28 December 2010 - Blairgowrie, Perthshire

Man flu prevented me from doing much natural history - that and the bloody cold temperatures. This evening temperatures soared up to about +2oC and promptly enticed a couple of Winter Moth spp to the windows.

Now I had been thinking this one was a Northern Winter Moth. Hind wind white and bulging - or could it just be a Winter Moth. I don't know - looks like I'm going to have to go out and look for females (winter moth females that is....!).

18 December 2011 - North Norfolk

A trip to Norfolk this weekend to see the Northern Harrier. The date was chosen as the Good Lady Wiff and wee Max were both up in Scotland. A Friday night drive up to Wells-next-the-sea enabled me to avoid the snow and stay the night with Mike Sidwell.

Up late and a few cups of tea later, I ventured out in to a Norfolk that was -15oC.....

Rock Pipit on the salt marsh

Redshank

Dunlin

Black-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Eventually, just before reaching the point of Brass Monkey, the Northern Harrier appeared and duly showed for the next hours or so (photo from Graham Etherington's blog).

Am I convinced Northern Harrier is a separate species for the European Hen Harrier - Yes.

Am I convinced this and the Irish bird are Northern Harriers - in all honesty, no. But what do I know?