Bordered Straw - East Malling, Kent

This fine Bordered Straw was caught by Jake and Luke Else in their back garden actinic trap on Friday night (15//5/15) - well done boys. Tentative ID by Mark Else was duly confirmed by Mitzi - a family team effort. Nice!

Bordered Straw, East Malling, Kent

13 May 2015 - Dew Moths at Abbotscliffe, East Kent

Up early to head for the Folkestone area in search of Dew Moth - the weather seemed perfect, still and sunny. The first Dew Moths seen fluttering over the cliff edge, occasionally flying straight up to and then round me - some travelling further inland and going over the nearby crops.

Easily counted a minimum of 30 Dew Moth - a great way to see a new moth spp and thanks to Ian Roberts of 'Folkestone & Hythe birds' fame for his generous time spent helping guide me in the right time and place.

Several new butterflies for the year - all in all, a nice start to the day and arrived back in the office in time for coffee...

Dew Moth

Dew Moth

Dew Moth

Dew Moth

Dew Moth

Dew Moth

Wall

Dingy Skipper

Mother Shipton

Small Heath

Painted Lady

Soldier Beetle spp

Cercopis vulnerata - a smart froghopper!

spid spp

22/4/15 - 10/5/15, Bryher, Isles of Scilly to Somerset to Norfolk

Time precludes me from writing a full account of three recent which have done so very well in getting themselves on to my UK life list.

First up was the Great Blue Heron - a Tuesday night twitch, sleep in the car (Otter at Marazion first thing), Scillonian out to the islands (complete with Hoopoe a long way out at sea), all followed by jet boats and beach landings - marvellous!


Great Blue Heron, Bryher, Isles of Scilly. Photograph by the Indie Birder

Seconds for Britain (the Great Blue Heron) as great, but grip-backs are even better. This stonking Hudsonian Godwit was a greater performer in Somerset. And I thought I'd have to look at one (eventually) at three miles range on some distant tidal flat - not a bit of it!



Hudsonian Godwit, Somerset. Photograph by Carl Bovis.

The final bird in the amzing spring run of 2015 (so far..!) was the cracking little Citril Finch in the west end of Holkham Pines. Only seven years since the Fair Isle bird - yet another amazing grip-back!


Citril Finch, Holkham Pine, Norfolk.Pphotograph by Penny Clarke