Natural History Diary : October 2026
Thursday 15th October
After a mild night there were 28 moths from 13 species in the trap this morning. Pick of them was a lovely fresh Merveille du Jour and a Blair's Shoulder-knot (both firsts of the year). Other species were Beaded Chestnut (2), Black Rustic (2), Large Yellow Underwing (6), Lesser Yellow Underwing (2), Lunar Underwing, Mottled Rustic, Red-line Quaker, Rush Veneer, Turnip Moth (5), White-point (4) and Willow Beauty. I saw two Red Admirals in the village during the day.
Blair's Shoulder-knot, Aston, Oxon, 15th Oct
Merveille du Jour, Aston, Oxon, 15th Oct
Mottled Rustic, Aston, Oxon, 15th Oct
Blair's Shoulder-knot | Aston, Oxon Merveille du Jour | Aston, Oxon Mottled Rustic | Aston, Oxon
Wednesday 14th October
This morning I saw a Red Admiral and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden. In the afternoon I went to Farmoor as a Grey Phalarope had been reported at lunchtime. I walked all round F2 but couldn't find it. But I did see three Rock Pipits on the causeway, which were my first of the year. With the water level so low it was hard to photograph anything on the shore line. A Yellow-legged Gull was feeding on something (not sure what). I counted at least 100 Tufted Duck, and there were quite a few Coot and Great Crested Grebe. There was a Little Egret at the sailing club.
Rock Pipit, Farmoor, Oxon, 14th Oct
Yellow-legged Gull, Farmoor, Oxon, 14th Oct
  
Rock Pipit | Farmoor, Oxon Yellow-legged Gull | Farmoor, Oxon  
Tuesday 13th October
This morning I saw a Clouded Yellow at my allotment, and on the way home a Common Darter was basking on the road. That's my latest ever sighting of a Clouded Yellow in the UK.
Monday 12th October
There were only 19 moths in the trap this morning, from 9 species. They were Beaded Chestnut (3), Common Plume, Green-brindled Crescent (2), Lunar Underwing (5), Red-green Carpet, Rufous Tortrix, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Vine's Rustic and White-point (4).
Red-green Carpet ♂, Aston, Oxon, 12th Oct
Rufous Tortrix, Aston, Oxon, 12th Oct
  
Red-green Carpet ♂ | Aston, Oxon Rufous Tortrix | Aston, Oxon  
Sunday 11th October
Pit 60 at Standlake was quite busy again this morning. When I got there the seven Red-legged Partridges were on the east shore again. They went past the hide much closer than last week - I had a job to get the camera on them. Herons and egrets were numerous again, with 3 Grey Herons, five Great White Egrets and eight Little Egrets present. There were at least 150 Cormorants. The low water level must be concentrating fish together, as there were several feeding rafts. When these got close to the shore all the egrets flew to the area. There were also around 70 Lapwing, two Egyptian Goose, a Red Kite and a Marsh Harrier. Waterfowl numbers were still pretty low; Mallard were the most numerous, with a few Teal, Tufted Duck and Shoveler.
I saw a Small White in the garden.
Great Crested Grebe, Standlake Common, Oxon, 11th Oct
Red-legged Partridge, Standlake Common, Oxon, 11th Oct
Teal ♀, Standlake Common, Oxon, 11th Oct
Great Crested Grebe | Standlake Common, Oxon Red-legged Partridge | Standlake Common, Oxon Teal ♀ | Standlake Common, Oxon
Friday 9th October
A Jay was on the bird table briefly this morning.
Thursday 8th October
Two Sparrowhawks seen near the garden today - both at medium altitude.
Tuesday 6th October
There were 48 moths from 14 species in the trap this morning. Half of them were Lunar Underwing. There were also Beaded Chestnut (6), Beautiful Hook-tip (my latest ever record of this species), Black Rustic (4; first garden record of the year), Deep-brown Dart (2), Green-brindled Crescent, Large Yellow Underwing (2), Light Brown Apple Moth (2), Rush Veneer, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Small Mottled Willow, Square-spot Rustic, Turnip Moth and Vine's Rustic.
Beautiful Hook-tip, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Black Rustic ♂, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Green-brindled Crescent, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Beautiful Hook-tip | Aston, Oxon Black Rustic ♂ | Aston, Oxon Green-brindled Crescent | Aston, Oxon
Rush Veneer, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Shuttle-shaped Dart ♂, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Turnip Moth ♂, Aston, Oxon, 6th Oct
Rush Veneer | Aston, Oxon Shuttle-shaped Dart ♂ | Aston, Oxon Turnip Moth ♂ | Aston, Oxon
Monday 5th October
I found a Red-green Carpet on a window this morning - first garden record of the year. A Hummingbird Hawk-moth was present briefly, and a Common Darter was perched on the fence for a while.
Red-green Carpet ♂, Aston, Oxon, 5th Oct
    
Red-green Carpet ♂ | Aston, Oxon    
Sunday 4th October
It was foggy at pit 60 at Standlake Common when I got there this morning. I was able to see seven Red-legged Partridges on the bank to the left of the hide (a new species for me at Standlake). As the fog lifted more birds appeared, but there wasn't as much activity as last week. The only waders were two Ruff and about 70 Lapwing. There were two Little Egrets, two Grey Herons and three Great White Egrets. There weren't many ducks, but half a dozen Shoveler went past the hide. I heard a Cetti's Warbler calling. There was just one butterfly as I was leaving, a female Speckled Wood.
At home two Red Admirals flew over, heading south, and a Common Blue took some nectar from a dahlia flower. At the allotment I saw two Small Whites and a Turnip Moth.
Red-legged Partridge, Standlake Common, Oxon, 4th Oct
Shoveler ♂, Standlake Common, Oxon, 4th Oct
Speckled Wood ♀, Standlake Common, Oxon, 4th Oct
Red-legged Partridge | Standlake Common, Oxon Shoveler ♂ | Standlake Common, Oxon Speckled Wood ♀ | Standlake Common, Oxon
Saturday 3rd October
There were 51 moths from 14 species in the trap this morning. They were Beaded Chestnut (6), Deep-brown Dart (2), Large Yellow Underwing (2), Lunar Underwing (27), Mottled Rustic (very late; 3rd-gen?), Red-line Quaker, Rush Veneer, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic (2), Turnip Moth (5), Vestal, Vine's Rustic, White-point and Willow Beauty. While gardening I disturbed a Rusty-dot Pearl and a Rush Veneer. A Great Spotted Woodpecker came for a drink from the bird bath.
Beaded Chestnut, Aston, Oxon, 3rd Oct
Mottled Rustic, Aston, Oxon, 3rd Oct
Vestal, Aston, Oxon, 3rd Oct
Beaded Chestnut | Aston, Oxon Mottled Rustic | Aston, Oxon Vestal | Aston, Oxon
Thursday 1st October
There was a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in the garden this morning, feeding on Purple Toadflax flowers - my latest ever sighting of this species. There was also a Chiffchaff in the garden with the tit flock.