This morning, heading out to empty the trap, I heard a Spotted Flycatcher calling and was surprised to see one perched on our TV aerial. In the trap there were 13 moths of 10 species with Silver-ground Carpet and my 2nd ever Nematopogon metaxella new for the year. The latter species is interesting in that it's antenna are 3 times the length of its wings.

Nematopogon metaxella

 Spotted Flycatcher

Before the heavy rain at the start of this week I recorded a couple of Small Waved Umbers which were new for the year. The morning there were 17 moths of 11 species. New for the year were Brown Rustic and my 3rd ever Eudonia pallida. This afternoon I visited Westbere where I failed to see any Scarce Chasers.There were quite a few newly emerged Small Tortoiseshells and many Banded Demoiselles.

Eudonia pallida

 Small Tortoiseshell

Only 9 moths yesterday but Garden Pebble and Agonopterix arenella were new for the year. This morning despite the heavy rain in the 2nd part of the night there were 20 moths of 14 species with Common White Wave and The Uncertain new for the year. Also there was a Fox Moth (f) which is a first for the garden list and brings the total to 506.

 Fox Moth

 Fox Moth

Heavy rain overnight resulted in 9 moths of 5 species this morning, with Pale Tussock being new for the year. Spent today at Dunge where we struggled to find anything new. There were 6 Hobbies over the reserve and another was seen flying low over the sea at the patch where we noted a Med Gull and 150 Common Scoter. From the Dennis Hide we saw 1 Black Tern and at Scotney 2 Corn Buntings were seen and an Avocet chick. I managed a shot of a Stock Dove-not an easy bird to photograph. We also saw a Stoat on the reserve.

 Pale Tussock

 Stock Dove

Species "new for the year" continued this morning with 5: Blastobasis lacticolella, Mottled Rustic, Eudonia (Dipleurina) lacustrata, The Lychnis and my 2nd ever Light Brocade following last year's 1st record.(21 moths of 11 species overall).

Light Brocade

 The Lychnis

Another warm night meant 30 moths of 19 species this morning with the first Heart & Dart of the year. Also year firsts were: Monopis obviella, Argyresthia trifasciata, Oegoconia quadripuncta, and Epiblema cynosbatella.

Heart & Dart

 Common Marbled Carpet

The warmth meant that numbers have improved a bit with 12 moths of 11 species. New for the year were: Poplar Hawk-moth, May Highflyer, Marbled Minor (agg.), Buff Ermine, and Willow Beauty.

Poplar Hawk-moth

 Willow Beauty