Moths: October
Wednesday 28th At last we had a settled night so the traps could be set again, though far from good conditions being clear overnight and very cold at 4.4°C. 12 moths of nine species were in the Car Park trap with the obvious highlight of Cosmopolitan- our third ever record and yet the second this year! Four portable traps were set…
Dragonflies: October
Thursday 22nd Two Willow Emerald Damselflies were clinging on along the Green Wall. Two Migrant Hawkers and six Common Darters were also seen. Our latest ever Red-veined Darter was on the Estate. Saturday 10th It was some surprise to find at least 12 Willow Emerald Damselflies still active around New Downs New Pool. Friday 2nd A fresh immature Red-veined Darter…
Butterflies: October
Thursday 22nd It’s been a while since an update, primarily due to the windy and wet conditions. A Speckled Wood was out in a brief patch of sunshine on the Green Wall. Wednesday 14th Two Speckled Woods, three Clouded Yellows, one Large White, one Peacock, one Painted Lady, one Red Admiral, and two Small Coppers were on the Estate. A…
Ringing: October
Wednesday 28th The day dawned calm and clear- a pleasant change. Indeed it was so clear that frost formed in the Oasis field, this was not expected. It would seem that the majority of the southbound migrants had either moved on or succumbed in the storms. There were good numbers of Song Thrushes and Blackbirds as the day dawned but…
Birds: October
Wednesday 28th A Dartford Warbler was on Prince’s Beach and seven Bearded Tits on New Downs, but the highlight of the northern reaches of the Recording Area was the PALLID HARRIER from Pegwell Bay at midday. Hopefully it’ll stick around. Meanwhile two Green Sandpipers and a Brambling were on the Estate, and 27 White-fronted Geese, two Great White Egrets, three…
Dragonflies: September
Friday 25th Attention was mostly looking at butterflies but 35 Common Darters and nine Migrant Hawkers were seen on the Estate. Monday 21st At least 30 Migrant Hawkers and 78 Common Darters were on the Estate. Wednesday 9th A breezy wander on RSPB Worth Marshes still produced 28 Migrant Hawkers and nine Common Darters. Tuesday 1st One Common Blue Damselfly,…
Moths: September
Tuesday 29th Although it was warm last night it rained almost continuously and the trap was not set. During the hot, humid day there was at least one Hummingbird hawk-moth feeding on the Verbena bonarensis. Monday 28th Some cloud and even a shower overnight kept the temperature up and the moon covered a bit. There were 142 moths of 30 species.…
Ringing: September
Tuesday 29th It rained through the night, heavily at times, this stopped migrant movement. By dawn the rain stopped but it appeared the only birds around were those which had not left last night. Thirty-nine were ringed, 21 were Blackcaps, 15 Chiffchaffs, two Robins and a Blackbird. The latter was probably local as it was an adult completing its moult.…
Butterflies: September
Friday 25th The last BMS Transect of the season produced only 18 butterflies. Most numerous were Speckled Wood and Wall. Wednesday 23rd A helice Clouded Yellow at Sandilands on Monday was interesting enough, but records of this rarer form do occur here intermittently. However, scrutiny of the photos later revealed a restricted amount of black on the trailing edge of…
Birds: September
Wednesday 30th Wet (mostly). Our first Redwing of autumn went over the Green Wall, a Tree Pipit flew over Prince’s Golf Course, and small pulses of hirundines came through. The recent rain pulled in two Ruff on RSPB Worth Marshes. Tuesday 29th A walk along the path behind the asparagus fields produced three Tree Sparrows and 38 Reed Buntings. The…