March 07

The weather was warm enough to do a butterfly transect mid-month! 4 species were recorded, with peacock the most numerous, a few each of comma & small tortoiseshell, and a single small white.

The moth trap was run on a few nights - fairly standard early spring fare, with a few small & common quakers, hebrew characters & clouded drabs; 2 shoulder stripes and dotted borders and single March moth, red chestnut & early grey.

The first spring sighting of grass snake was had on 15th.

March 08

A few nights were suitable for moth trapping, producing a dotted chestnut (Nb) on 6th. Other more expected species included yellow horned, satellite, shoulder stripe, March moth, small brindled beauty & assorted quakers.

The banning of hunting with dogs has had a noticably positive effect on numbers of brown hares seen on the reserve - they're much commoner these days, with groups of up to 6 seen boxing out on the marsh.