After a few days away moth trapping resumed last night with 59 moths of 38 species this morning. There were several new species for the year including Dingy Shears, and Poplar Grey. However, best was a new pyralid for the garden list: Donacaula forficella. Garden list now 576.

Donacaula forficella

 Poplar Grey

 Dingy Shears

Since my last post the following moths have been ne for the year: Elephant Hawk-moth, Small Square-spot, Heart & Club, & Udea Olivalis.

Elephant Hawk-moth

 Small Square-spot

Since my last post new species for the year in the trap include: Middle-barred Minor, Mottled Beauty, Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Brown Rustic and best of all, a Small Elephant Hawk-moth, which was new for the garden list, which now stands at 575.

  Small Elephant Hawk-moth

   

I spent a quiet day at Dungeness yesterday where the most interesting bird sightings were a Little Ringed Plover displaying on the ARC Pit and a Bittern in flight near Boulderwall Farm. We managed to be in the wrong place on at least 2 occasions to see the Bee-eater that was around. About 14 Hobbies were noted around the area. This morning the moth trap produced the best catch of the year with 72 moths of 43 species with 12 species new for the year. Best of all were 2 new macros for the garden: Grass Rivulet and Red Data Book species White Spot. There was also a nice example of the migrant Bordered Straw.

White Spot

 Bordered Straw

  

The moth trap has continued to produce good numbers for the time of year over the last few days with species new for the year including: Freyer's Pug, Shoulder-striped Wainscot, Small Clouded Brindle, Dark Arches, Poplar Hawk-moth and a new micro for the garden list in the shape of A. spinosella.

Shoulder-striped Wainscot

 Poplar Hawk-moth

  A. spinosella.

Good moth numbers have continued the last few days with species new for the year including: Varied Coronet, Small Phoenix, Burnished Brass, Maiden's Blush, The Flame, Foxglove Pug, and the first Large Yellow Underwing of the year. On Friday the weather at Dunge was Sunny with a stiff breeze, but we struggled to find much in the way of birds. Most interesting was the Great White Egret showing the pink legs and dark bill of its breeding plumage. There are now a few insects about including lots of Four-spotted Chasers, and near the Old Lighthouse we found a Mother Shipton moth-the first I've seen in the area.

 GreatWhite Egret

 Mother Shipton

 Foxglove Pug

 

The sudden change to much warmer weather has certainly improved moth numbers. Since my last post new species for the year are as follows: Bee Moth, Willow Beauty, Small Magpie, Mottled Rustic, Pale Tussock, Diamond-back, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Brown House-moth, Green Pug, A.arenella, D. acuminitana, and best of all a new species for the Garden: Anania perlucidalis, Also of interest was a very dark Peppered Moth.

 Anania perlucidalis

 Peppered Moth

 Pale Tussock