Sunday 8th June

National Moth Night last night so I put my Moth Trap out. A Tawny Owl was calling as I did. They are only occassional around my house in Birling. I was a bit disappointed with my haul, a Snout, a Common Swift and White Ermine was about it. During the day I had a Hobby and a Kestrel over the house.

Snout Moth (you can see why!)

I did manage an hour at New Hythe from 5.20 until around 6.20. I wandered around the East and West scrub. I didn't see one butterfly, but did see several Black-Tailed Skimmer, Four-Spotted Chasers and loads of Common and Azure Damsels. In the West Scrub there was a Cuckoo, Turtle Dove, Nightingale, Willow Warbler, Cettis Warbler, Whitethroat and Green Woodpecker. Also lots of Common Spotted Orchid, 1 Bee Orchid and 1 Southern Marsh Orchid (which was nearly over)

Common Lizard

Common Spotted Orchid

In the East scrub I saw 2 Grass Snake, 1 male, 2 female and 1 juv Slow Worm and 1 Common Lizard. Also 1+ adult Water Vole and 1+ young Water Vole near the Diver's bridge.