Hen Harrier Day August 10th

As far as I know this will be the first time that birders in the UK will be taking the fight to save birds to the streets. Needless to say I'm going to be there.

A lot of moths

 Jersey Tiger

 Marbled Beauty

 Acrobasis advenella

 Catoptria pinella

 Least Yellow Underwing (first for me)

Epinotia nisella (thanks to Sean from Surrey Moths) . First for the farmlands.

 Argyresthia sp ?

Recurvaria leucatella (thanks Surrey Moths). A first for the farmlands.

Eucosma hohenwartiana (thanks to Surrey Moths). A first for the farmlands.

 Bud Moth Spilonota ocellana

 Agriphila tristella

It's been hectic over last few nights during this heatwave. 83 species of moth over last three trapping nights with over 100 individuals in a night (just from one actinic trap at 'the obs' window).

New for the year recently include Ruby Tigers (up to 6), Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Cachlimorpha straminea, Acrobasis advenella, Brown-line Bright eye, Least Yellow Underwing, Cydia speldana, Pebble Prominet, Spilonota ocellana and Agriphila tristella. Up to three Jersey Tigers so far.

The Starling problem continues- caught two to three different birds in the potter trap (see video below). Thought the fright of getting caught might stop them but the raids on the trap continue.

More micros here: Even worse photos

Rainham Day Trip

 Greenshank and Lapwing

Had a day trip to Rainham today with Sue (was supposed to be a team of six but only Sue and I turned up). 1 Red Kite (rare this end of town), 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Hobby, 3 Kestrel, 6 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 1 Whimbrel, 40+ Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 30+ Common Tern on the river, 1 Garganey, Bearded Tits, 30+ Goldfinch, 10+ Linnet, 4 Swallow, 3 Sand Martin, 30+ Swift, Sedge Warblers still singing and one almighty thunderstorm (one of most intense I've been in).

Hot day

 Meadow Brown (one white spot in eye)

 Gatekeeper (two white spots in eye)

Cochylimorpha straminea (A first for farmlands if correct id) 

 Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull or Lesser Black-backed Gull?

 Purple Loose-strife

Horsetail and Reedmace

 

The heat wave continues with a few storms going through. A few waders seen by the group this morning; 8 Whimbrel, 3 Snipe, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 juvenile LRP, 15 Lapwing and Derek had 11 Green Sandpiper in the week. About 100+ Swift about, 4 Sand Martin, 6 Kestrel (mainly hunting on the mound), 1 Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk, 40+ Goldfinch on the mound, 3 Shoveler and quite a few young Little Grebes. The Shelducks all seem to have gone.

Lots of butterflies about- good numbers of Gatekeeper now. 50+ Six-spot Burnet on the mound.

Mothing now - the first Ruby Tigers of the year, had the first Jersey Tiger a couple of days ago, still lots of Footmans, Smoky Wainscots, Least Carpets etc.



Tales from the Bugry

 Started getting Starlings coming into the bugry and eating the moths so I borrowed Darryl's Potter trap and caught this one. Interesting to see the moult out of juvenile plumage.

 Scorched Carpet

 Oegoconia quadripuncta

 Swallow-tail moth

 Soldier fly sp.

 Ledra aurita- a large leafhopper with unmistakable large ears projections

Common Grass Veneer and Orchard Ermine (i think)

 

It was hectic last night in the heat wave conditions. Well over 100 moths and 12 new for year including Tree-lichen Beauty and Swallow-tail moth. A real mix of insects with lots of beetles- ground, rove and water beetles, ladybirds, leafhoppers, caddisflies, a mayfly, a robber fly, a soldier fly, picture-winged fly, loads of mosquitos and midges- its was manic. Lots of micro moths too.

 

Just heard a Turnstone calling from the window.



Great Knot twitch

Met with Gwent birders, Darryl, Tom and Haydon and twitched the Great Knot (needed it for the world and WP). Great day and great to catch up with up Darryl.
Darryl's account