Dragonflies: April
Wednesday 22nd A Hairy Dragonfly was hawking around the Oasis. Monday 20th Our first Common Blue Damselfly was on the Dragonfly Pools on the Estate. Saturday 18th Another first from RSPB Worth Marshes with a Large Red Damselfly photographed by a visitor. Friday 17th A Hairy Dragonfly was on RSPB Worth Marshes. Tuesday 14th Our Odonata season kicked off with…
Ringing: April
Sunday 19th There was a shock yesterday morning with a short bit of light rain but the high pressure quickly reasserted itself to give a sunny day with a cool breeze. The warblers which arrived yesterday seem to have moved quicky on to their nesting sites and just 11 birds were caught. Four of these were new – two Blackcaps,…
Moths: April
Thursday 23rd As with yesterday, traps were only placed out of the wind in sheltered areas of the Elms and Waldershare Gully. Two LEDs in the ELms had 21 moths of 13 species with highlights of White-spotted Pug, a Chocolate-tip and a Pale Mottled Willow. An Actinic in Waldershare Gully had nine moths of seven. Wednesday 22nd A strong north-easterly…
Butterflies: April
Wednesday 22nd A quick walk around the Oasis produced a Painted Lady, a Speckled Wood, two Peacocks, five Small White’s and two Orange-tips. Tuesday 14th Four Green-veined Whites, one Orange-tip, six Peacocks, one Red Admiral, and six Speckled Woods were on Worth, five Green-veined Whites, one Small White, three Peacocks, and four Speckled Woods were at the Point, and three…
Birds: April
Wednesday 22nd A breeding-plumage Spotted Redshank was in Pegwell Bay, two Hobby’s were on RSPB Worth Marshes and Restharrow Scrape saw two Whimbrel and four Bar-tailed Godwits drop in. Tuesday 21st Despite being bright it was cold in the north-easterly wind. A Short-eared Owl flew south through the Estate, two Bar-tailed Godwits were on Restharrow Scrape, a late Jack Snipe…
Ringing: March
Sunday 29th A clear night ensured migrants are keeping going and not stopping here. The four new birds were all passing through- singles of Siskin, Redwing, Chiffchaff and Chaffinch. Saturday 28th Some interesting bits from Thursday. First was the finding of a Robin’s nest, with four eggs, along Sandown Road. The other bits involve information on colour ring sightings. The…
Butterflies: March
Sunday 23rd An early Speckled Wood was in the Dragonfly Pond fields. Thursday 19th Two Brimstones and two Commas were on the Estate. Wednesday 18th A Brimstone and a Small Tortoiseshell were on the Estate and there was another scattering of Peacocks. Sunday 15th Whilst Peacocks continue to be seen most days our first Small Tortoiseshell was on RSPB Worth…
Moths: March
Sunday 29th It was a clear and very cold night but three traps were set – The car park MV, an actinic in Middle Field and a DIY UVLED not far from the actinic for trials. Interestingly the UVLED performed best, attracting four Hebrew Characters, two Clouded Drabs and a Common Quaker. The car park and actinic had six of…
Birds: March
Tuesday 31st Just over 50 Meadow Pipits headed north and two Greylag Geese came in off the sea. Six Swallows and two House Martins were on RSPB Worth Marshes whilst there were still a few Redwings and Fieldfares knocking around the Estate. Nine Avocets and two Sandwich Terns were the best in Pegwell Bay. Monday 30th A Tree Sparrow in…
Butterflies: February
Wednesday 25th It is not often we get a three species day in February but there was Red Admiral and Peacock around the Observatory and a male Brimstone in the Whitehouse paddock. Tuesday 24th Our second Red Admiral of the year was seen by the Observatory. Thursday 12th Hurrah! Our first butterfly of the year. A Red Admiral was seen…