Moths: March 2023
Thursday 30th A brief lull with hardly any rain allowed a range of traps to be put out. An actinic trap in the Elms caught 14 moths of four species, the highlight was a Pine Beauty; an attractive moth which is not annual. The car park trap held 38 moths of nine species. New for the year were Dotted Chestnut…
Ringing: March 2023
Thursday 30th Despite the strength of the wind there were a couple of sites where nets could be used safely. A short session yielded a Firecrest (the first this year), a Song Thrush and a retrap Chaffinch. Monday 27th The morning dawned with only a slight breeze which dropped away allowing a slight frost which was quickly melted away. At…
Birds: March 2023
Friday 31st Pretty horrible conditions today but ten White Wagtails were on the Green Wall. The Black Redstart put in a brief appearance around the Observatory again, as did the Tree Sparrow. Then, in the late afternoon, an ALPINE SWIFT stormed north along Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course. A brief head’s up to raise awareness of the series of walks…
Moths: February 2023
Monday 20th The daytime temperatures are mild so the trap was out again. The night-time temperatures did not listen to the forecast and dropped to 3.5°C. There were six moths in the trap. Hebrew Character (3) and Satellite were new for the year, plus there was a Common Quaker and a Pale Brindled Beauty Wednesday 15th Hopes of an interesting…
Ringing: February 2023
Sunday 26th Despite a bitterly cold north-easterly a brief attempt yielded a new Chaffinch plus three retrap Robins and two retrap Starlings. Friday 24th An early frost cleared quickly but the wind moving to north remained cool. The feeders continue to be popular but catches remain small. The new bird today was a female Mallard caught in the heligoland. The…
Birds: February 2023
Tuesday 28th A cold and breezy ending to the month. A Yellowhammer was at the hay bales behind the Observatory building and a Bullfinch along the Worth track. Two Barnacle Geese were in with the Greylag Geese next to the Shooting School at Mary Bax. The flock of five Eiders were on the sea again and three Firecrests present in…
Moths: January 2023
Friday 13th Not much to report moth-wise with the horrible weather recently, but a female Winter Moth was found on the gate to Middle Field. Friday 6th Last night started at a balmy 12.5°C but the wind picked up significantly. Once again there were no moths Tuesday 3rd Although it was calm the sky was clear and the temperature dropped…
Birds: January 2023
Tuesday 31st A productive walk on the Green Wall on the last day of the month produced Yellowhammer, Lesser Redpoll, two Coal Tits, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtail, Redshank, and Short-eared Owl. On the Estate the highlight was a male Merlin on Royal St George’s Golf Course, plus Cattle Egret, five Goldcrests in the Elms/Gullies area, and a Little Egret on Restharrow…
Ringing: December 2022
Tuesday 27th After a run of mild, damp, and/or windy days this morning dawned clear and a frost formed. It only lasted a couple of hours as cloud rolled in. The bushes were very quiet and only eight birds were caught. Two of these were new, firstly a Chaffinch and finally a Redwing. This could be the last bird ringed…
Dragonflies: November 2022
Sunday 13th Six Common Darters were on New Downs. Saturday 12th Lovely weather on Worth produced 15 Common Darters. Wednesday 9th Six Common Darters were seen along the paths by Restharrow Scrape late morning. Friday 4th One Common Darter was in the Oasis area. Wednesday 2nd Seven Common Darters were on the Estate.