Thrush rush

Lade - mild, cloudy, showery, nw 3 - With Mike and Wendy from Worcestershire staying at Plovers for a moth weekend, looking at the rain in the forecast I wasn't expecting great catches, but how wrong I was! 22species in the garden traps this morning included Pearly Underwing, Dark Sword-grass, Delicate, Mallow, Blair`s Shoulder-knot, L-album Wainscot and Clancy`s Rustic, the latter two being new for Mike. We called in at the Kerton Road Café and DBO where more goodies awaited including two migrant Radford`s Flame Shoulders, one trapped at the Obs, the other from Greatstone. Many thanks to Dorothy and David for retaining their catches over the weekend. 

                                Delicate

                               Blair`s Shoulder-knot

                               Clancy`s Rustic, Plover`s trap

Dungeness - After doing the moths it was apparent that a huge movement of thrushes was underway at the point, which prompted a wander around the moat, trapping area and desert. Over the next couple of hours Song Thrushes were the order of the day; in unprecedented numbers, they were everywhere, flying in off the sea, dropping into cover and heading inland, and as always with continental birds they were nervous and furtive. This was the biggest fall of Song Thrushes that I can remember, certainly in my time here, that comprised 500 plus birds on the move, but the true figure across the peninsula certainly involved many more I`m sure.

                                Ring Ouzels, Trapping Area

  In amongst the thrush rush were at least 20 Ring Ouzels, several Redwings and the odd one or two Blackbirds. Robins were numerous and a flock of 30 Skylarks grounded on the desert. Also noted a few Meadow Pipits, Reed Buntings, Goldfinches, Chiffchaffs, Goldcrest, Blackcap  and a steady flow of hirundines overhead.