Moth numbers down a bit but new for the yearin the last 2 days were Pebble Hook-tip and Iron Prominent. This morning after a deal of trying I managed a poor photograph of a tiny micro which was Phyllonorycter joannisi-a new one for the garden.The Beautiful Demoiselle mentioned in the last posting was the 2nd record for the Dungeness RSPB Reserve (last seen in 1987).

 Pebble Hook-tip

  Iron Prominent

  Phyllonorycter joannisi

Moth numbers down this morning but the V-Pug was new for the year. Visited Dungeness for the first time in a few weeks where it was a fairly quiet day. However, I photographed a Beautiful Demoiselle on the Willow Trail near the Hanson Hide on the ARC Pit. I didn't realise this species occured at Dunge. At the patch an immature Med. Gull was of interest, while back on the RSPB reserve 2 Garganeys were close in front of the Firth Hide. Common Sandpipers, Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers were noted and a Buzzard flew over Dengemarsh. Finally a Kestrel posed on a post in the ARC car park.

Beautiful Demoiselle

 Garganey

Kestrel

Another good moth night depite a low of 8C, with 54 moths of 32 species. There was a nice Blood-vein and Orange Swift was new for the year, but Rosy Minor, Gypsonoma minutana, and Limnaecia phragmitella (albeit a dead specimen in the trap) were all new for the garden list which now stands at 561.

Rosy Minor

 Orange Swift

 Blood-vein

 Gypsonoma minutana

Nothing new in the trap the last couple of days. However Oare this afternoon produced: 2 Little Stints, 2 Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, a few Ruff and 3 Whimbrel on the east Flood with the usual commoner species.

Little Stint

Curlew Sandpiper

A very good night last night with 68 moths of 37 species this morning. These included my 2nd ever record of Twin-spotted Wainscot (last one 2011), my 3rd Dog's Tooth (last one 2010), and also my first Canary-shouldered Thorn since 2010. My second Euspilapteryx auroguttella of the year also posed for its photograph.

Twin-spotted Wainscot

 Dog's Tooth

 Canary-shouldered Thorn

 Euspilapteryx auroguttella

No trap last night due to rain but I've had second thoughts about the indentification of the new pyralid for the garden list mentioned yesterday. I've sought some expert help and I'm fairly sure it's Acrobasis tumidana-a somewhat scarcer species. The red tufts on the "shoulders" are the key feature-see photo from a different angle.

 Acrobasis tumidana

We've reached the end of another month and so far this year the garden moth list stands at 231 which is 13 better than at this stage last year. New for the year have been: Mouse Moth, Rosy Rustic, Flounced Rustic, Bird Cherry Ermine, Apple Ermine and Large Twin-spot Carpet. I've also been getting a few Euzophera pinguis, but best of all was Acrobasis repandana which was new for the garden.

 Acrobasis repandana

Euzophera pinguis

 Apple Ermine

 Bird Cherry Ermine