Dragonflies: September
Friday 19th At least one Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly was still present on the Estate. Over on New Downs there were totals of 63 Common Darters and 25 Migrant Hawkers. Tuesday 9th A Willow Emerald Damselfly was on the Estate. Friday 5th Six Common Blue Damselflies, 18 Common Darters, and 27 Migrant Hawkers were on the Estate.
Butterflies: September
Friday 26th There was a feel of active migration today as Red Admirals seemed to be heading purposely through the Estate. A Painted Lady added to the mix. Friday 19th The excellent third generation of Wall continued with 11 on New Downs. Also present were seven Small Whites, one Green-veined White, eight Speckled Woods, 12 Red Admirals, three Peacocks, one…
Ringing: September
Saturday 27th A cool but calm morning. Only a few nets could be used but we still got 70 new birds. Chiffchaff pipped Blackcap 25 to 24. There were also 13 Goldcrests. The remainder added nice variety and were three Siskins, two Great Tits, and singles of Firecrest, Swallow and Song Thrush. Friday 26th After a windy night the morning…
Moths: September
Saturday 27th The wind dropped but a clearing sky allowed the temperature down to 4.5°C. The catch was much improved to 180 moths of 19 species, 76 of these were Lunar Underwings. Two Deep-brown Darts were new for the year. Delicates were up to 12 and a Beautiful Hook-tip was a surprise. There were two Rush Veneers and four Rusty-dot…
Birds: September
Friday 26th It was the first calm day in some time and the low cloud helped to document the overhead visible migration. Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Crossbill went south, whilst 713 Swallows, 108 Meadow Pipits, 231 Siskins, and a Lesser Redpoll went north. There was another Redwing on the Estate and at least six Firecrests. Inland on RSPB…
Birds: August
Please note that maintenance work will begin on Restharrow Scrape on Monday 18th August. Expect disturbance to the site every Monday and Thursday morning for a few weeks. Sunday 31st A PURPLE HERON was new on RSPB Worth marshes and it was pleasing to a migrant flock of 60 Yellow Wagtails near the Chequers. On the Estate there were four…
Butterflies: August
Wednesday 27th Four Peacocks, three Small Whites, four Green-veined Whites, one Large White, three Speckled Woods, six Red Admirals, one Meadow Brown, one Small Heath, one comma, and one Gatekeeper were on Worth during a strengthening breeze. Friday 22nd The numbers of butterflies on the BMS Transect are just starting to drop. Today there were 132 individuals of 13 species.…
Moths: August
Thursday 28th The best overnight conditions for a while now with light rain, complete cloud cover and a slightly breezy South-westerly pushed numbers to 463 moths of 72 species. A Shining Marbled was the clear highlight, the 3rd record for the Obs. A good showing all-around by migrants with two Pearly Underwings, three Scarce Bordered Straws and a Dark Sword-grass, plus…
Dragonflies: August
Wednesday 27th A total of 44 Migrant Hawkers were recorded on RSPB Worth marshes, the highest this year so far. Saturday 23rd Three Willow Emerald Damselflies on RSPB Worth marshes constitute a good showing for this autumn. They have been very thin on the ground. Six Common Blue Damselflies, two Blue-tailed Damselflies, one Emperor, 18 Migrant Hawkers, three Black-tailed Skimmers,…
Ringing: August
Sunday 31st The month signed out with another, slightly unexpected calm start. There were 36 new birds all, bar two, were migrants. The residents were a Great Tit and a juvenile female Cetti’s Warbler. The latter is one of the few UK passerines which can usually be sexed on biometrics. The male is longer winged and heavier. The flow of…