Jack Levene

Black Redstart (Eastern) (Phoenicurus ochruros [ochruros-group])

Black Redstart (Eastern) (Phoenicurus ochruros [ochruros-group])

On Wednesday got up to Norfolk to see the splendid Eastern Black Redstart in Sheringham. The bird showed very well at times but was often rather inactive, probably eaten too many of the Mealworms which had been put out for it! #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)

Blackcap is a regular winter visitor to my garden. This female has been seen most days this year. mostly feeding on Ivy berries. #UKBirding #SuffolkBirds #BirdsSeenIn2026

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

Last Friday had a couple of hours free while waiting for my van to be serviced. These 2 very tame Snow Buntings at Landguard filled the time nicely. #suffolkbirding #ukbirds

Dark Sword-grass (Agrotis ipsilon)

A disappointing 2 of 2 in last nights light trap, on a warm, overcast but quite windy night. Both moths possible immigrants being Siver-Y and Dark Sword-grass #suffolkmoths #teammoth

Black-spotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginosa)

December Moth (Poecilocampa populi)

After a damp night had a small catch (12 of 7) in my VC25 garden trap. Small numbers made up for by December Moth NFY and my first ever Black-spotted Chestnut. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea)

Sprawler (Ateroscopus sphinx)

Last nights trap had 24 of 11 in mild but quite windy conditions. Including NFY Feathered Thorn and Sprawler and NFG Dotted Chestnut. Of interest 2 very late Dark Arches. Possible migrants 1 Rush Veneer and 3 Rusty-dot Pearl. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Probable 1st winter Isabelline Shrike (Daurian) (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)

Probable 1st winter Isabelline Shrike (Daurian) (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus)

Today was the first chance I had to try for the probable 1st winter Isabelline Shrike (Daurian) (Lanius isabellinus isabellinus) at North Warren. Thankfully the bird was still present and showed extremely well in the sunshine. It was feeding well, frequently catching wasps.

Wildlife Recorder taxonomy now updated to incorporate Clements/eBird 2025 changes. Update is now available to Wildlife Recorder users

Barred Warbler (Curruca nisoria)

Barred Warbler (Curruca nisoria)

The Barred Warbler at Landguard was mostly true to type, skulking in thick privet bushes but did show very well occasionally. The Pallas's Warbler was very elusive but I did eventually manage to catch up with it. #suffolkbirding #ukbirds

Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)

Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)

Last nights trap contained 16 of 12. New for the year was a Satellite, also of interest a Common Quaker well outside its usual flight dates. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Oak Rustic (Dryobota labecula)

Olive-tree Pearl (Palpita vitrealis)

This weeks trapping produced 5 of 4 on 3rd, including my 2nd Oak Rustic of the year. Better numbers on 5th, 29 of 15 including a Palpita vitrealis and 3 Rusty-dot Pearl.
#teammoth #suffolkmoths

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Brown Shrike still present and showing well at Upper Hollesley Common yesterday. Nice to meet up with several #suffolkbirding friends, including Gerald Jobson who I have not seen for some time.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus). Not a great photo but this is the best I have of the tail.

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)

Yesterday was the first chance I had to get to Hollesley for the Brown Shrike. Windy conditions made viewing difficult the bird frequently spending long periods hunkered down in a bush sheltering from the wind.
The bird was never close enough for good photos but I did manage some record shots.

Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria)

Every autumn we get a small number of Fly Agaric under the Silver Birch in our garden. This is the first this year. #fungi

The Streak (Chesias legatella)

Grey Shoulder-knot (Lithophane ornitopus)

Merveille-Du-jour (Griposia aprilina)

Last nights trapping produced 88 moths of 30 species, including a garden record of 10 Merveille-du-jour. Grey-shoulder Knot and Streak were NFY. Streak has only been trapped once before, coincidentally, on exactly the same date 13th October in 2021. #teammoth #suffolkmoths

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

This Glossy Ibis on the River Stour near Flatford was a welcome addition to my Local Patch list. #ukbirding #suffolkbirding

Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides)

Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) with wasp

Red-tailed Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) with bumblebee in larder. see extreme left.

The Red-tailed (Turkestan) Shrike (Lanius phoenicuroides) at Dunwich Heath gave wonderful, prolonged views. The bird was feeding actively, the majority of prey items were wasps but was also catching spiders and bumblebees which it was also storing in a larder for later (see LH side of third photo)

Just finished converting the Wildlife Recorder species IOC taxonomy to AviList. There are a lot of lumps, my World list of 3061 species lost 19 to lumps e.g Carrion and Hooded Crow are lumped and are now groups in a single species. Update is now available to Wildlife Recorder users

Dusky-lemon Sallow (Cirrhia gilvago)

Merveille-Du-jour (Griposia aprilina)

Last nights trap 106 moths of 24 species including a 2nd very worn Clifden Nonpareil and a garden record 12 Clancey's Rustic. NFY were Merveille du Jour and Dusky-lemon Sallow only the 3rd record here in 25 years of recording.
#teammoth #suffolkmoths

Scarce Silver-lines

Clifden Nonpareil

A distinct autumnal feel to the moth trap last night with 94 moths of 25 species, 23 were Lunar Underwings. Highlights were a splendid Clifden Nonpareil, Pearly Underwing, 4 Clancey's Rustic and a very late Scarce-Silverlines.
#teammoth #suffolkmoths

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla torquilla)

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla torquilla)

Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla torquilla)

A morning visit to Landguard produced brief, un-photographable views of the Hoopoe but excellent close views of the Wryneck. Nice to bump into @nickburfield.bsky.social at the Hoopoe site.

Clancy's Rustic (Caradrina kadenii)

Beet Moth (Scrobipalpa ocellatella)

Cypress Pug (Eupithecia phoeniceata)

A coldish night with bright skies was not the best time to put out the MV trap so only 27 of 14 species were trapped.
Of note , for my garden, were 1 Clancy's Rustic, I Cypress Pug and 1 Beet moth.

Thanks

Mating pair of Common Blue butterflies.

Male Common Blue

A walk around Landguard Common yesterday produced a few migrant birds including Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Good number of Common Blue butterflies still about, many very fresh, and at least one pair mating. Also a few Small Heath, Small Coppers and Whites.

Rosy Knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella)

173 of 51 species in my VC25 garden MV trapincluded the second Clancy's Rustic (Caradrina kadenii) of the year. Possible migrants include 2 Rush Veneer (Nomophila noctuella), 1 Delicate (Mythimna vitellina) and 1 Rosy Knot-horn (Oncocera semirubella), only the 3rd record for my garden.
#teammoth

Male Zitting Cisticola

Zitting Cisticola

Four Zitting Cisticolas are visible in this shot

This is the best I could manage of the Walberswick Zitting Cistocolas. Even using a doubler and the built in teleconverter on my lens they were always just a bit too distant. In the third shot four of the Cisticolas can be seen.

Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca)

Just 1 week after the first Marbled Clover (Heliothis viriplaca) for my garden another was present in my MV trap.
#teammoth #suffolkmoths

634 including micros

Juvenile Black Stork

Juvenile Black Stork catching a water snail

The Black Stork at Boyton showed extremely well and was feeding up on a mixture of small fish, invertebrates and water snails.

Male, Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

Female, Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) pair

Keeled Skimmer (Orthetrum coerulescens)

A visit to Dersingham Bog in Norfolk last week produced excellent views of several Black Darters and Keeled Skimmers .