was quite a chilly day a Red Admiral was sunning itself on a stone in the early afternoon.
Common Swift ♂, Aston, Oxon, 10th May
Marbled Minor, Aston, Oxon, 10th May
Treble Lines, Aston, Oxon, 10th May
Common Swift ♂ | Aston, Oxon Marbled Minor | Aston, Oxon Treble Lines | Aston, Oxon
Waved Umber, Aston, Oxon, 10th May
    
Waved Umber | Aston, Oxon    
Saturday 9th May
I found a Diamond-backed Moth in the garden first thing this morning, then a Horse-chestnut Leaf-miner was sitting on my car. Iin Abingdon I saw what looked like a female Beautiful Demoiselle, but I didn't get a good view of it. Back in Aston I saw my first garden Brown Argus of the year. I also saw my first Azure Damselfly of the year around the pond. While working in the garden I was surprised to hear a Cuckoo calling. I think I saw it flying south towards Chimney, but it was distant and I didn't have bins to hand.
Azure Damselfly ♂, Aston, Oxon, 9th May
Brown Argus ♂, Aston, Oxon, 9th May
  
Azure Damselfly ♂ | Aston, Oxon Brown Argus ♂ | Aston, Oxon  
Friday 8th May
This morning I saw my first garden Small Copper of the year. The usual species were seen as well. In the afternoon there were at least ten Common Daisy Moths flying around Tansy and Ox-eye Daisy plants.
I had a fairly brief visit to Dry Sandford Pit in the afternoon, where I saw five Green-veined Whites, at least eight male Brimstones, three male Orange-tips, one Brown Argus, one Comma, one Painted Lady, one Peacock and three Speckled Wood. Moths seen were a Mint Moth and my first Meadow Grass-moth of the year. There were lots of Spindle Ermine larval webs as well. The only odonata were four Large Red Damselflies, two of them being a pair in tandem with the female ovipositing.
Brown Argus ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 8th May
Green-veined White ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 8th May
Large Red Damselfly ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 8th May
Brown Argus ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Green-veined White ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Large Red Damselfly ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon
Meadow Grass-moth, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 8th May
Speckled Wood ♂, Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon, 8th May
  
Meadow Grass-moth | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon Speckled Wood ♂ | Dry Sandford Pit, Oxon  
Thursday 7th May
I stopped at Slimbridge on the way home today. It was a bit disappointing; although there were lots of birds, there wasn't anything particularly unusual. There were probably at least 150 Shelduck, about 60 Avocet, and 31 Black-tailed Godwit. A Redshank was the only other wader. Six Barnacle Geese were on the Tack Piece. I saw at least four Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler. A Kingfisher gave good views at the Kingfisher hide. At one point the male bird brought back a small eel, and couldn't work out what to do with it. It would have been far too large for a chick to swallow. A few butterflies were out and about: 2 Painted Ladies, a Speckled Wood and an Orange-tip.
Avocet, Slimbridge, Gloucs, 7th May
Kingfisher ♂, Slimbridge, Gloucs, 7th May
Oystercatcher, Slimbridge, Gloucs, 7th May
Avocet | Slimbridge, Gloucs Kingfisher ♂ | Slimbridge, Gloucs Oystercatcher | Slimbridge, Gloucs
Wednesday 6th May
Another sunny but fairly chilly day. I went back to Woorgreens, where birds were much the same as Tuesday. Additions were a couple of Coal Tits, a Jay, a Whitethroat (heard), six Mistle Thrushes and a Green Woodpecker (heard). I looked for Wood Warbler at Crabtree Hill, without success. When it had warmed up a bit, a few butterflies appeared: two Grizzled Skippers and three Painted Ladies. Also a Cinnabar moth.
I was told of a location where Wood Warblers had been heard recently, which was Russell's Inclosure near Parkend. I went there but again failed to locate any WWs. However I saw three Song Thrushes, a pair of Bullfinches, a Nuthatch and a Raven. There were also butterflies here: 8 Speckled Wood, 1 Holly Blue, 1 Brimstone, 4 Painted Ladies, 1 Orange-tip and 1 Green-veined White.
I relocated to the New Fancy lookout, where I found four Green Longhorn moths.
Green Longhorn ♂, New Fancy, Gloucs, 6th May
Painted Lady, Russell's Inclosure, Gloucs, 6th May
Song Thrush, Russell's Inclosure, Gloucs, 6th May
Green Longhorn ♂ | New Fancy, Gloucs Painted Lady | Russell's Inclosure, Gloucs Song Thrush | Russell's Inclosure, Gloucs
Cinnabar ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 6th May
Grizzled Skipper ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 6th May
  
