Solstice Surprises

Lade - hot, dry, sunny, ne 4 - 0600hr - A stinker of a summer solstice weather wise, even with a cooling wind off the sea. First off though the garden MV turned up trumps with a new moth for the trap site - V Moth, a scarce and localised species, fond of currant and gooseberry bushes, with only a handful of records locally. There was also a decent clutch of hawk-moths, White Spots and Swallow-tailed Moths amongst 25 species of macros.

                               V Moth - new for the Plovers trap

                               One of five Swallow-tailed Moths

  The island on south lake continues to be of interest with an adult Mediterranean Gull within a mixed flock of Black-headed and Common Gulls plus, briefly, a pair of Sandwich Terns. Also over the lake at least 10 fishing Common Terns.

                               Adult Mediterranean Gull on south lake island

                                Male Linnet

                               Common Tern and Herring Gull chicks - on the same raft...

Dungeness - 1030hrs - A guided walk for ten guests around the circular route delivered a decent variety of breeding birds, butterflies and plants in searing heat as midday approached. From Dengemarsh hide the Common Terns nesting on the same raft as a Herring Gull, both of which had chicks, proved entertaining although I fear the eventually outcome will be in the gulls favour.
  However, bird of the day went to a stunningly close adult male Honey Buzzard that flew low over the hayfields, attracting the attentions of mobbing Oystercatcher, Lapwing and Redshank, before eventually disappearing towards the ranges.