17th June
To hot during the day (30 degs) so went to SS in the evening meeting MC and Jason and Nicole.........long chat then we twitched the broomrapes the Danny Chesterman had found opposite the Ski Club, perhaps a 100 or more spikes of the common broomrape. The yellow flava types were attracting a lot of interest.
14th June onwards
Tern wardening again at Seasalter, not a lot of action going on, the eider is still present, 5 Med gulls went by up river plus the usual reedbed stuff. Late afternoon/evening looked at damselflies etc near the LA. seeing red eyed, variable, blue-tailed and Norfolk hawker.
12th June
Tern wardening again at Castle Coote, nothing much to see but another cream spot tiger flew passed again.
This afternoon we went to 'Enchanted Gardens' at Pilgrims Lane next to Wraik Hill looking at plants plus enjoyed a cup of tea and cake. As we were about to leave red kites came into view overhead, circling and many carrying on west although one or two came back. When I got home Mark tweeted he was up there and seeing them still and surprisingly I had good views from my garden. Possibly, a good dozen or more.
Thank goodness all these blog days are now done....taking too much time!
10th June
A quiet morning for birds so looked at a few insects but I have noticed this year there is a dramatic drop in the numbers I am seeing, hardly any hoverflies and this is reported all over the country!! Maybe the cold Spring which was wet then dry then wet again. However, I found an ichneumon fly, Amblyteles armatorius and several soldier beetles, Cantharis rustics plus a nice brown argus. Whilst watching these insects a red kite flew overhead.
9th June
Yes, I have to go out with the wife sometimes but usually find something of interest and today was a visito Godinton House near Ashford. Nice gardens, puts Sissinghurst to shame and near the pond I found some variable damselflies and a new hoverfly, Cheilosia albitrasis.
After seeing tree bumble bee yesterday at Seasalter for the first time I found another couple here.
12th June
My morning tern wardening on the 7th proved much the same as other times, the terns looking good.....the only exciting sighting was yet another cream spot tiger moth which I saw again today at C. Coote.
5th June
After yesterday inch of rain it was a bit muddy on the track walking up to C. Coote and disappointing not to see any terns. However, corn buntings were in full song with 4-5 along the route but only one yellow wagtail noted.
A few skylarks were coming up onto the seawall and meadow pipits but otherwise uneventful.
At the Coote there was no sign of terns, just the eider that was going through a moult or something but still active fishing for crabs. The ringed plover chicks were still about on the shingle, a little worrying with the two lesser black backed gulls still on site.
I met MC on the way back and started looking at bees etc, soon found a wall brown and I came across a carder bee which appears to be a Moss Carder BB. Bombus muscorum (waiting for confirmation). Also some nomad bees which looked very hairy and another wait for ID confirmation. Noted 4-5 lizards on the seawall sunning themselves, I have seen so many.
A lot of red admirals seemed to about today finding at least half a dozen, most moving westwards and small heaths were also quite abundant.
Finally came upon several nomad bees which looked strangely hairy, waiting for confirmation again.
