A few species ne for the year have turned up in the trap in this spell of fine weather, although cold nights haven't helped. Common Quaker, Dotted Border, The Chestnut, Agonopterix heracliana, and Acleris cristana have taken the year list to 7. Nothing new seen at Dungeness, but there was a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Bossenden Wood at Dunkirk this morning, and I was lucky enough to get a picture of the male. A Little Grebe also showed well at Stodmarsh yesterday.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

 Little Grebe

 Acleris cristana

 

Since my last post a Pale Brindled Beauty was the 2nd species of the year in the moth trap. At Dungeness yesterday the Smew was again visible distantly from the Visitor Centre. A Merlin flew over Boulderwall Farmhouse, where the Tree Sparrows were back around the building and feeders. One of the 2 Whopper Swans in the area showed very well in front of the Dengemarsh Hide. Three Marsh Harriers and 3 or 4 Great White Egrets were noted. As I left 2 Cattle Egrets were near the road back to Lydd. 

Whooper Swan

 Tree Sparrow

Smew

Had the first moth of the year in the trap this morning: Hebrew Character. At the weekend I visited Mountain Street, Chilham where at the top several Bramblings were feeding on the Beech Mast along the public footpath. Yesterday I failed in a search for the Waxwings reported in Folkestone, but spending the rest of the morning at Dungeness I eventually caught up with the recently arrived drake Smew-the first of ths species to be seen at Dungeness this winter. A walk round the reserve produced a Great White Egret and a couple of Marsh Harriers, while 2 Cattle Egrets showed well in a small horse paddock nearby.

 Cattle Egret

 Brambling

 Hebrew Character