Tuesday 18th A late Ruddy Darter was out among six Common Darters and four Migrant Hawkers in the morning sunshine on New Downs. Thursday 6th There were more Common Darters today in the sunnier conditions, 33 in fact. Quite a few were in seen in tandem pairs. Six Migrant Hawkers were also seen.
Tuesday 18th A Small Copper was on the Estate, a Clouded Yellow at the Chequers, two Red Admirals and two Small Whites on New Downs. Friday 14th A Comma and six Small Whites were seen on the Estate in the morning. Thursday 6th A reasonable selection of butterflies on the Estate comprised one Wall, one Painted Lady, one Red Admiral,…
Monday 31st Although it was still mild (11.3°C) last night the approach of stormy weather might have had an effect as the catch was down to 100 moths of 23 species. Rush Veneers went down to 37, Scarce Bordered Straws to six, and Vestals to one. The most extraordinary catch however was a very fresh looking Garden Tiger. Checking the…
Monday 30th The mild weather continues to suppress migration. Nine birds were ringed. These were a Robin, two Song Thrushes, a Great Tit, two Chaffinches and three Lesser Redpoll. Saturday 29th The very mild spell seems to have put a stop to typical migration, indeed there were several Swallows which we might have caught if the breeze had not picked…
Friday 30th Clear overnight with a calm start meant there were lots of birds around. By the time the wind arrived we had ringed 192 birds. This was made up of 93 Blackcaps (+ a control), 74 Chiffchaffs, six Goldfinches, five Blue Tits, four Goldcrests, three Song Thrushes, two each of Robin and Great Tit, and singles of Wren, Reed…
Friday 30th A slight delay in the trap being put out did not have a big affect on the catch. There were 271 moths of 21 species. This included 183 Lunar Underwings and 10 more Deep-brown Darts. Thursday 29th Even cooler last night at 5.1°C but the Lunar Underwing fest continued. Out of 319 moths (of 21 species) 191 were…
Thursday 29th There were three Speckled Woods, two Holly Blues, one Common Blue, three Small Whites, and two Red Admirals on the Estate today. Sunday 25th There were four Speckled Woods and a Wall on the Estate today in breezy conditions. But with multiple Queen of Spain Fritillaries down the road in Walmer, a Pale/Berger’s Clouded Yellow at Cliffe, and…
Thursday 29th There hasn’t been a great deal to see recently but the nice weather today tempted out nine Migrant Hawkers and 14 Common Darters on the Estate. Wednesday 7th It has been noted how few ‘darters’ have been around these last few weeks. Ordinarily we would expect counts in the region of 50-100 around the Estate at this time…
Friday 30th The last day of the month started really nicely but got increasingly windy as it progressed, and eventually quite wet. The first Jack Snipe of the season was on Restharrow Scrape, seven Grey Herons came in off the sea, and there were big numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs on the Estate (111 and 97, respectively). Thursday 29th The…
Wednesday 31st A sunny but windy day on Worth meant the Odonata were mostly patrolling around hedgerows and other areas in the lee of the wind. There were at least 25 Migrant Hawkers, one Brown Hawker, seven Common Darters, four Ruddy Darters, and two Common Blue Damselflies. Tuesday 23rd Just the three species on New Downs today – Common Blue…
