Moths: January
Thank you to everyone who contributed moth records to us in 2025. It was an excellent year. Now is a quieter time for Moth sightings but a handful have occurred (see below). In the mean time, why not plan ahead to come visit us in the summer and see some moths for yourselves? Over 1,300 species have been recorded here, many…
Ringing: January
Please watch out for colour ringed birds and report them to us. Wednesday 28th The promise of a calm morning was enough to tempt us out and we were not disappointed. The calm and clear did result in a frost which melted away once the sun got up. Thirty-four birds were caught of which seven were new. This included…
Birds: January
Friday 30th Two Pintails, two Green Sandpipers, 800 Lapwings, 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and one Bearded Tit were the picks of the bunch from New Downs. The flock of 27 Barnacle Geese were at the Drove and, briefly, at least 15 White-fronted Geese. The 27 Tundra Bean Geese were on the other side of RSPB Worth marshes along with six…
Dragonflies: December
It looks like the Odonata season is now over. We’ll see you again in April for the first emergences. In the mean time, why not plan ahead to come visit us in the summer and see some for yourselves? A total of 32 species of Odonata have been recorded here, more than anywhere else in the UK, and many of which…
Moths: December
Thank you to everyone who contributed moth records to us in 2025. It’s been an excellent year. Now is a quieter time for Moth sightings but they will start to appear soon in the New Year. In the mean time, why not plan ahead to come visit us in the summer and see some moths for yourselves? Over 1,300 species have…
Ringing: December
Thursday January 1st 2026 Please watch out for and record colour ringed birds. I earlier mentioned about the stories of the neck-collared Barnacle Geese. These had been photographed by one of our keen observers. When I saw the flock today I could not see any collared ones. Have they moved on or were they elsewhere on the marshes? I saw…
Birds: December
Wednesday 31st Cold conditions on New Downs but still rewards in the form of two Common Sandpipers and both Water and Rock Pipit. The overwintering Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler, and Coal Tit were all still present on the Estate whilst Glossy Ibis, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, and 11 Pintails were the highlights on RSPB Worth marshes. Good luck for everyone starting…
Butterflies: November
Wednesday 12th A Speckled Wood was in the Whitehouse. Saturday 8th A Clouded Yellow was in the Haven and a Comma on the Estate. Thursday 6th Two Speckled Woods were on the Green Wall and a Peacock on the Estate.
Dragonflies: November
Wednesday 12th It looked like it would be one of the last sunny days for a while. Between us there were over 30 Common Darters recorded on the Estate. We couldn’t find a Migrant Hawker but the ringing team smashed our latest ever record for Willow Emerald Damselfly with one in the Haven. Saturday 8th Two Migrant Hawkers and six…
Moths: November
Friday 28th While extremely windy, the forecast predicted overnight temperatures to be as high as 12°C so traps were placed in the shelter of the Ringing Room and The Elms. Amazingly, there were moths! The Elm’s trap had our first Winter Moth of the year, a November Moth, a Mottled Umber and a Rusty Dot Pearl. Another Rusty Dot Pearl,…