At Dunge today no really exiting birds. The best were behind Scotney Farm where we saw: Med. Gulls, Tree Sparrows, Corn Buntings, Wheatears, Yellow Wagtails, Little Owl and a Buzzard. Elsewhere there was a Hobby and a couple of Green Sandpipers and Common Sandpipers. Highlight of the day was at the Bird Observatory where I was permitted to photograph a Clifden Nonpareil-I had to stand on a chair to use the telephoto lens I had on the camera. A Brown Hawker also posed on the ARC pit.

Clifden Nonpareil

 Brown Hawker

After a couple of cooler nights, last night's milder conditions produced 129 moths of 34 species this morning including a Scarce Bordered Straw-my 3rd garden record after 2 in the hot summer of 2006. Also new for the year were Clay Triple Lines, Mullein Wave, and A. tristella. Year list now 342.

Scarce Bordered Straw

 Mullein Wave

 Clay Triple Lines

The moth trap remains interesting with my 2nd ever record of the migrant Small Mottled Willow. Also new for the year over the last couple for days were: Buff-tip and Brown China-mark plus 2 micros which were both 1st garden records.

Small Mottled Willow

 Scrobipalpa costella

 Cochylimorpha straminea

A couple of good nights, despite last night's rain, have produced the following species new for the year: Orange Swift, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Bactra robustana, and another new species for the garden list: Agriphila selasella. I feel I may have overlooked the latter species in the past. Year list now 327.

Lesser Swallow Prominent

 Orange Swift

 Agriphila selasella

 Bactra robustana

The last few nights have been a bit warmer, with Oak Hook-tip and Dark Spinach both new for the year. A nice example of a Blood-vein was also trapped.

Oak Hook-tip

Dark Spinach

 Blood-vein

Since my last post cooler nights have reduced moth numbers but a Broad-barred White and Flounced Rustic have been new for the year, and, after more than 17 years I finally recorded a Scorched Wing in the trap. This is a fairly common species I'd always hoped to see. Year list now 316.

Scorched Wing

 Broad-barred White

Yesterday at Dunge the rain arrived at lunchtime, which limited the day somewhat. However, there were a few waders with Little Ringed Plovers, and Common Sandpipers on the ARC pit, and on the main part of the reserve Black-tailed Godwits, Common Sandpipers, Ringed Plovers and a Wood Sandpiper showed well in front of the Firth Hide. A Hobby also flew past over Burrowes Pit. On Dengemarsh 3 Great White Egrets, several Little Egrets, and a few Ruff were noted. Today I had the opportunity to photograph a Ground Lackey moth. Not from my trap, but a scarce species I've not seen before. It is specialist of coastal saltmarsh mainly in Kent, Essex and Suffolk.

 Black-tailed Godwit

 Ground Lackey

 

Well we have reached the end of another month. Since my last post Dog's Tooth and Peacock have both been new for the year, and this morning a rather worn Cyclamen Tortrix was new for the garden. The Garden list now stands at 592. However, the year list 312 is fast catching last year's total of 318, which was my best ever year. 

Peacock Moth

 Dog's Tooth

 Cyclamen Tortrix