In the course of the Work Party tasks; a Common Lizard was found and a female Mandarin Duck was ringed.

Common Lizard 30-05-17

West End:-  Still 4 Cormorant nests, 3 pairs of Common Terns on rafts, 4 Greylag, 1 Buzzard, 1 Lapwing, 3 Swallow, 2 Goldfinch, 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly.
Whillet’s:- 1 Kestrel. Stock Dove, Song Thrush, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler all heard. Butterflies 3 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 1 Painted Lady. Also Azure Damselflies and Beautiful Demoiselle.

On Saturday night (27/5/17) I put out a moth box in the meadows. Among the moths was a micro moth that I photographed for later identification. Going through the ID books it appeared to be Agonopterix Pallorella (see pic) a Nationally Scarce B listed species. I sent a photo to the Sussex County Moth Recorder for identification – and it was confirmed. Apparently the last time this species was seen in Northern Sussex was in Tilgate Forest in 1870.  It has been recorded along the Sussex Coat with occasional recent sightings. It’s food plant is the roots of Knapweed. This moth is small – it’s forewing length is only 9-11mm.
The other moths recorded that night were all macro moths:- 4 Brown Silver-Line, 1 Buff Ermine, 3 Clouded Border, 1 Common Swift,  4 Flame Shoulder, 7 Green Carpet, 2 Ingrailed Clay (see pic), 2 Light Emerald, 1 Maidens Blush, 1 Marbled Brown, 1 Marbled White Spot (See pic), 2 May Highflyer, 6 Pale Oak Beauty (see pic), 1 Pale Tussock, 2 Poplar Hawk Moth,  2 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Silver Ground Carpet, 2 Treble Lines, 18 White Ermine.
Recently I also had another new moth species for the reserve, although it is not particularly rare, a Poplar Lutestring. (see pic).

West End:- 6 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher. A Little Owl was seen very briefly sitting on wires along Legsheath Lane near Old Lane at around 21:00.

West End:- 2 Mute Swan, 4 Egyptian Geese, 4m+2f+3y Mandarin, 20 Grey Heron many of this years young have now fledged, 37 Mallard, 32 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Lapwing, 3 pairs of Common Terns on rafts, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Pied Wagtail, 37 Mallard, 14 Cormorants 4 pairs are nesting, Reed Warbler singing in front of hide.
Whillet’s:-  1 Stock Dove, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler heard. Butterflies:  3 Common Blue, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Peacock.

West End:-  1 Little Egret, 1m Tufted Duck, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Song Thrush heard.

West End:- 3 Lapwings, 2m+1f Mandarin, 6 Swallows, 5 Common Terns, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Reed Warbler, 1m Bullfinch, 4 Goldfinch, Nuthatch feeding young.
Whillet’s:- 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, 5 Whitethroats, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Common Blue Butterfly, 6 Beautiful Demoiselle, 3 Grass Snakes, 1 Common Lizard.

Dam End:- 1 Hobby & 2 Egyptian Geese.

West End:- 2 Egyptian Geese, 7 Common Tern, 1m+1f Tufted Duck, 1 Swallow.
Also Richard Woods saw 2 Buzzards and 1 Kingfisher.

The list of bird species reported at Weir Wood for this year is now up to 110. To see the list please click HERE.