68 moths of 34 species this morning. New for the year were: Common Carpet, Cloaked Minor, Maiden's Blush, The Fern, Phycita roborella, and my 3rd ever record of Timothy Tortrix.

Maiden's Blush

 Timothy Tortrix

Phycita roborella

65 moths of 29 species last night with Scarce Footman, Peppered Moth, White-point, and Spindle Ermine new for the year. The Peppered Moth was probably the darkest specimen I've seen

Peppered Moth

 Spindle Ermine

Finally had a descent catch of 81 moths of 41 species last night. New for the year were: Dot Moth, 20 Plume, July Highflyer, Buff Ermine, Dingy Footman, Shaded Broad-bar, Square-spot Rustic, The Fan-foot, Haworth's Pug, Carcina quercana, Catoptria falsella, and Scoparia subfusca.

Scoparia subfusca

 Catoptria falsella

The last 2 days have brought a few new species for the year to the moth trap, including: V-Pug, Dun-bar, Lesser Broad Bordered Underwing, Meal Moth, Yellow Shell and the Codling Moth. The most interesting was Clouded Brindle which only my 4th garden record and looked rather different to the last one 2 years ago. (I've had the identification confirmed.)

Clouded Brindle

Codling Moth

   

29 moths of 18 species this morning included the first Large Yellow Underwing of the year and the first Gold Triangle. Here are some waders from the Cananda Trip.

Solitary Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

25 moths of 19 species this morning was better than of late with a few new ones for the year list including Lesser Yellow Underwing, Small Blood-vein, Large Tabby, and best of all my 2nd ever record of Caloptilia alchimiella which despite refridgeration etc. wouldn't co-operate with being photographed. Made a trip to Dunge and Rye yesterday. Didn't see very much. The Great White Egret was showing well on Dengemarsh and there was a Hobby there. At Rye harbour failed to get any Roseate Terns but the Common Terns were feeding young.

Small Blood-vein

 Common Tern

Well quite a lot of moth trappers seem to be getting good catches now. Last night we had a lingering thunderstorm which the moth trap survived well. However, there were quite a few Caddis Flies, Water Boatmen, Midges etc. in the trap this morning and just 1 moth-Clepsis consimilana! So continuing the Canada theme:

 American Robin

 Calliope Hummingbird

I'm still not getting any interesting moths and numbers are very low still for late July. Here are some more pictures from Canada.

Cedar Waxwing

Clay-colored Sparrow

I've been away in Canada for the last 2 weeks and missed the best weather of the summer so far. Put the trap out last night expecting bumper numbers but got only 17 moths of 12 species. Four of these were new for the year but there was nothing exciting. So here a couple of bird pictures from Canada, both species were new ones for me. The Lewis's Woodpecker is interesting in that it hawks for insects rather like a large Swallow. 

American Redstart

 Lewis's Woodpecker

30th June 2013

17 moths of 15 species this morning. New for the year were Scoparia ambigualis, Garden Pebble, Buff Ermine, Dwarf Cream Wave and Broken-barred Carpet. So at the end of June I've recorded 95 species so far this year compared to 117 last year at the same time.

Broken-barred Carpet