Moths: May 2024
Thursday 30th The low cloud improved the contents of the carpark trap to 141 moths of 41 species. Silver Y numbered 23 and eight Poplar Hawk-moths was unusual. Middle-barred Minor was new. Wednesday 29th Last night’s haul was reasonable. A Pearly Underwing was of note and our first Dark Arches appeared. A Vapourer caterpillar was found during the day on the…
Dragonflies: May 2024
Saturday 25th Our first Norfolk Hawker was in the Haven. Friday 24th Our earliest ever Southern Hawker was a surprise find along the Great Wood on RSPB Worth marshes. Friday 17th Two Four-spotted Chasers and four Azure Damselflies were on New Downs. A Variable Damselfly was on the Estate and large numbers of Emperor exuviae were in Middle Field pond.…
Butterflies: May 2024
Thursday 23rd Eight species were on the Estate with Brown Argus the highlight. Friday 17th A good mix around the Whitehouse and Oasis included two Speckled Woods, three Orange-tips, three Red Admirals, one Wall, five Small Coppers, six Small Heaths, two Holly Blues, one Small White, and first Painted Lady and Common Blue. Monday 13th The BMS Transect produced 38…
Birds: May 2024
Friday 31st An Osprey spent time fishing in Pegwell Bay and then headed off to New Downs with a decent sized Mullet. The weather next week is very mixed but at this time of year I always like to remind myself of the songs of two late spring migrants, Marsh Warbler and Blyth’s Reed Warbler. The former is a rare…
Dragonflies: April 2024
Saturday 27th A teneral Broad-bodied Chaser at the Observatory was yet another earliest ever record. Tuesday 23rd Record emergence dates continue to fall. This time two Blue-tailed Damselflies on RSPB Worth marshes were the earliest ever (previously 28th April 2017). Thursday 18th There was some nice sunshine mid-morning on RSPB Worth marshes and it produced a number of Damselflies along…
Butterflies: April 2024
Monday 29th A good morning on the Estate produced an Orange-tip, two Green-veined Whites, a Red Admiral, a Comma, eight Holly Blues, a Speckled Wood, and our first Wall and Small Coppers of the year. Friday 26th A few Green Hairstreaks were at their usual site in Stonelees. Thursday 18th Six Green-veined Whites were on Worth and a male Brimstone…
Moths: April 2024
Tuesday 30th Overnight cloud meant the temperature did not drop below 8.6°C. The catch continued to improve to 26 moths of 16 species. Shuttle-shaped Dart and Bright-line Brown-eye were new for the year. There was another hint of migration in the form of a single Diamond-back. Monday 29th Another clear fairly calm, night allowed the temperature down to 4.2°C. As…
Ringing: April 2024
Tuesday 30th Although rather delayed news of a Blackbird ringed here on November 15th 2016 and ring read in the field in Liepaja, Latvia (which is 1410 km ENE) on March 3rd 2017 was very interesting and will take some explaining. Was it already heading back far east? Monday 29th There is a good hint of warmth in the air…
Birds: April 2024
Tuesday 30th Low cloud and light southerlies made for a good morning on RSPB Worth marshes, particularly on the Blue Pigeons pools off the Pinnock Wall. Two Sanderlings in with the Ringed Plovers and Dunlins were rare birds for inland on the marsh, but a TEMMINCK’S STINT stole the show. Both Garganey and Wood Sandpiper were also present. Monday 29th…
Ringing: March 2024
Sunday 31st Unfortunately yesterdays pleasant conditions were not repeated and it was much more breezy than expected. Some nets were possible but there were not the number of Chiffchaffs around and just one was ringed. Of more interest were the two new Green Woodpeckers. This was because we only ringed three in the whole of 2023. Saturday 30th If anybody…