Moths: September 2024
Monday 9th The heavy rain caught up with us yesterday but fortunately dropped off after dark. The clearing sky allowing the temperature down to 12.1°C and apparently temperatures are going to drop both day and night. There were 243 moths of 36 species. Setaceous Hebrew Character dropped below three figures to 92. There were two Diamondbacks, one Pearly Underwing,…
Butterflies: September 2024
Friday 6th It was clear from early in the morning that something big was happening with Red Admirals. There were individuals all over the bushes, along the track, and even in the moth trap. A timed point count looking across the asparagus fields revealed butterflies heading inland at approximately 100 a minute. This was repeated on multiple occasions so many…
Dragonflies: September 2024
Tuesday 3rd At least one SCARCE BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLY was seen today, but the strengthening wind made it very difficult.
Ringing: September 2024
Monday 9th As the rain was not forecast to arrive until 8 a couple of us hoped to grab an hour or do ringing first.However the nets were down by 7 after one round gave 11 Blackcaps a retrap Chiffchaff and a retrap Long-tailed Tit. The blackcaps suggeted there were some migrants aound and it was good to see most…
Birds: September 2024
Monday 9th Three Little Gulls and a Marsh Harrier were offshore and a Pied Flycatcher was at the Chequers. The Estate held two Tree Pipits, a Redstart, eight Wheatears, and a Whinchat whilst singles of Little Tern and Curlew Sandpiper were in Pegwell Bay. Thank you to everyone who has booked onto our mini-break to Portland in late April. There…
Dragonflies: August 2024
Wednesday 28th After a week of windy and/or wet conditions it was perfect today to look for odonata. The recently-discovered SCARCE BLUE-TAILED DAMSELFLIES were still present. At least seven were on the new Dragonfly Ponds. Also on the Estate were four Blue-tailed Damselflies, six Common Blue Damselflies, one Red-eyed Damselfly, 34 Small Red-eyed Damselflies, one Azure Damselfly, two Willow Emerald…
Butterflies: August 2024
Wednesday 28th There were 66 butterflies of 11 species on today’s BMS Transect. There was an increase in ‘whites’ and ‘blues’ but a decrease in ‘browns’. Tuesday 27th Hot off the press! A PURPLE HAIRSTREAK was photographed at Stonelees, the first SBBOT record, and the third hairstreak species to be recorded here this year. Wednesday 21st Nine species were seen…
Moths: August 2024
Thursday 29th Clear and calm again but this time the temperature stayed above 15°C. This brought about an increase to 408 moths of 71 species. The highlight was another Porter’s Rustic. Other migrants included 11 Silver Ys, two Palpits vitrealis and singles of Dark Sword-grass, Diamondback and Rush Veneer. Twenty-two Delicates may well have been all locals and 102 Setaceous…
Ringing: August 2024
Friday 30th A calm start followed by a stiff breeze mid-morning. To emphasise the approach of autumn Blackcap was the most numerous with 35 of the 48 new birds being Blackcap. Next most numerous was Chiffchaff with five. There were also two Reed Warblers, three Willow Warblers and singles of Robin, Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat. Although hirundines could be heard…
Birds: August 2024
Friday 30th The Estate held a Pied Flycatcher, a mobile Greenshank, nine Whinchats, six Yellow Wagtails, and 50 Linnets. Over in Pegwell Bay there were good numbers including 110 Ringed Plovers, 60 Dunlins, and a Curlew Sandpiper and inland on RSPB Worth marshes there were three Great White Egrets and 120 Teals. Thursday 29th Another hot day out there. There…