Yesterday was a poor catch in the moth trap apart from my 5th Convolvulus Hawk-Moth of the year. There were a better selection of moths this morning: L-album Wainscot, 2 Red-green Carpets, 2 Black Rustics, Feathered Ranunculus and new for the year: Blair's Shoulder-knot. Ivy Bees have been common in the garden the last few days.

 Blair's Shoulder-knot

 Ivy Bee

Another good night with my 2nd Red-green Carpet of the year and my 2nd ever Oak Lutestring-the 1st for 7 years. This afternoon at Oare I had good views of the Osprey in the Harty Ferry area both perched on posts and flying over the estuary. Somewhat distant for photography.

 Oak Lutestring

 Red-green Carpet

 Osprey

Opened the trap this morning and a 4th Convolvulus Hawk-Moth of the month flew out. Yesterday I had the first Large Wainscot of the year and this morning new for the year were: Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Ypsolopha sequella and only my 2nd ever record of Orange Sallow and the 1st for 5 years. 

Orange Sallow

 Ypsolopha sequella

Despite a low of 8c there were 39 moths of 17 species this morning including my 3rd Convolvulus Hawk-Moth of the Autumn. New for the year were: Barred Sallow and Black Rustic which brought the year list to 303.

Barred Sallow

 Black Rustic

 Convolvulus Hawk-Moth

Moth numbers still going down but Lunar Underwing and The Sallow over the last 2 days have taken my year species total to 300 for the first time. At Dunge today we failed to see yesterday's Greenish Warbler or the Rose-coloured Starling. Highlights were 2 Spoonbills at Scotney, 4 Great White Egrets on the reserve, and 3 Black Redstarts on posts near the Polish Airman's Memorial. A Marsh Harrier showed well on the reserve.

The Sallow

 Lunar Underwing

 Marsh Harrier

Just 26 moths of 12 species this morning after yesterday's rain. However, Feathered Ranunculus was new for the year and brought the year total to 297 species-the best I've had with quite a bit of the year still to go. I also had the 16th Angle Shades this morning-last year I only had 1 all year and the year before only 2.

 Feathered Ranunculus

Angle Shades

Lesser Wax Moth was new for the year this morning which brought the year total to 296 species which equals last year's final tally. I should be able to get to 300 for the first time. Today at Dungeness we encountered some heavy rain which did leave off for a while but eventually drove us homeward about an hour ealier that usual. We started on the ARC pit where a Kingfisher posed in front of the Hanson Hide and a couple of Bar-tailed Godwits were on the islands, while 2 flocks totally about 100 of the same species flew over. Other waders were: 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 15 Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, LRP and Grey Plover. Two Little Egrets were also there. Apart from lunch, when we saw an Arctic Skua chasing Sandwich Terns at Lade, we spent the rest of the time in the 3 hides nearest the RSPB visitor centre. Birds noted were: 2 Great White Egrets, 2 Little Egrets, Grey Heron, 2 Black Terns, Sandwich and Common Terns, Good numbers of Sand Martins with a few House Martins and Swallows, 1 Little Stint, 3 Ruff, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and Marsh Harrier. Common Newts were around the visitor centre.

 Kingfisher

 Bar-tailed Godwit

Common Newt

   

Moth numbers declining but yesterday there was my 2nd garden record of a rather worn Pinion-streaked Snout, following my 1st last year, and this morning a 2nd Convolvulus Hawk-moth. They have very large eyes.

Convolvulus Hawk-moth

  Pinion-streaked Snout

Nothing particularly interesting in the trap this morning. However, I received a packet of Nicotiana seeds with Atropos Magazine last year which we only got round to planting this spring. Well it’s paid off. After going through 85 of the usual suspects in and around the trap, I thought I’d have a look round the garden and Lo & Behold on the wall of the old brick (former) W.C. there was a Convolvulus Hawk-moth. This is my first garden record.  This is an annual Autumn immigrant species and the only species found in Britain with a tongue long enough to feed on the Tobacco plants.

 Convolvulus Hawk-moth

L-album Wainscot

Moth numbers gave been falling over the last few days with L-album Wainscot the only speces new for the year. I did get an interesting Wainscot, which was a different colour to the ones I normally get, and, as I have recorded the occasional "saltmarsh" species over the years I thought it might be a Mathew's Wainscot. I have shown the photograph to an expert who thought it probably wasn't but without being 100% sure. See below:

 L-album Wainscot

 Common Wainscot?

 

Numbers remain quite high in the trap but the only new species for the year was a Humming-bird Hawk Moth in the garden yesterday. Today at Dunge highlights were a Black-necked Grebe on the ARC pit and at the Fishing Boats around 4 Arctic Skuas were hanging around chasing the Sandwich Terns which were constantly passing by. Two Black terns and a Gannet were also noted. On the main part of the RSPB reserve after lunch the Cattle Egret showed on a couple of occasions with cows near Bouderwall farmhouse, and 3 Great White Egrets were on Burrows with another on Dengemarsh. Two more Black Terns and a few waders were seen including: Greenshank, Little Stints, Dunlin, Ringed Plovers, Common Sandpipers and a Ruff. However the best was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was found by my friend on the islands from the Makepeace Hide. It was a bit distant with the sun behind it-record shot below. A Marsh Frog was in a pool in the middle of the footpath by Hayfield 2, and a Clouded Yellow was noted on the return trail.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

 Marsh Frog

28 species this morning but just one new for the year-Frosted Orange. A Meal Moth posed too.

Frosted Orange

 Meal Moth

This morning after a wet night Small Square-spot was new for the year, but the most interesting was an aberrant Centre-barred Sallow. Yesterday I had an early morning walk along the sea wall at Seasalter in very windy conditions. Despite the wind I did see a few Wheatears, 1 Yellow Wagtail and a Whinchat, but not much else.

Centre-barred Sallow

Whinchat

Moth numbers continue to fall with only Yellow-barred Brindle new for the year over the last couple of days. Today at Dungeness it was again fairly hard work to find somthing of interest. On the ARC Pit there were LRPs and Ringed Plovers and 1 Little Stint. At Galloways 2 Whinchats showed well but very briefly. A few Wheatears were also there plus 1 Clouded Yellow. We couldn't find much in the trapping area but on the main part of the RSPB reserve there were a few more small waders including a Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, and Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers. On Hayfield 2 the Lapwings were flushed and a Wood Sandpiper also flew up and landed giving a good scope view. There were lots of Sand Martins in the area too.  It then rained.

Clouded Yellow

 Common Sandpiper

Wood Sandpiper