The nights have been cold recently with fewer and fewer moths-empty trap this morning. However, on Saturday afternoon I made my first vist to Luddenham Church where a Yellow-browed Warbler showed well with a Brambling.

Yellow-browed Warbler

Brambling

Since my last post I've continued to get a good selection of autumn moths in the trap. The best record for me was Autumnal Rustic, a common species, that was new for the garden. The migrant the Delicate was only my second record. Also new for the year were: Merveille du Jour, November Moth agg., Brindled Green (3rd record), Large Wainscot, and Pinion-streaked Snout.

Autumnal Rustic

The Delicate 

 Merveille du Jour

 Large Wainscot

Pinion-streaked Snout

Failed to see the Wryneck at Dunge today but, with plenty of Egrets on view, we counted 20 Great White Egrets around the RSPB reserve, along with 5 Cattle Egrets, 3 Little Egrets and 6 Grey Herons. A Peregrine bathed in front of the Firth hide where a Marsh Harrier also performed. In the moth trap this week a Beaded Chestnut and Yellow-line Quaker took the year total to 379-one more than last year for my best ever year.

Peregrine (after its bath)

Marsh Harrier

Beaded Chestnut

I've started to get a few classic autumn species in the moth trap this week. Best was my 2nd ever record of Pink-Barred Sallow, while new for the year were: Pink-Barred Sallow, Red-line Quaker, The Sallow, Feathered Ranunculus, and Acleris sparsana. At Dungeness today, in lovely weather, new birds were difficult to find. A Hobby over the ARC pit was followed by an Arctic Skua and 85 Mediterranean Gulls at the fishing boats. After lunch there were 6 Cattle Egrets in the Hayfields/Dengemarsh area of the RSPB Reserve, while around dozen Great White Egrets were seen in various locations.

 Pink-Barred Sallow

Barred Sallow

 Red-line Quaker

Cattle Egret

We have come to end of another month-the best moth record was the Convolvulus Hawk-moth mentioned previously. However, I spent 2 weeks in Canada-Calgary and Vancouver Island, where a boat trip 25 miles offshore produced soem new birds in the form of a Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed Shearwater, and Buller's Shearwater. Black Turnstone was also a new bird for me. Black Bears were also seen.

Black Bear and youngster

 Black-footed Albatross

 Black Turnstone