At Dungeness yesterday it remained overcast but very mild and calm all day. We got off to a good start with a Dartford Warbler near the screen hide on the ARC Pit, and a Yellow-browed Warbler calling loudly for quite a while in the bushes behind this hide. Unfortunately we never actually saw it. There were Goldcrests everywhere but we failed to find a Firecrest. On the reserve the Cattle Egret showed well with cows near Cook's Pool, and around 13 Great White Egrets were seen around the reverve.In the moth trap Dark Chestnut was new for the year, while this morning a Scarce Bordered Straw was only my 4th ever record and the 2nd of the year.

 Scarce Bordered Straw

Dark Chestnut

Mandarin Ducks

Spent another fine but very windy day at Dungeness on Friday. Again it was a bit of a struggle but highlights were Pomarine and Arctic Skuas at the fishing boats, and a Cattle Egret with cattle near Boulderwall farmhouse. Around 9 Great White Egrets were seen. In the moth trap since my last post Red-line Quaker was new for the year and the tortrix Acleris schalleriana was new for the garden, bringing the all-time garden total to 599.

Cattle Egret

 Red-line Quaker

Acleris schalleriana

Since my last post the mild weather has produced a reasonable number of moths, including: Large Wainscot and Blair's Shoulder-Knot, both new for the year. A second Vestal of the Autumn was of the usual colour form.

Large Wainscot

 Blair's Shoulder-Knot

 The Vestal

Milder nights have still produced disappointing moth numbers. However, The Brick and Green-brindled Crescent have been new for the year, and the second Merveille du Jour was found on the shed. A lot of Honey Fungus has appeared on our Birch stump-the picture represents about 10% of it.

The Brick

 Green-brindled Crescent

Honey Fungus

A very pleasant day at Dunge yesterday weatherwise but almost devoid of interesting birds. The Red-necked Grebe was still on the ARC pit, a few Black Redstarts were around the power station, and there were 11+ Great White Egrets around the RSPB reserve. The only new moth species for the autumn since my last post was a Yellow-line Quaker this morning.

 Little and Great White Egrets on the ARC Pit

Yellow-line Quaker

 Barred Sallow

Spent a bright and breezy day at Dungeness yesterday but struggled to find much new. However, on the ARC pit when I arrived there were 8 Great White Egrets, and at the end of the day I finally caught up with long-staying Red-necked Grebe there. In the trap recently a Barred Sallow and this morning my first Merveille du Jour for 2 years.

Merveille du Jour

 

Red-necked Grebe

 Barred Sallow

Oare Marshes NR attracted a crowd yesterday to see the Wilson's Phalarope, for what I believe is this american species 1st appearance there. A Black-necked Grebe also showed well on Faversham Creek, as did the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher. This morning there was only 8 moths after another cold night, but Feathered Thorn was new for the year.

Wilson's Phalarope (with Teal)

 Black-necked Grebe

 Feathered Thorn

We've reached the end of another month which, although the weather has been very changeable, has produced a few interesting moth records. Yesterday morning there were 2 species new for the year: Frosted Orange and my 4th ever record of the Vestal. This migrant species is normally yellow but this one was bright pink, a known colour variation which may indicate local breeding. Also yesterday afternoon I went over to Bishopstone to see a very confiding Lapland Bunting.

Lapland Bunting

 The Vestal

 Frosted Orange