Tuesday 23 October 2018

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

Wednesday 17 October 2018

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

Wednesday 10 October 2018

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

Friday 5 October 2018

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

Tuesday 2 October 2018

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