Northwest Norfolk Naturalists: 4 new moths, 5 newts, a Peacock, sun, fog and a brilliant sunset

Saturday, 1 March 2014

4 new moths, 5 newts, a Peacock, sun, fog and a brilliant sunset

Another glorious day on the patch began with thick fog swirling around the dunes and marshes. It became patchy by about 9 am but dimmed the bright sunshine until early afternoon whenever it held sway. 2 Avocets and 2 Greenshank fed on Lavender Marsh - the former only recently back from wherever they winter. A Cetti's Warbler gave a burst of strident song, unseen, along The River Hun. 2 drake and a duck Pochard were on Broadwater, with several Tufted Ducks, whilst Shoveler were numerous on the North Fields and a lone Fieldfare fed on the still-abundant Sea Buckthorn berries. 230 Golden Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwit fed amongst the Curlew on the grazings whilst a noisy Great Spotted Woodpecker proclaimed from the pines. A light left on in the porch of The Firs had attracted a stunning-looking Shoulder Stripe, a Mottled Grey and at least 5 Dotted Borders and a search of a bunker later in the day revealed two hibernating Heralds - all new moths for the year. Robert had come armed with new sieves, vast flexi-bucket and new gloves so we spent some time sifting through debris on the strand line and on the immediate landward side of the dunes. We collected a couple of vials of beasts to identify - including several snails, a couple of woodlice and something smaller and altogether less interesting. Julia Masson joined Robert, Phil and myself for a moss-hunting session in the afternoon (list below), during which we also found some excellent lichens and 5 Smooth Newts. A Peacock was on the wing in my garden.

Mosses this afternoon at Holme NWT - dunes, dune-slack and a wall

Hornschuch’s Beard-moss Pseudocrossidium hornschuchianum
Broom Fork Moss    Dicranum scoparium
Neat Feather Moss    Pseudoscleropodium purum
Lesser Bird’s-claw Beard-moss Barbula convoluta
Heath Star-moss Campylopus introflexus
Great Plait-moss Hypnum lacunosum
Yellow Feather-moss Homolothecium lutescens
Redshank Ceratodon purpureus
Marsh Bryum Bryum pseudotriquetrum
Grey-cushioned Grimmia Grimmia pulvinata
Cylindric Beard-moss Didymodon insulans
Great Hairy Screw-moss Syntrichia ruralis ruralis
Sand-hill Screw-moss      Syntrichia ruralis ruraliformis
Capillary Thread-moss Bryum capillare
White-tipped Bristle-moss Orthotrichium diaphanum
Bird’s -claw Bear-moss Barbula unguiculata
Endive Pellia Pellia endivifolia

The Herald, Holme 1st March 2014