The warmest night of the year so far with a low of 10c produced the most moths so far to with: 5  Early Grey, 5 Hebrew Character, 3 Double-striped Pugs, 2 Brindled Pugs, 1 Clouded Drab, and new for year were 2 LBAMs, and my 4th ever record of Early Tooth-striped. Year list now at 20 species.

Early Tooth-striped

Just a few Orthosias during the week, but a much milder night last night produced 9 moths of 6 species, with The Herald and 2 Brindled Pugs being new for the year.

The Herald

Brindled Pug

With a low of 1c last night I was not expecting much this morning, but there wer 4 moths in the trap: 2 Hebrew Characters, 1 Common Quaker and, new for the garden list, 1 Dotted Chestnut.

Dotted Chestnut

Despite a cold night (4c) there were 7 moths this morning: 3 Hebrew Characters, 2 Clouded Drabs, 1 Common Quaker and, new for the year, 1 Twin-spotted Quaker.

Twin-spotted Quaker

Four Hebrew Characters and a Clouded Drab in the trap this morning, before my weekly visit to Dunge, where we struggled a bit. However, one new bird for the year was Garganey from the Makepeace hide where we saw 2 drakes and a female. There was an interesting bee colony near Dennis's hide, which I think are Ashy Mining Bees, several Small Tortoishells were on the wing with 1 Peacock. After lunch we only managed to see the Glaucous Gull near the fishing boats and 32 Yellowhammers at the Tickner Lane seed dump.

Ashy Mining Bee

 Small Tortoiseshell

Not much to report from the moth trap. I did spend yesterday morning at Oare Marsh NR. The weather was spring like but things were generally quiet. However a Red Kite showed well overhead mid-morning, the first I've seen at this location.

Red Kite

Since my last post, I've just had Hebrew Characters, Common Quakers and Clouded Drabs in the trap. Had a day at Dunge today, which started well, with the fog lifting for a beautiful sunny morning. My companion found a Pink-footed Goose near Boulderwall Farm. Marsh Harriers were displaying high up and a Siskin flew overhead. We couldn't find the Green-winged Teal but did see the Slavonian Grebe, drake Scaup and the Long-tailed Duck all on Burrows pit. After lunch however, the fog came pouring in off the sea making things tricky to say the least. We did manage to make out the Black-throated Diver on the New Diggings, and found 3 Black Redstarts along the Dengemarsh Road, where a Grey Wagtail flew past. I was also shown the Mysterious Concrete Man of Dungeness off the Dengemarsh Road. The day finished at the Tickners Lane seed dump where there were about a dozen Yellowhammers in the bushes and a Mink emerged from a ditch and headed along a field margin (no rifle handy).

Black Redstart

 Reed Bunting

Concrete Man

Had the best night so far last night with 7 moths this morning of 5 species. New for the year were a (rather worn) Dotted Border, a Clouded Drab and a Common Plume. Thirteen species for the year so far.

Dotted Border

Clouded Drab

Three Hebrew Characters in the trap this morning. Had another day at Dungeness today and we struggled to do as well as last Sunday. However, we did see 2 Great White Egrets this time and I had a glimpse of a Bittern landing out of sight on the reserve. Slightly unusual was a Brent Goose with the Greylags on the reserve. A Slavonian Grebe was on Burrows where there was at least 3 Smew plus 1 on the ARC. I didn't manage to see the Glossy Ibis this time but did see the Emu! Water levels on the reserve are as high as I've ever seen them.

 Common Gull

Water Level from the Scott Hide

    

Two moths this morning: Early Grey and Hebrew Character. Last year when everything was very late, I didn't record the first  Early Grey until 14th April.

Early Grey

Had a micro in the trap this morning. I'm fairly sure this is Agonopterix heracliana.

Agonopterix heracliana

No moths again, but this morning bright sunshine tempted me to visit my local wood (Bossenden Wood), where Nuthatches were coming regularly to peanuts. I had short walk into the wood and managed to see all three Woodpeckers (distantly), and a Treecreeper. However, I failed to see a Marsh Tit either at the peanuts or elsewhere.

Nuthatch

 Robin

No moths since my last post. I has a good  but rather windy day at Dungeness today, although we had to work hard to find everything. Highlights included the Glossy Ibis which seen from the road a bit to the north of Boulderwall Farm. Apparently there was an EMU in a pen near there but I managed not to see that! Also the 1st winter Glaucous Gull showed well by the fishing boats after lunch. The Slavonian Gebe was still on the North Pit at Lade and the Black-necked Grebe was on Burrows. There was 5 Little Gulls at the patch and at least one Black-throated Diver on the new Diggings. Surprisingly didn't see a Great White Egret although I believe they're still around.

Glaucous Gull

 Glossy Ibis