Struggled
to find many birds at Dunge today but, not for the first time, we found aninteresting insect inside one of the RSPB's hides. I think this is a Short-winged Conehead. The moth trap continues to be interesting with new species for the year including Barred Yellow, Dark Sword-grass, Dot Moth and Brown-tail. A few days ago Sandy Carpet was new for the garden and a 2nd one appeared this morning. A new micro for the garden this week was Ypsolopha ustella.

Sandy Carpet

 Barred Yellow

 Ypsolopha ustella

Short-winged Conehead

Good numbers of moths continue with species new for the year including: Privet Hawk-moth, Ruby Tiger, Lesser Broad-bordered Underwing, Rush Veneer, Smoky Wainscot, Large Twin-spot Carpet Pine Carpet and Large Tabby. Best was a new micro for the garden: Lozotaeniodes formosana. In addition I heard about a site near Faversham where Hornet Moths had been seen. I had a look there Sunday afternoon and was lucky enough to see one-unfortunately I somehow forgot the camera so had to photograph it with the phone.

 Hornet Moth

Large Twin-spot Carpet

 Lozotaeniodes formosana

   

Another 144 moths of 54 species this am.........several NFYs including: Small BV, Small Fan-foot, Small FF Wave, Yellow Shell, The Clay, Plain Pug, Scop. subfusca, and my 2nd ever C. fagiglandana and my 3rd Plutella porrectella. Also a nice example of The Coronet.

The Coronet

 Plutella porrectella

 Small Fan-foot

The very hot weather has meant a busy time with the moth trap. This morning there were c160 moths of 57 species, which is probably my best ever catch. I've added 2 new micros to the garden list: Phtheochroa inopiana and Coleophora mayrella. Other species new for the year include: The Festoon, Common Emerald, and Cream Bordered Green Pea.

Common Emerald

 Phtheochroa inopiana

  The Festoon

 

Moth trap very lively the last couple of days. Highlights were my 2nd ever Figure of Eighty, a worn Sandy Carpet, which was new for the garden, Buttoned Snout, Ghost Moth, The Festoon, S. gigantella and a new micro Sophronia semicostella. At Oare Marshes on Sunday the Spoonbill showed well.

Sophronia semicostella

 Figure of Eighty

 Spoonbill

After a few days away moth trapping resumed last night with 59 moths of 38 species this morning. There were several new species for the year including Dingy Shears, and Poplar Grey. However, best was a new pyralid for the garden list: Donacaula forficella. Garden list now 576.

Donacaula forficella

 Poplar Grey

 Dingy Shears

Since my last post the following moths have been ne for the year: Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Square-spot, Heart & Club, & Udea Olivalis.

Elephant Hawk-moth

 Small Square-spot

Since my last post new species for the year in the trap include: Middle-barred Minor, Mottled Beauty, Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Brown Rustic and best of all, a Small Elephant Hawk-moth, which was new for the garden list, which now stands at 575.

  Small Elephant Hawk-moth

   

I spent a quiet day at Dungeness yesterday where the most interesting bird sightings were a Little Ringed Plover displaying on the ARC Pit and a Bittern in flight near Boulderwall Farm. We managed to be in the wrong place on at least 2 occasions to see the Bee-eater that was around. About 14 Hobbies were noted around the area. This morning the moth trap produced the best catch of the year with 72 moths of 43 species with 12 species new for the year. Best of all were 2 new macros for the garden: Grass Rivulet and Red Data Book species White Spot. There was also a nice example of the migrant Bordered Straw.

White Spot

 Bordered Straw