Only 4 moths yesterday. However, this morning, after an overcast dampish night, there were 17 moths of  14 species including The Fan-foot, which was new for the year. Also new for the year was my 3rd ever Ruddy Carpet and my 2nd ever Satin Wave.

Ruddy Carpet

 Satin Wave

 The Fan-foot

Despite the warm weather the moths have been disappointing the last 2 nights with just Double Square-spot new for the year. On Tuesday afternoon I made another visit to East Blean woods where I saw just 3 Heath Fritillaries, 2 Large Skippers and 2 or 3 Speckled Woods. No large Dragonflies or Hornets put in an appearance.

Heath Fritillary

 Large Skipper

Since my last post Scoparia ambigualis and Common Wave have been new for the year, and this morning, after a thundery downpour last night, there were 27 moths of 17 species, including 10 species of micro. New for the year were: Blastobasis adustella, Scoparia subfusca, Clepsis consimilana, Pseudargyrotoza conwagana, Gypsonoma sociana, and new for the garden: The Cork Moth-nemapogon cloacella. I've now passed 100 species for the year and total stands at 106.

 Cork Moth

 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana

 Gypsonoma sociana

One of my aims this summer was to see and if possible photograph a Norfolk Hawker in Kent. I missed the ones at Westbere last July when I was away on holiday.  However I read in Mark Heath’s blog today that one had been seen at the car park at East Blean Woods yesterday late afternoon. So about 3pm I headed off with no great expectations. Chris Tedder was there already but had not seen very much.  I had a quick look round, saw nothing, and returned to the car park where a couple of Hornets showed well but didn’t settle for a picture. A few minutes later a large Dragonfly arrived which turned out to be be the Norfolk Hawker. I was even more surprised when it settled right in front of me! A Hairy Dragonfly also showed up and obviously liked the same perch.

Norfolk Hawker

 Hairy Dragonfly

Two cold nights produced just 3 moths yesterday morning and 6 this morning. However, today, I am pleased to say both The Flame and Treble Brown-spot were new for year. There was also a tortrix in the trap which I managed to get 2 photos of before it legged it. It proved to be 1219 Lathronympha strigana which is new for the garden.

Last year a large plant started to grow in the corner of our garden which I realise now is the Common Mullein, which this year has several Mullein Moth caterpillars on it. This is a species I've never recorded in the trap so can I count this species on the list now?

Lathronympha strigana

 Mullein

Earlier in the week there were modest catches with Common Footman, Green Pug and Udea olivalis new for the year. This morning it had obviously been raining for a while but 22 moths of 20 species was probably the best of the year so far. New were: Lime-speck Pug, Foxglove Pug, Burnished Brass, Heart and Club, White Ermine, Green Carpet, Bright-line Brown-eye, and Diamond-back. 

Burnished Brass

White Ermine

Yesterday morning, following a chilly night of 6.5c, there were only 5 moths in the trap. However, Freyer's Pug was new for the year. This morning there were 15 moths of 10 species, including the year's first Large Yellow Underwing. I spent an enjoyable Saturday morning at the "Discover Moths " event at the Romney Marsh Visitor centre, where I saw my first ever Obscure Wainscot. We've reached the end of another month and the year total for the garden stands at 80 species, which is a great improvement on last year where the total at the end of May was only 26. 

 Obscure Wainscot