@dbbirding profile picture
dave brown @dbbirding

Kent based birder with an interest in all wildlife.

Joined November 2013
  • Tweets 8,251
  • Following 93
  • Followers 570
504 Photos and videos
wood sandpiper still hanson hide arc pit dungeness kent
3
52
East Kent site today hoping to find Black Veined Moths, but none seen. Too early? Actually few Butterflies/ Moths seen. Our best being 2 Ringlets, NFY, and 8 Marbled Whites. Couldn't resist our 3rd Late Spider Orchid colony this year. 6 Orange-tailed Clearwings at home to lure.
Late Spider Orchid. Most plants now starting to go over. Best ones outside the cages.

ALT Late Spider Orchid. Most plants now starting to go over. Best ones outside the cages.

Late Spider Orchid.

ALT Late Spider Orchid.

Late Spider Orchid.

ALT Late Spider Orchid.

3 of the 6 Orange-tailed Clearwings to garden lure this afternoon.

ALT 3 of the 6 Orange-tailed Clearwings to garden lure this afternoon.

1
14
189
red kite s over garden
2
70
2 of 2. We looked for, but failed to see any, 2nd brood Large Tortiseshell nor any early Ringlets. We also failed to see any early Southern Migrant Hawkers, but you never know with this strange year where many species are early.
2
94
A good day in Orlestone Forest. A brief glimpse of a Norfolk Hawker could not be refound. Our 1st Silver Washed Fritillary, White Admirals (9), and Small Skippers (10) of the year. Also Large Skipper, Red Admiral Brimstones, 2 Crossbills. 2 White Legged Damselflies. 1of2
White Admiral.

ALT White Admiral.

White Legged Damselfly

ALT White Legged Damselfly

Small Skipper.

ALT Small Skipper.
9
131
Into East Kent again today. At least 12 Late Spider Orchids in decent flower. Nearby 2 groups of Bee Orchids, 7 and 25. 6 Marbled Whites, 12 Large Skippers, 75 plus Meadow Brown's, Mother Shipton. Many Pyramidal and Common Spotted Orchids in flower. The recent rains have helped.
Late Spider Orchid.

ALT Late Spider Orchid.

Bee Orchid.

ALT Bee Orchid.

Late Spider Orchids.

ALT Late Spider Orchids.

Marbled White.

ALT Marbled White.
5
127
A belated thanks to BB for allowing viewing of a local caught Striped Hawk-moth (02/06). 160 Ivy Broomrapes (in mid Kent) seen 07/06. A visit yesterday to RSPB Blean woods (nr Canterbury) in dull, and drizzly skies saw 18 Heath Fritillary, 2 Norfolk Hawkers, Large Skipper.
Striped Hawk-moth (Ruckinge).

ALT Striped Hawk-moth (Ruckinge).

Heath Fritillary

ALT Heath Fritillary

Mating pair of Heath Fritillary. RSPB Blean.

ALT Mating pair of Heath Fritillary. RSPB Blean.

Ivy Broomrapes (Mid Kent). Part of the 160 plants present.

ALT Ivy Broomrapes (Mid Kent). Part of the 160 plants present.
5
117
red kite w over garden.
3
93
A few of the goodies we have seen over the past 2 days. Many thanks to BB for the viewing of Bedstraw Hawkmoth. Our 1st garden Yellow Legged Clearwing of the year, 34 plus Late Spider Orchids, still lots of Painted Ladies. Our 1st Common Darter & Pyramidal Orchid of the year.
Bedstraw Hawk-moth, Ruckinge, Kent. Thank you BB for allowing viewing.

ALT Bedstraw Hawk-moth, Ruckinge, Kent. Thank you BB for allowing viewing.

Yellow Legged Clearwing. Kent.

ALT Yellow Legged Clearwing. Kent.

Late Spider Orchid, East Kent.

ALT Late Spider Orchid, East Kent.

Late Spider Orchid, East Kent.

