Buts and Pips

Spring is happening, today (24th) the Peacock above was sunning itself along White Dyke, and another over-winterer was seen, albeit a very battered one, in the shape of a Small Tortoiseshell.
Highlight of the afternoon walk was a Water Pipit, moulting into summer plumage, on Mappins which I wouldn't have seen unless I had been indulging myself watching a pair of Redshank and a Dunlin which were feeding around the muddy fringes. A pair of Shelduck were also on Mappins and, somewhat surprisingly, a single Russian White-front was loitering with the goose flock, as was a Barnacle Goose of (probably) more suspect origin. On Down Level two pairs of Shoveler and a single Shelduck, while White Dyke produced the usual Cettis' along with Great Spotted Woodpecker and a couple of pairs of Stockies prospecting.
Overnight moth trapping produced only a solitary micro - Common Plume.