Dragonflies: September 2023
Monday 25th A mid-morning walk along the Green Wall produced 18 Migrant Hawkers, 12 Common Darters, a Ruddy Darter, and four Willow Emerald Damselflies, whilst the Estate held ten Migrant Hawkers, 83 Common Darters, two Small Red-eyed Damselflies, and a Willow Emerald Damselfly. Friday 22nd Another Red-veined Darter seen, this time in the Oasis. Wednesday 20th At least 65 Common…
Ringing: September 2023
Saturday 30th A clear night followed by a lovely calm morning created great conditions. There were more than a hundred each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the Haven first thing. With only one senior ringer and one trainee we were careful to use just two net rides. One hundred and nineteen birds were ringed and there were no retraps or…
Moths: September 2023
Saturday 30th Last night started clear and breezy allowing the temperature to drop to 8.4°C. This, combined with a bright full moon, dropped the catch to 41 moths of 19 species. Red-green Carpet, outside the trap, was new for the autumn. There are still Hummingbird Hawk-moths around. Friday 29th It was cloudy overnight, which is just as well as the…
Birds: September 2023
Saturday 30th There was some surprise when the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was re-found on New Downs. It was very mobile (again) but showed distantly on the North Pool, along with five Cattle Egrets and a Little Stint. A reminder that parking at the Polytunnels is only available for a few cars and members must display their membership card on their dashboard.…
Butterflies: August 2023
Monday 21st There was a late Essex Skipper on the BMS Transect (though still two weeks away from our latest ever record) and a Clouded Yellow in the Whitehouse. Wednesday 16th A male Brimstone was in the Whitehouse and there was a good emergence of Speckled Woods with 19 on the Estate, plus five Walls and six Holly Blues. Tuesday…
Dragonflies: August 2023
Thursday 31st A Red-veined Darter was at Dickson’s Corner, the first of the next generation. Monday 28th There were at least 14 Emerald Damselflies on the Estate. Saturday 26th A Willow Emerald Damselfly was in Big Gully. Wednesday 23rd The LESSER EMPEROR was still on Restharrow Scrape along with three Emperors. Tuesday 22nd A LESSER EMPEROR was on Restharrow Scrape…
Moths: August 2023
Thursday 31st I am guessing the cloud cleared during the night and the big moon then affected the catch. The temperature fell below 10 to 9.3°C as well. There were only 70 moths of 26 species, none of which were migrants. Clay Triple-lines was new for the year. The night was saved by a visitors trap which caught our second…
Ringing: August 2023
Wednesday 30th Overnight rain seems to have prevented migration and there were just five new birds. Four of these were Blackcaps and the fifth was the first Swallow we have ringed this year. A quick comparison of the monthly total for August this year and for August last year shows a total of 758 new birds this August and 828…
Birds: August 2023
Thursday 31st A Spotted Flycatcher was in the Little Elms and a juvenile Cuckoo at Dickson’s Corner. At least seven Whinchats were spread around the Estate plus a few Sedge and Reed Warblers and the first Siskin of autumn. A Great White Egret and five Ruffs were on RSPB Worth marshes and in Pegwell Bay there were two Spoonbills, a…
Ringing: July 2023
Sunday 30th It was very windy but there are enough leaves on the bushes to allow some nets to be used. Fourteen birds were ringed two of which were Garden Warblers. Blackcaps continue to show they have had a successful season with another four young ringed. Probably as a result of the very unsettled weather to the west there were…