At Dungeness yesterday the 4 Bewick's Swans showed well on the ARC pit from the Hanson Hide where a Water Rail was also seen close to the hide. At the back and well to the west of Scotney Farm the 2 Whooper Swans were with Mute and Black Swans, and a Barn Owl was seen too, just inside East Sussex. In the trap this week just 1 moth: The Brick.

Bewick's Swan

 Water Rail

The Brick

Just got back from a week away in the Cotswolds. Before leaving a December Moth and a Rusty-dot Pearl took the garden species total to 395 for the year. I didn't take the moth trap with me but an outside light at the Cottage was very effective in attracting moths, with 9 species recorded for the week. Highlights were a Scarce Umber and 4 different types of Mottled Umber. There were also several December Moths and Winter Moths, and a Sprawler.

Scarce Umber

 Mottled Umber

Mottled Umber

 Winter Moth

 

Chose Thursday, the best day this week for the Dungeness visit. Highlights were Caspian Gull and Yellow-legged Gull at the Fishing Boats and Spoonbill on the reserve. We couldn't find the Twite reported earlier in the week at Scotney Farm, but we did get a ringtail Hen Harrier there. Ten  Great-white  Egrets and 2 Cattle Egrets were seen on the reserve. A Dark Chestnut this week was new for the year in the moth trap.

 Cattle Egret

Caspian Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

 Dark Chestnut

Since my last post moth numbers have been low due to cold nights. However, I have recorded The Mallow, Feathered Thorn, Blair's Shoulder-knot and The Brick recently bringing the year total to 392, which is 14 better than my previous best which was last years. Had a fairly unproductive day at Dungeness on Thursday with rain in the morning there. However, on Saturday the White-billed Diver offshore in Botany Bay near Margate was the first I've seen in the UK. A red-letter day indeed. 

White-billed Diver

Feathered Thorn

 The Brick