No moths to report, but I have put the trap out tonight. This afternoon I paid a visit to my local (Bossenden) wood for a bit of photography. It seemed that only 5 species were attracted to the baited  tree: Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Marsh Tit & Nuthatch. I took a lot of pictures but very few were any good at all. 

 Nuthatch

 Marsh Tit

 

I haven't ventured out much lately. Just over a week ago I did visit Bossenden Wood at Dunkirk just before the snow started and did manage to find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker quite close to the road. There was also a Nuthatch and a few other common species. This afternoon I did finally get down to Denge Wood where there were 5-7 Hawfinches (5 in a tree together at one point) around 14.00 to 15.10. Also there were a few Siskins and a Mistle Trush. No moths to report.

Hawfinches

As it was Winter Moth Survey night on Friday I put the trap out but with no expectations of catching anything. However, despite an overnight low of zero centigrade, there was 1 Chestnut in the trap this morning, the first moth of 2013. Here's picture of the last one of 2012.

The Chestnut

Still waiting for the 1st Moth of the year. However, made a trip to Dunge today. Highlights were large numbers of Razorbills offshore, Red-throated Divers, Black Redstart, 3 Firecrests, Chiffchaff, 4 Great White Egrets, Glaucous Gull by the fishing boats and later on the reserve and 5 Smew (1 drake). I made an attempt to photograph a Firecrest. The image below is about the best I could do.

 Firecrest

Well it's a new year so time to summarise 2012 Moth Trap records. I recorded a total of 257 species in the garden which was 26 less than in 2011. However, there were 97 micros which was 1 more than in 2011 and 160 macros, 27 less than the previous year. There were 5 new macros and 17 new micros for the garden list. The new macros were: The Festoon, Hoary Footman, Birdwing, Dingy Shears & Red Underwing. However, I was also particularly pleased with my 2nd record of Ruddy Carpet, which, unlike the 1st one, I managed to photograph. This winter the main ornithological event has been the arrival of large numbers if Waxwings all over the UK. Here's a picture from the Whitstable Tesco yesterday.

Waxwing

 Ruddy Carpet

At last some moths. The milder weather tempted me to put the trap out on Friday night only to notice that the wind had blown the vanes over a couple of hours later. I put it away and tried again last night. There were some heavy showers but this morning there was a Chestnut and a December Moth in the trap. The latter was only my 4th record and the first for 2 years.

December Moth

Still no moths to report. However, I had a birding trip to Dunge today. En route I noticed about 30 Waxwings in the top of a tree at Johnson's Corner near Ham Street. At Dunge we managed at the 2nd attempt to see the Black-throated Diver on the New Diggings, where there was  also one of the Great White Egrets. On Burrowes there was a drake Smew, my first Smew of this winter, a female Goosander and 4 Ruddy Ducks, both year ticks for me. There was also a very tame Fox feeding under the bird feeders on the reserve. After lunch we headed over to Walland Marsh where we saw aournd 40 Bewick's Swans, the adult male Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, and Fieldfares everywhere.

 Mr Fox