Red-necked Footman

Lade - hot, dry, sunny, windy sw 4 - We finished our three day moth fest for the guests from Germany on a high with a Red-necked Footman, new for the trap site. Privet Hawk-moth and Least Carpet were also new for the year. Whilst clearing the trap at 0600hrs a Blackcap sang from a neighbouring garden, an unusual record down here in early summer, perhaps a returning migrant?
  A thorough search out back this morning revealed little new on the bird front, although the first Marbled Whites of the summer were on the wing, plus Small Skipper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

                                Red-necked Footman - new for the Plovers trap

                                Least Carpet

                                Privet Hawk-moth

                                Barney at 11
 
Dungeness - 1500hrs - Today was Barney`s birthday. He`s eleven years old and the weather was not to his liking, being far too hot this morning. However, as a special `treat` we went seawatching this afternoon where the cool wind was far more preferable. An hour with MH and PB delivered a trickle of Sandwich Terns and Gannets, several Kittiwakes and Fulmars, two Swifts and three Med Gulls.
  From Screen hide on ARC four Little Ringed Plovers were the highlight, plus plenty of eclipse ducks, Lapwings, two Marsh Harriers and a Hobby.
  An evening visit on Walland delivered a meagre return on farmland birds but did include two Turtle Doves, two Corn Buntings, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, a few Tree Sparrows and Yellow Wagtails, two Yellowhammers and a Little Owl.