Cinnabar ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs Grizzled Skipper ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs  
Tuesday 5th May
Rather more sunshine today, but it wasn't very warm. First stop today was Cannop Ponds. I counted a total of 18 Mandarin, all but two of them females. A Little Grebe in breeding plumage was on the upper lake. I saw a Kingfisher in the stream west of the upper lake (my first at this site). I saw a Green-veined White.
I relocated to Nagshead, but there was little of note there except a couple of Treecreepers and a Garden Warbler. I saw a Holly Blue and a Painted Lady.
Stop three was Woorgreens, where insects did better than birds. I saw two Speckled Wood, a Green-veined White, a female Grizzled Skipper and five Painted Ladies (four of them in a 15-minute period). There were lots of Common Gorse Moths but my attempt to lure an Emperor Moth with pheremones didn't work. Just one odonate, a Large Red Danmselfly. Finally there were two Tree Pipits in the same place as yesterday.
At dusk I walked along Spruce Ride looking for wild boar. I didn't see any, but I did see a Fox and three Fallow Deer.
Little Grebe, Cannop Ponds, Gloucs, 5th May
Mandarin ♂, Cannop Ponds, Gloucs, 5th May
Mandarin ♀, Cannop Ponds, Gloucs, 5th May
Little Grebe | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs Mandarin ♂ | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs Mandarin ♀ | Cannop Ponds, Gloucs
Treecreeper, Nagshead, Gloucs, 5th May
Grizzled Skipper ♀, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 5th May
Large Red Damselfly ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 5th May
Treecreeper | Nagshead, Gloucs Grizzled Skipper ♀ | Woorgreens, Gloucs Large Red Damselfly ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs
Stonechat ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 5th May
Tree Pipit ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 5th May
  
Stonechat ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs Tree Pipit ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs  
Monday 4th May
Before breakfast I saw a Mandarin on Speech House Lake and two Song Thrushes on Spruce Ride. Then at Hagshead I saw a Redstart, a Nuthatch, a Raven, a Grey Wagtail, a pair of Pied Flycatchers and a Goldcrest. At Woorgreens in the afternoon quite a few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were singing, and I saw some of them. I spotted a pair of Stonechat and then two males on teir own. A Tree Pipit and a Song Thrush were singing (first Tree Pipit I'd seen since 2023). I saw a Mistle Thrush and my first Coal Tit of the year.
Grey Wagtail, Nagshead, Gloucs, 4th May
Stonechat ♂, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 4th May
Stonechat ♀, Woorgreens, Gloucs, 4th May
Grey Wagtail | Nagshead, Gloucs Stonechat ♂ | Woorgreens, Gloucs Stonechat ♀ | Woorgreens, Gloucs
Sunday 3rd May
In the Forest of Dean this afternoon I saw my first House Martins of the year. In the Cyril Hart Arboretum I saw a Song Thrush and a Blackcap.
Saturday 2nd May
There were 10 moths from 5 species in the trap this morning. Firsts of the year (and my earliest ever records of these species) were Pale Tussock, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Turnip Moth. The most numerous species was Muslin Moth, with 4.
There were four Holly Blues in the garden again, including a female who landed on a Raspberry bush, but didn't attempt to oviposit. Another Painted Lady flew through.
Pale Tussock ♂, Aston, Oxon, 2nd May
Shuttle-shaped Dart ♂, Aston, Oxon, 2nd May
Turnip Moth ♀, Aston, Oxon, 2nd May
Pale Tussock ♂ | Aston, Oxon Shuttle-shaped Dart ♂ | Aston, Oxon Turnip Moth ♀ | Aston, Oxon
Friday 1st May
My first stop today was at Crog Hill. There were a few birds about, including at least two Whitethroat, a Yellow Wagtail and a Raven. Butterflies were pretty thin on the ground, with just one Duke of Burgundy (FOY), a Holly Blue, a Peacock and five Brimstones seen. There was also a Red Twin-spot Carpet.
I relocated to Hackpen Hill. Blackcap and Whitethroat were singing on the Ridgeway, but again there were no Yellowhammers. A Red Admiral was also on the Ridgeway. Going down the slope to the punchbowl I found a Silver Y (FOY), a couple of Dingy Skippers, eight Common Blues (FOY), three Small Heath (FOY), three Small Copper, two Brown Argus (FOY) and two Painted Ladies. A new moth for me was a Small Purple-barred (which I thought was a micro at first as it was so small). On the way back to the car park a male Wheatear was moving along the fence line.
Duke of Burgundy ♂, Crog Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Red Twin-spot Carpet, Crog Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Brown Argus ♂, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Duke of Burgundy ♂ | Crog Hill, Oxon Red Twin-spot Carpet | Crog Hill, Oxon Brown Argus ♂ | Hackpen Hill, Oxon
Common Blue ♂, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Silver Y, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Small Heath ♂, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 1st May
Common Blue ♂ | Hackpen Hill, Oxon Silver Y | Hackpen Hill, Oxon Small Heath ♂ | Hackpen Hill, Oxon
Small Purple-barred, Hackpen Hill, Oxon, 1st May
    
Small Purple-barred | Hackpen Hill, Oxon