Good moth numbers continue with 102 moths of 50 species this morning. New for the year were my 2nd ever Buff Footman, Tawny Speckled Pug, Ypsolopha scabrella and a nice Rosy Footman.

Ypsolopha scabrella

 Buff Footman

Rosy Footman

The moth trap is curently producing 40+ species a night. There have been a couple of new garden records: Evergestis pallidata, Para swammerdamia nebulella, and Hedya salicella. Garden list now stans at 556.

 Evergestis pallidata

 Hedya salicella

Another good night with 80 moths of 44 species. New for the year were: Scorched Carpet, Ruby Tiger, Meal Moth, Old Lady, Gold Triangle, Cochylis hybridella and a very nice Tree-lichen Beauty.

Tree-lichen Beauty

Cochylis hybridella

I recently returned from a week in the Spanish Pyrenees where we saw over 100 species of Butterfly, a similar number of moth species, plus Birds  and Dragonflies. I will be posting many of my photographs on my Flickr site overthe next few weeks. Meanwhile back home the moth trap has been quite busy. I was pleased to get my 2nd ever Barred Yellow this week. Other ones new for the year include: Early Thorn, The Engrailed, Knot Grass and Straw Dot.

Spanish Swallowtail

Barred Yellow

 Knot Grass

This morning there were 45 moths of 23 species in the trap after overnight rain. New for the year were: Boad-bordered Yellow Underwing and Rusty-dot Pearl. There was also a 2nd Orange Moth of the year, which was a much better specimen than the 1st.

Orange Moth

 Boad-bordered Yellow Underwing

Sunday morning produced 70 moths of 35 species in the trap but there were fewer (22 species) this morning. New for the year were: Scarce Footman, Poplar Grey, Small Blood-vein, Mother of Pearl, Square-spot Rustic, Yellow Shell, and my 2nd ever record of the tortrix: Rhyalionia pinicolana, which was a bit worn but still just about identifiable as this species.

Rhyalionia pinicolana

Good moth numbers continue with 84 moths of 45 species this morning. New for the year were: Langmaid's Yellow Underwing, Scoparia pyralella, Orange Moth, July Highflyer, Dingy Shears, Mottled Pug, Red-barred Tortrix, and Large Fruit-tree Tortrix. New for the garden was Piniphila bifasciana.

Orange Moth

Large Fruit-tree Tortrix

Again good moth numbers in the trap this morning with my first Poplar Hawk-moth this year and also first Least Carpet, Dot Moth, Slender Pug, and Smoky Wainscot. Also 2 (possibly 3) new micros for the garden list: Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana) and Plum Fruit Moth (Grapholita funebrana). This afternoon I visited Oare Marshes looking for waders but instead managed to find the Bonaparte's Gull which is back for its 4th year.

Bonaparte's Gull with Black-tailed Godwits

 Marbled Orchard Tortrix

 Plum Fruit Moth

This morning brought the best catch of the year in the moth trap with 79 moths of 39 species. Swallow-tailed Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing and Thistle Ermine were new for the year. However, best of all was a female Ghost Moth. The was the 1st Ghost Moth for 5 years but was only the 2nd female ever-the last one was 15 years ago. Spent a pleasant mainly overcast day at Dunge today where 9 species of butterfly were seen including Marbled Whites everywhere. Birds were hard to find but late in the afternoon we found the Glossy Ibis on a pool at the "Hayfields" on the RSPB reserve.

Glossy Ibis

 Ghost Moth (f)

 Marbled White

Moth trap fairly unexceptional since my last post with Shoulder-striped Wainscot, The Clay, Vine's Rustic and Crambus perlela new for the year.

The Clay

The Hornet in the moth trap this morning was definitely a first! Also 70 moths of 24 species with The Coronet and Burnished Brass new for the year. Experienced a very blustery and drizzly day at Dunge  today. We struggled to see much but a Cuckoo was still calling at the ARC pit where there were good numbers of Swifts and all 3 Hirundines. At the Patch 5 Med.Gulls were noted plus 20 Gannets and a Painted Lady Butterfly. A couple of Little Egrets, 2 Marsh Harriers and 2 Ringed Plovers were seen on the main part of the RSPB Reserve. The best bird of the day was the Spoonbill at nearby Scotney, where a Little Owl showed well and Corn Bunting and Yellow Wagtail were also seen. The Spoonbill remained asleep for most of the afternnon.

The Coronet

 Spoonbill in usual pose

 Little Owl at Scotney Farm