A different type of feather?

I was walking through the office this morning when something bright caught my eye. A moth, on the carpet, near the door. I just managed to stop a colleague standing on it before it flew to the window and allowed me to take this photo. Now, I'm no moth expert, and our number one moth man is on annual leave, but Katy and Lizzie have identified it for me as a feathered thorn. Apparently there are quite a few turning up in the moth trap at present - no doubt helped by the current mild weather.

Despite the weather, we are seeing more and more winter visitors arriving. Another nine waxwings called in briefly yesterday, obligingly sitting outside the office window for long enough for me to see them and hear their wonderful bell-like calls. Paul spotted another today, whilst watching an otter almost at his feet. I'll try to link to some video footage soon.

The starling roost seems to fluctuate from one evening to the next, but there was an impressive display of 12-15k on Saturday evening. They seem to favour the area between Bittern Hide and West Hide, and you need to be on site by 3.45 pm.

Other recent sightings have included Bewick's swans (down to ten today), hen harriers, Caspian gulls and good flocks of black-tailed godwits. The odd pomarine skua is still
being reported offshore.

Meanwhile, Island Mere Hide is almost ready to open. Gilleard Brothers have done a great job, and they've even been able to enjoy watching bitterns, marsh harriers and short-eared owls while they work. Can't be bad.