Winter Fox moth

21:st of February

The last Naturetrek group for the winter-season arrives on a terribly windy and grey thursday. We start out fine with 20 or so Bullfinches, among the Hawfinches, causing discussions around their nasal, trumpeting calls, sounding just like the aledged southerly birds that invaded Western Europe a couple of years ago in early autumn.

   A walk up a forest track doesn´t give many birds in the hard weather, but droppings from Capercaillie and several mammals are interesting, as is the find of a furry caterpillar on the path. Early woken up by the mild, snowless season. It proves to be the larvae of a Fox Moth!