Willow Emerald Damselfly, Sevenoaks KWT Reserve, 30 Aug 2018

Found a male Lestes spp damselfly at Sevenoaks KWT whilst walking the kids this afternoon. Managed to rattle off a few pictures before remembering Dad duties... The pale pterostigma first alerted me to something different from other Lestes spp I've seen in the UK (Common, Scarce and Southern) though I couldn't think what were the key features of Willow Emerald - so assumed a good picture of the side of the thorax would do it. Met a reserve warden, who's name was memorable but I've forgotten it..., who confirmed Willow Emerald ID based on spur projection marking on the thorax.

Initial view on dried Buddleia flower head

Spur on thorax marking is key ID feature 

Willow Emerald Damselfly

It's a boy!

Willow Emerald Damselfly (still)

Citrine Wagtail, Lower Moors, Isles of Scilly, 24 August 2018

Having first seen the Citrine Wagtail when it arrived on the Isles of Scilly, it was good to catch up with this eastern vagrant just before our departure day.

Grey Seals, Eastern Isles, Isles of Scilly, 22 Aug 2018

Took a trip out with Yasmine, and the rest of the Newham clan, to look for Grey Seals - Yazzy has 'Seals' as a summer project in primary school. Thankfully the beasties all appeared and performed at the correct time... Harbour Porpoise was a new 'photo tick' if such things are allowed...

2 Grey Seals

Lots of Grey Seals

More Grey Seals

A lazy looking Grey Seal...

Harbour Porpoise

Kittiwake

A loads of Shags (not certain what the collective noun of Shags is...) 

Night all...

4 August 2018: 'Broom Path' near Canterbury with Marc Botham

Concluded the weekend's moffin activities (4 Aug) with a couple of hours spent near Canterbury along a footpath that has yielded some interesting bits in the past. The Acrobasis had some quite prominent raised scales towards the base of the wings, so I'm opting for A. tumidana on this occasion (what do the good people of the interwebworld think?). The Cydia amplana was the second in two nights. Epinotia trigonella (may be) and Cochylimorpha straminea (I think) both also posed well enough to have their mugshots taken. A Tawny Cockroach found on the vehicle was the third new Orthoptera over the weekend.

Cydia amplana

Cochylimorpha straminea?

Acrobasis tumidana

Acrobasis tumidana

Epinotia trigonella?

Tawny Cockroach

Isle of Grain, 3 Aug 2018 (Part 3 - The micros!)

And we also caught some small stuff....

Cacoecimorpha pronubana

Chilo phragmitella

Ancylosis oblitella

Ancylosis oblitella

Bactra furfurana

Lobesia abscisana

Acleris variegana

Pediasia contaminella

Acleris cristana

Acleris cristana

Bactra robustana

Eucosma tripoliana ?

Eucosma lacteana

Phalonidia affinitana

Chilo phragmitella

Cydia amplana

House Cricket - NFM!

Isle of Grain, 3 Aug 2018 (Part 2)

The visit to saltmarsh habitat (Isle of Grain) on Friday evening was enlivened by some moths which had a little extra colour (although the Red Underwings hid their colour). Garden Tigers are always a favourite. Around one trap (placed on festering tide line seaweed) we had three adult House Crickets, assuming ID is correct (two female and one male) - these were by our furthest trap, about 1km from the main road. Our car had also attracted a female Southern Oak Bush Cricket.

Red Underwing

Turnip Moth

Mullien Wave

Cream-bordered Pea Moth

Satin Wave

Garden Tiger

Mathew's Wainscot

Dogstooth

Dogstooth

Isle of Grain: 3 Aug 2018 (Part 1)

Tried one of James Hunter's sites on the Isle of Grain in the hope of Crescent Striped. Although our target never did materialise, we did find a number of great species. Topping the 'unexpected' list were five 2nd gen Restharrow (three diff photographed here) - this is the third site I've seen them in Kent, none of which have been near Sandwich. Sandhill Rustic was overdue - I've stalked these B*gg*ers over several years... Three Brown-veined Wainscot (including both colour morphs) was great, whist 3+ Gypsy Moth were yet another highlight of a tiring 70+ spp evening.

Sandhill Rustic

Sandhill Rustic

Restharrow (one of three caught)

Brown-veined Wainscot

Brown-veined Wainscot (dark morph)

Gypsy Moth