Seven November Moths and a Red-green carpet in the trap this morning. I then spent the day at Dunge where 10 Great White and 9 Little Egrets flew in to the ARC pit early morning. A Chiffchaff, Marsh Harrier, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also noted. At the patch a Black Redstart was on the power station wall, a Gannet was offshore and a Med. Gull flew past. After lunch on the main part of the RSPB reserve we noted 2 Great White Egrets, Yellow-legged Gull, Goosander, Kingfisher, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, 4 Dunlin, and 3 Clouded Yellow Butterflies. Common Darter and Migrant hawker dragonflies were also seen. 

 Black Redstart

 Gadwall

 Common Darter

11 moths today but only the micro Agonopterix alstromeriana was new for year. Went to oare marshes this afternoon where the Spoonbill was showing well on the East Flood but always at a distance. There were also 3 Little Stints there and a Greenshank at the back of the flood. However 2 Water Rails showed well close to the road by the little bridge.

Spoonbill

 Water Rail

Nights remain cold but a Red-line Quaker this morning was the 200th macro species of the year-the first time I've reached this figure. November Moths, Spruce carpet and Large Wainscot also recorded over last couple of days.

 Red-line Quaker

 Large Wainscot

 Spruce Carpet

 

Just 6 moths this morning with another November Moth, Cypress Carpet and a "lateish" Setaceous Hebrew Character. I finally had a look for the 2 Shore Larks and Lapland Bunting at Reculver this morning in cold and windy conditions . Walked all the way the Coldharbour Lagoon and eventually caught up with the 3 birds on the way back, feeding together on the shingle, about 6-800 yards east of the Towers.

 Shore Lark

Lapland Bunting

Since my last post the only species new for the year in the moth trap was a Yellow-line Quaker. However, there have also been further records of The Mallow, November Moth (agg.) and Beaded Chestnut.

The Mallow

November Moth

Since my last post modest numbers of moths have nevertheless produced another 3 species that were new for the year: Green-brindled Crescent, November/Pale November Moth, and a new species for the garden list in the shape of a very worn Deep-brown Dart. I have trapped this species before at a previous address but never here.

Green-brindled Crescent

 

Deep-brown Dart

Moth trap numbers are well down now with colder weather. However, yesterday I had a 2nd generation Cypress Carpet which was my 4th of the year and my 4th ever in the garden. This morning The Mallow was new for the year, and 2 Beaded Chestnuts were my first since 2009. At Dunge today most of the recent birds seemed to have left and we struggled in windy conditions. Nevertheless, there were 10 Great White Egrets at the ARC pit and 4 White-fronted Geese from Boulderwall farm. A Stoat showed well on the Dengemarsh Road.

Beaded Chestnut

Great White Egret

Stoat

I've just spent a week in N. Devon where windy conditions made moths very scarce. Only 4 moths in a week but one was a Large Ranunculus-a new species for me. This morning after a cold night there were just 5 moths in the garden trap: 3 LYUs, 1 Lesser YU, and a nice Barred Sallow. This afternoon when the sun came out I went to see the Long-billed Dowitcher at Oare, which was mainly asleep, until everything was flushed a couple of times.

 Large Ranunculus

Barred Sallow

 Long-billed Dowitcher (distant)