Moths: December
Thank you to everyone who contributed moth records to us in 2025. It’s been an excellent year. Now is a quieter time for Moth sightings but they will start to appear soon in the New Year. In the mean time, why not plan ahead to come visit us in the summer and see some moths for yourselves? Over 1,300 species have…
Ringing: December
Thursday January 1st 2026 Please watch out for and record colour ringed birds. I earlier mentioned about the stories of the neck-collared Barnacle Geese. These had been photographed by one of our keen observers. When I saw the flock today I could not see any collared ones. Have they moved on or were they elsewhere on the marshes? I saw…
Birds: December
Wednesday 31st Cold conditions on New Downs but still rewards in the form of two Common Sandpipers and both Water and Rock Pipit. The overwintering Black Redstart, Dartford Warbler, and Coal Tit were all still present on the Estate whilst Glossy Ibis, ten Bar-tailed Godwits, and 11 Pintails were the highlights on RSPB Worth marshes. Good luck for everyone starting…
Butterflies: November
Wednesday 12th A Speckled Wood was in the Whitehouse. Saturday 8th A Clouded Yellow was in the Haven and a Comma on the Estate. Thursday 6th Two Speckled Woods were on the Green Wall and a Peacock on the Estate.
Dragonflies: November
Wednesday 12th It looked like it would be one of the last sunny days for a while. Between us there were over 30 Common Darters recorded on the Estate. We couldn’t find a Migrant Hawker but the ringing team smashed our latest ever record for Willow Emerald Damselfly with one in the Haven. Saturday 8th Two Migrant Hawkers and six…
Moths: November
Friday 28th While extremely windy, the forecast predicted overnight temperatures to be as high as 12°C so traps were placed in the shelter of the Ringing Room and The Elms. Amazingly, there were moths! The Elm’s trap had our first Winter Moth of the year, a November Moth, a Mottled Umber and a Rusty Dot Pearl. Another Rusty Dot Pearl,…
Ringing: November
Sunday 30th The weather continues to swing from one thing to another very quickly and today was forecast to be dry. As it was clear ice and frost gathered as dawn came along but the sun melted it quickly in the places exposed to it. It was enough to have a morning for the next period of the winter project.…
Birds: November
Sunday 30th The trio of Eastern Warblers were again the highlights with the DUSKY WARBLER in Little Gully and the HUME’S WARBLER and Siberian Chiffchaff in the Haven. Three Jack Snipes were on the Estate. Saturday 29th The DUSKY WARBLER was still present in Little Gully. Friday 28th Eastern warblers lead the sightings where the Siberian Chiffchaff and HUME’S WARBLER were present in…
Birds: October
Friday 31st A Great Northern Diver was offshore along with 300 Gannets, a Razorbill, four Sandwich Terns, and 25 Kittiwakes. Thursday 30th A GLOSSY IBIS on the path at Roaring Gutter was a strange sight on RSPB Worth marshes. There were a handful of Redpolls and Siskins around the area, plus a Firecrest on the Estate. Wednesday 29th A Black…
Moths: October
Friday 31st There were six moths of six species including an unseasonal Caloptilla stigmatella, likely disturbed while trying to overwinter nearby. The weekend is a mix of wet and wind and unsuitable for trapping. Thursday 30th Another cold night at 4.1°C and there were accordingly 20 moths of 14 species. Another Merveille du Jour was the highlight and there was…