My Outback 2004 / 46

[birdman]

The pleasant Sunday evening that eventually materialised in these parts, gave way to a very warm if cloudy Monday morning. Luckily, I had a day off work and so the same entourage as the evening before - myself, partnyorsha, daughter and dog - took to the footpaths.

Once again, very quiet... but with an alarmingly wintry sighting!!!

Plain text = Outback day tick
Bold text = Outback year tick
Bold text italic = Outback life tick
(Number in brackets is highest number of individuals identified at one time)

Mallard : 19 (19)
Green Woodpecker : 2 (1)
Swift : 14 (11)
Woodpigeon : 2 (1)
Moorhen : 4 (1)
Coot : 10 (3)
Kestrel : 3 (1)
Magpie : 2 (2)
Carrion Crow : 9 (4)
Mistle Thrush : 20 (20)
Blue Tit : 1 (1)
House Martin : 7 (7)

[Andrew]

Whooah! Twenty Mistles! They must breed in or close to your Outback!

[birdman]

Whooah!
That was pretty much my reaction!

[Andrew]

I am always captivated by Mistles, they seem to sit upright much more than slouchy Song Thrushes (on the ground).

[birdman]

Having said it was quiet, birdwise, it was rather busy butterflywise, with dozens and dozens of Meadow Browns, many Gatekeepers, many Whites, Large and Small, plenty of Skippers, a few Peacocks and a Red Admiral.

The was also one particular moth of note, although I cannot find it in any of my meagre collection of moth id books.

I think it was some sort of Tussock (although equally it might not have been) that was predominantly white, with a few brown markings, and had a "Sydney Opera House" type motif going on across the "join" of its flat swept-back wings.