Sussex Emeralds

Kerton Road Cafe - 0800hrs - warm, dry and sunny, light airs - Assisted DB in processing last nights moth catch where the highlight was the former Red Data Book moth, Small Ranunculus, a species which is now expanding its range out of Kent and Sussex, north and west. Seven Sussex Emeralds were also recorded, bringing the total number for the site so far this summer to 67, which is well above average for the time of year. Nearly all were females (plain antennae and small body). 

                                Small Ranunculus, KRC

                                Sussex Emeralds (female on left, male on right), KRC

Lade - On the way down the coast road we pulled over to watch an electric plane, having just taken off from Lydd airport, fly out over the bay heading for France with two helicopters for company.
Once again the pits were full of juvenile ducks, grebes and Coots, along with loads of Starlings feeding on rotting water weed. Unusually, a Common Tern was fishing the lake, presumably from the bird reserve, while both Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk were noted. Around the ponds plenty of common butterflies and damselflies were on the wing.

                                Coot family, Lade

                                Common Tern, Lade

                                Great Crested Grebe, juv, Lade

                                Marbled White, Lade

ARC - From Screen hide this afternoon singles of Greenshank, LRP and Blackwit amongst 230 Lapwings. The Garganey from yesterday was still present feeding alongside scores of eclipse dabbling and diving ducks, while the lake was smothered in Coots and Mute Swans.