Moth numbers have declined a bit since my last post but Autumn appeared in the shape of first "Sallow" of the year this morning.

Centre-barred Sallow

Another 87 moths of 37 species this morning. New for the year were Dark Spinach and Holly Tortrix. I then headed off to Reculver to see the Baird's Sandpiper at Coldharbour Lagoon, my 1st in Kent since one at Dungeness in 2005. It showed well along with a Little Stint. On the way back a Great Skua passed by fairly close to the shore.

Baird's Sandpiper

 Baird's Sandpiper

 Dark Spinach

Slightly fewer moths this morning with 78 moths of 38 species. New for the year was: The Fern, which flew off as I pressed the shutter. Other interesting species included: Old Lady, White-point, and Poplar hawk-moth, but new for the garden was a tiny micro (4mm): Phyllonorycter klemannella.
 

 Phyllonorycter klemannella

 White-point

Another hot night with a thunderstorm and downpour produced another 117 moths of 42 different species. I was pleased to get my 2nd record of a Small Wainscot, especially as the 1st was 15 years ago. Also new for the year were micros Yponomeuta plumbella and Eudonia pallida.

Small Wainscot

 Yponomeuta plumbella

 Eudonia pallida

This morning after a very warm night there were 119 moths of 45 species in the trap. I was pleased to get my 2nd ever Peach Blossom, but the most remarkable record was 7 Latticed Heaths, a species I've recorded only 4 times in the last 16 years. New for the year also were: Maiden's Blush, Swallow Prominent, and Purple Bar.

 Peach Blossom

 Latticed Heath

 Swallow Prominent

 Purple Bar

 

A hot night produced 89 moths of 41 species this morning with Mullein Wave, Small Dusty Wave, and Sharp-angled Peacock all new for the year. Today at Dunge in very hot weather there were 2 LRPs and a Black-tailed Godwit on the ARC pit. The sea was quiet at the Fishing Boats but we did see 2 Black Terns go past and an Arctic Skua was lingering offshore. On the main part of the RSPB reserve in the afternoon there were 4 Great White Egrets, 1 Hobby, another Black Tern, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Stints, 1 Dunlin, 2 Green Sandpipers (Hayfields), 1 Wood Sandpiper (Hookers), 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Buzzards, with 2 Wheatears on the return trail. A Great Green Bush-cricket was also seen.

Sharp-angled Peacock

 Mullein Wave

Great Green Bush-cricket

 Wheatear

Nothing especially interesting to report form the moth trap but Common Wainscot, Six-striped Rustic and Marbled Beauty have all been new for the year over the last couple of days. At Oare Marshes at high tide yesterday afternoon there was an impressive number of waders-perhaps lacking a bit in diversity. I saw about 8 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 5 Knot and a few Avocet and Ruff amongst the 100s of Godwits, Redshank and Dunlin.

 Curlew Sandpipers

Six-striped Rustic