ALT Late Spider Orchid, East Kent.
5
132
Up on the North Downs near Folkestone. No sign of the Red Kite movement, just Raven, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk. Nearby Late Spider Orchids, 2 Adonis Blue, 9 Large Skippers, 7 Painted Ladies. Usual Common Blues, Meadow Brown's etc. At home our 1st Yellow Legged Clearwing of the year.
1
4
202
Photos from the last two days in the garden or known East Kent sites.
Currant Clearwing. One of three to garden lure.

ALT Currant Clearwing. One of three to garden lure.

Late Spider Orchid. East Kent.

ALT Late Spider Orchid. East Kent.

(Green) Fly Orchid still in decent condition. East Kent.

ALT (Green) Fly Orchid still in decent condition. East Kent.

White Legged Damselfly, one of four in Orlestone Forest (Kent).

ALT White Legged Damselfly, one of four in Orlestone Forest (Kent).

1
5
171
We have had a good day today for in addition to the moths we caught our 1st Currant Clearwings of the season (3) and saw our 1st White Legged Damselflies (4) of the year in Orlestone Forest. Meadow Brown's on the wing. Photos to follow.
1
3
150
2of2. Also trapped last night. Another Portland Ribbon Wave, 2 Diamond Backs, Green Silver Lines, Oak Hook Tip. A total of 39 species. We think not bad for an urban garden where I am sure street lighting affects our catch potential.
2
120
Last night was one of our best urban garden moth traps. I believe this to be Eastern Bordered Straw. Although not in the best condition it shows all the features of that species. Many thanks to @AndilBoothroyd for help with ID. Actinic light, garden in Ashford, Kent. 1of2.
5
137
Another attempt at Large Red Belted Clearwing at Hothfield Common, but again no joy. That's 5 years running without success. Maybe lost to this site. Was always rare in Kent. Plenty of fresh Silver Birch, but little of old or cut wood. Ponds very dry. Only found 4 Spotted.
1
1
178
Best garden moth so far this year, possibly a garden first for our inland urban garden. I need to check. Portland Ribbon Wave. A former Red Data Species and rare immigrant, but now expected along the East Coast.
Portland Ribbon Wave.

ALT Portland Ribbon Wave.

1
1
10
203
Wow, another brilliant AM at Dungeness Obs. This time all about moths. A very big thank you to Sean Clancy for showing the mega Fir Carpet, to DBO/others for showing the Eastern Bordered Straw, Beautiful Marbled and Small Mottled Willow. Thanks to OL Mossy Stonecrop seen nearby.
Fir Carpet. Caught by Sean Clancy at New Romney (Kent) last night. Photo taken at Dungeness Obs. Only about 5-6 UK records.

ALT Fir Carpet. Caught by Sean Clancy at New Romney (Kent) last night. Photo taken at Dungeness Obs. Only about 5-6 UK records.
1
7
176
And still they keeping coming, but not the hoped for one. 11 Red Belted Clearwings in the trap late morning to the Large Red Clearwing lure. A garden record.
2
106
Y'day we saw 9 Red Belted Clearwings to our garden lure. Today it was our 1st Red Tipped Clearwings of the year to lure (two). Garden moth wise it was ordinary, no migrants, but seeing our 3rd Kent Willowherb Hawk-moth was most welcome. Many thanks to BB for allowing viewing.
Red Belted Clearwing

ALT Red Belted Clearwing

Red Belted clearwing

ALT Red Belted clearwing

Red Tipped Clearwing Kent.

ALT Red Tipped Clearwing Kent.

Willowherb Hawk-moth (Kent).

ALT Willowherb Hawk-moth (Kent).
6
125
2of2. Today we hung the Large Red Belted Clearwing lure in the garden. Interesting in that 9 Red Belted Clearwings came in together, but no Large. 9 is our highest garden total. Over the last 6 years we have tried various Kent locations for Large without success. We keep trying.
1
1
6
141
Load more