Today whilst doing gardening It was very hot so I tried out the Emperor Moth pheromone lure and sure enough one turned up after about 30 minutes-never stopped flapping but a first for the garden of course.Had a better day at Dunge on Thursday where there was an arrival of Garganey  I saw 7 of the 8 Garganey on the reserve. Also on the reserve were a small flock  Water Pipits. Finally from the ramp on the reserve we saw a Bittern “booming” which was a first for me and meant we had 5 species of heron in the day with Cattle, Little, and Great White Egrets plus Grey Heron.

 Emperor Moth (Cornwall)

 Bittern

 Garganey

Since my last post there have been 3 species new for the year in the trap: Diurnea fagella, Double-striped Pug and best of all an Oak Beauty. I recorded this latter species for the very first time last year, so I was pleased to record one again. Bird migration seems to be getting going now. A Glossy Ibis has been around at Oare and I finally caught up with the Penduline Tit that has been at Grove Ferry for a few weeks now.

Penduline Tit

Glossy Ibis

Oak Beauty

Since my last post the micro A. alstromeriana has been the only new species for the year in the trap. Struggled round Dungeness in a gale last Wednesday after which there was nothing new to report although the 4 Cattle Egrets were close to the road near the Lydd roundabout. The previous weekend I made the effort to visit Pencester gardens in Dover where the Yellow-browed Warbler has over-wintered.

 Yellow-browed Warbler

Cattle Egret

Agonopterix alstromeriana

 

Since my last post there have been a few more moth species recorded: Small Quaker, Early Grey, Clouded Drab and Common Plume, bringing the total to 11 for the year so far. At Dungeness I've been struggling to see anything new. Yesterday gale force winds there made life difficult. A Wheatear and a couple of Swallows were seen but not by me. The Smew and Black-necked Grebe are still present on the RSPB reserve. Two Great White Egrets were noted. Reed Buntings were common around the reserve too.

 Reed Bunting

 Small Quaker

Early Grey

A few species ne for the year have turned up in the trap in this spell of fine weather, although cold nights haven't helped. Common Quaker, Dotted Border, The Chestnut, Agonopterix heracliana, and Acleris cristana have taken the year list to 7. Nothing new seen at Dungeness, but there was a pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in Bossenden Wood at Dunkirk this morning, and I was lucky enough to get a picture of the male. A Little Grebe also showed well at Stodmarsh yesterday.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

 Little Grebe

 Acleris cristana

 

Since my last post a Pale Brindled Beauty was the 2nd species of the year in the moth trap. At Dungeness yesterday the Smew was again visible distantly from the Visitor Centre. A Merlin flew over Boulderwall Farmhouse, where the Tree Sparrows were back around the building and feeders. One of the 2 Whopper Swans in the area showed very well in front of the Dengemarsh Hide. Three Marsh Harriers and 3 or 4 Great White Egrets were noted. As I left 2 Cattle Egrets were near the road back to Lydd. 

Whooper Swan

 Tree Sparrow

Smew

Had the first moth of the year in the trap this morning: Hebrew Character. At the weekend I visited Mountain Street, Chilham where at the top several Bramblings were feeding on the Beech Mast along the public footpath. Yesterday I failed in a search for the Waxwings reported in Folkestone, but spending the rest of the morning at Dungeness I eventually caught up with the recently arrived drake Smew-the first of ths species to be seen at Dungeness this winter. A walk round the reserve produced a Great White Egret and a couple of Marsh Harriers, while 2 Cattle Egrets showed well in a small horse paddock nearby.

 Cattle Egret

 Brambling

 Hebrew Character