The hot weather has meant the moth trap has finally got going after a slow start to the summer. We've reached the end of another moth and I was surprised to find that I've recorded 193 species so far this year which is actually 5 better than the same stage last year. There have been a few new micros but it's always nice to get a Barred Straw and Common Emerald, neither of which are common in my garden. At Dungeness last Friday I was pleased to see a Red-veined Darter dragonfly on the track past Hayfield 2. I have only ever seen this migrant species on the Dungeness RSPB Reserve but this was the first for 19 years. We also saw a large fly on the Willow Trail which was Tachina grossa, the UK's largest Tachnid.

 Red-veined Darter

Barred Straw

 Common Emerald

Tachina grossa

 

The moth trap finally improved somewhat this morning with 53 moths of 30 species. Best of all was The Suspected which was new for the garden. A couple of days ago I was also pleased with my second ever record of Variegated Golden Tortrix and the first for 13 years. Dungeness last week was very quiet with a few Hobbies providing the main interest.

The Suspected

Variegated Golden Tortrix

 Hobby on Dengemarsh

Since my last posting the trap has been a bit disappointing but I get a new micro Cochylis nana which is only 5mm in length. Much more successful was a Buttefly Conservation Walk yesterday morning near Crundale in search of the rare Black-veined Moth. Around 10 were seen by the group. Additional intersting sightings were: Mother Shipton, Burnett Companion, Dingy Skipper, Green Hairstreak, Large Skipper, plus Red Kite, and Yellowhammer. I also saw a Hornet Moth at the usual site near Luddenham last week.

Black-veined Moth

Cochylis nana

 Hornet Moth

We've reached the end of another month and the moth trap has reached 82 species, which is 27 less than than the same stage last year. Not many interesting records recently, the best being a Puss Moth flushed in the garden while watering and The Miller, which was my first for 11years. Stag Beetles are regular in the garden at the moment.

The Miller

 Puss Moth

Stag Beetle

  

Moth trap still not producing much even though the nights have warmed up a bit in the last couple of days. Last week at Dunge we struggled to find much but did get a good view of the Serin singing at nearby Littlestone.

 Serin

Identified on a facebook site I have recorded another new species for the garden: Northern Drab. However, with not much else to report from home, here are another couple of pictures from my recent visit to Cape Verde.

 Northern Drab

Citrus Swallowtail

Portuguese Man O'War

I've not had a lot to report from the trap during the latter part of April. The Streamer and a couple of Muslin Moths were the only species new for the year. However, I recently had a week away in the Cape Verde Islands mainly to see seabirds. Some are pictured below. More will posted on my Flickr site in coming days.

 Cape Verde Shearwater

Red-billed Tropicbird

Brown Booby