26th July The Vange Marsh Cattle Egret was today added to my SOG list after missing it yesterday by 10 minutes. It was the third 5am start on the trot, the other two were for processing from the moth trap.
I arrived at Vange at 6am to find Don already watching the bird. It was distant and with its back to us but over the next hour it did show reasonably well, through the scope. Fuzzy distant record shots were obtained and can be seen on the Local Rarities photo pages.
19th July The conditions looked good for setting the moth trap, warm/muggy and overcast. With newly laid down white sheeting I was hoping for some new ones in the morning. As it turned out it was the best moth catch I've done so far with a whopping 275 moths of 76 species including 24 ticks. There were moths everywhere; on the sheet, on the grass, on the fence, on the trellis, on the umbrella, on the trap and in the trap. With so many fine moths the winner though went to the diminutive Chinese Character. As more and more pictures are taken my Moths album is delayed in being updated, I will attempt to catch up.
17th July The moth trap produced a good haul with a number of interesting lifers with personal highlights being a Buff-tip, a Toadflax Brocade, a Nutmeg, a Peppered Moth, a Campion, an Early Thorn, two Poplar Greys and six Elephant Hawk Moths. Lots of other interesting moths with Scalloped Oaks, Light Arches, Silver Y's, Common and Scarce Footmen, Common Wainscot, Lesser and Large Yellow-underwings, two Brown-tails and so on.
After clearing the trap I went to the seafront to undertake my first count of the MedGulls here this year and ended up with an average count of 104. Still not to bad considering its the first count;
Back to the building the patio now.
9th July Four Med.Gulls over the garden this evening as part of an anting gull flock, first of the year over the garden.
7th July I just had to be working in London today didn't I, White-tailed Plover at Rainham Marshes and I have back to back meetings. Still all's well that ends well. Managed to see the bird well though briefly in the evening. Smashing 'real' tick this year
4th July Pleasant few hours around Belfairs Woods with Sheryl resulted in 12+ White Admirals and numerous other commoner butterflies though Heath Fritillaries are on the wain now.
3rd July Overnight moth trapping session was the best yet, perfect conditions. I was out with the moths until 3am and then up again at six to empty the trap. Super haul, compared with what has gone before, with 43 identifiable species plus many more I'm still working out so this number likely to increase. Pick of the bunch were nine Elephant Hawk Moths, single Lime, Privet and Poplar Hawk Moths, two Buff Arches, a Brown-tail, several Magpies and Small Magpies, Swallowtails, Great Oak Beauties, Dark Arches, Light Arches, Common Wainscoat and others.
I have now split out the moth photo pages to reflect some of these. Rest of day spent dozing and watching Argentina getting hammered by Germany in the World Cup.
2nd July Had an excellent count of 21 White-letter Hairstreaks on Benfleet Downs during an after work visit along with year ticked Purple Hairstreaks. Butterflies were now out in some numbers.