Garden Firecrest

New Romney - Following two mild nights over the weekend there was plenty of interest in the garden moth trap including a migrant Clancy`s Rustic, another four Vestals and three vitrealis the highlights from over 20 species. Plenty of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs continue to be noted around the garden while a Firecrest was my first since moving here over a year ago. Saturday afternoon the temperature peaked at a ridiculous 21 C. I walked down Church Lane to the spinney in shorts and t-shirt where up to four Jays were present, plus more chiffs and crests, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a flock of Long-tailed Tits. Due to drilling operations the arable land on Romney Salts was full of activity from large flocks of pigeons, corvids and gulls, plus ten Pied Wagtails, two Kestrels and a Buzzard. Once the rain had cleared on Sunday we walked the Hope Lane loop north of the town where five Redwings and a Yellowhammer were the only notable birds.

                                 November Moth

Palpita vitrealis   

                                     Vestal

                                   Beaded Chestnut

                                 Dead Badger, Romney Salts