Dragonflies: May
Tuesday 27th A teneral Norfolk Hawker was on Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course. Friday 23rd Another immature female Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly of the orange aurantica form was seen in the Dragonfly Pond Fields. Thursday 22nd There were good counts of 55 Azure and 27 Variable Damselflies on RSPB Worth marshes. Tuesday 20th A count of 12 Banded Demoiselles on RSPB…
Moths: May
Saturday 31st A nice, warm, day welcomed people to the first moth evening and they were treated to an excellent variety of moths. The two traps at the Observatory caught 302 moths between them of 66 species. Highlights included ten Small Elephant Hawk-moths, a Cream-spot Tiger and four Diamond-Backs. Clouded Bordered Brindle was new for the year as was Pinion-streaked Snout and…
Ringing: May
Saturday 31st Good conditions for checking nest boxes. The House Sparrows at the Observatory are slowly getting going with a few nests with eggs at last. This is in contrast to just down the road where one nest is now with its second brood. The House Martins seem to have delayed nesting but are also getting going and even better…
Birds: May
Friday 30th There was not much new in the way of migration today but all the breeding bird activity made for a lovely walk on RSPB Worth marshes with multiple Turtle Doves, Hobbies, Little Ringed Plovers, and Marsh Harriers. In the evening a Nightjar was seen at the Chequers, the second time this week. Thursday 29th Very quiet today. An…
Dragonflies: April
Wednesday 30th Our first Azure Damselfly and Broad-bodied Chaser was on the Estate. Tuesday 29th New species come thick and fast in this good weather. Today’s new emergence was Blue-tailed Damselfly with three on RSPB Worth marshes. Two Variable, four Common Blue, and a three Hairy Dragonflies were also seen. Monday 28th Four Hairy Dragonflies, two Variable Damselflies, and one…
Moths: April
Wednesday 30th Similar conditions again and the catch dropped slightly to 39 moths of 16 species. A male Gem was our earliest record by a week of this migrant species. This added weight to my suspicion that the Turnips we are getting might also be migrants- there were five last night. Also new for the year were Large Yellow Underwing, Dark Spectacle,…
Ringing: April
Tuesday 29th A beautiful, calm, clear day. The clear sky overnight allowed a few sheltered bits to have a brief frost-certainly what was not forecast. We are ever hopeful that a few birds might overshoot from the continent but no sign yet. Five birds were caught- three Dunnocks, a Chiffchaff and a Blackbird. They all showed signs indicating they were…
Butterflies: April
Wednesday 30th The best day of the year so far. Seven Walls, five Orange-tips, three Large Whites, two Red Admirals, two Holly Blues, ten Green-veined Whites, one Small Heath, one Speckled Wood, two Small Coppers, one Common Blue, and six Peacocks on the Estate. Monday 28th Two Peacocks, three Red Admirals, four Speckled Woods, three Orange-tips, and seven Small Coppers…
Birds: April
Wednesday 30th At least five Red Kites flew north over the Estate with a Common Sandpiper on the beach and a Wheatear at Sandilands. Two Bar-tailed Godwits remained on Restharrow Scrape. Three Wood Sandpipers and our first Turtle Doves of the year were on RSPB Worth marshes. Tuesday 29th Another warm day despite the switch to a north-easterly. A Great…
Butterflies: March
Monday 31st Our first Orange-tip of the year fluttered along the Observatory entrance track. Thursday 27th Two male Brimstones, five Peacocks, a Green-veined White, and a Small Tortoiseshell were on the Estate. Tuesday 25th Another impressive butterfly day provided 20 Peacocks, two Small Tortoiseshells, and our first two Green-veined Whites of the year on RSPB Worth marshes. Thursday 20th Two…