So on to March 2019 and the highlight has to be the sighting of a Large Tortiseshell at Dungeness. We were not the finders. It had already been seen by several others, mainly locals, during the week. The 29th was warm and sunny so we decided to give this butterfly a try. Anyone who knows Dungeness T...

February 2019. This winter proved hard work to see any scarce ducks here in Kent. The weather on the near Continent was not cold enough to instigate any real movement into Britain. So it was on the 02nd that we saw our only male Smew of the winter period. It stayed most of the month around the RSPB ...

I have not updated my PD for a while, actually almost a year, but I seem to have been just as busy watching wildlife as previous years, but with a slight difference. I have spent some time looking for the unusal rather than chasing the same things as every year. Not that I was that successful mind y...

In a wood South of Faversham (Kent) today, with a temperature of 14 degrees. 10 Brimstone, 2 Red Admirals and a Comma. Hopefully a sign of a good Year to come.

Hi Jack,
Have sent you a PM re Grantown.

Dave

Hi Jack, I have seen NBA at Grantown on Spey and near Aviemore in the past (2005?). Both not far from your home. I will dig out my old notes over the next few days and PM you. Neither site was difficult to reach in terms of length of walk or steep slopes. In fact one was by a main road. Hopefully bo...

Hi Goldie, I am so glad that, with the support of your loving family, you managed a Christmas that your husband would have been proud of and enjoyed. I have been luckily enough to have met both of you, when a couple of years ago you were running around the steep slopes of Lydden Bank chasing Silver ...

A very good year draws to an end. We consider 2018 was in general a very good year for wildlife. The very hot weather did cause issues with numbers of moths, and a mixed bag regards plants/ wildflowers. Here in Kent Orchids suffered badly from the heat , but some species, particulary Small White Orc...

Hi David. The Death's Head Hawkmoth is an immigrant moth that is recorded in varying numbers most years. Current evidence suggests that they cannot over winter in Britain, even in a mild year. Good years may see 25-30 arrive in Britain but I believe less than 20 are seen most years. Usually arriving...

With the Year almost at an end so are our updates. Following on the rest of November was a mixed bag. Butterflies were few with just Red Admirals. Dragonflies were down to the odd Migrant Hawker, our last one was the 17th November, but still a few Common Darters. The garden moth trap was put away fo...

Bringing the year so far nearly up to date. Doing less travelling this year meant we missed out on a few Butterfly and Dragonfly species. We didn't try for Silver Studded Blue, Silver Spotted Skipper, Wood White, Brown Hairstreak, or even the gorgeous Purple Emperor. All within 100 miles of us but a...

Clancy's Rustic.jpg Continuing the year. To be honest this year has been very hard work when it comes to moths. Butterflies and Dragonflies have done well but moths are another story. Numbers and species are well down in our garden and I believe in many other gardens. Despite that, and in addition ...

Hawkers, Clearwings and an unusal plant Early June saw us invited to a private wood near Ashford where the rare (for Kent) Downy Emerald was present. We managed to see 3. Just as interesting was the huge numbers of Four Spotted Chasers present. Park Heath Corner reserve was next where we managed to ...

2018 so far Despite the lack of Diary entries we have enjoyed some very good moments and wildlife during the year so far. January provided us with some good views of the Hawfinchs around Godmersham. This was part of the national influx as we have not seen this species there before. Our maximum numbe...

We are back again. We feel it's about time that we did a few diary entries having had a 9 month rest. Why the rest? Well twofold. Firstly, it's difficult to keep writing entries in a different and interesting manner, and without producing photos of much the same things each year. We are not ones to ...

Oleander Hawkmoth

Have to agree with you David. This is nature at it's best. Amazing how a plumage, clearly designed for maximum camouflage, can also be a thing of such beauty.

I know its a moth but ........ This is the Oleander Hawkmoth. A very rare immigrant to Britain, mainly from Southern Europe, but highly regarded by most British mothers. We were lucky to be present when one was handed in to Dungeness Bird Observatory having been trapped at a local nearby private gar...

BROWN HAIRSTREAK Sorry if this has already been reported elsewhere, although I have not noticed it, but after rumours of Brown Hairstreak in Kent the last two years I understand that 3 males have been seen and photographed near Hayes (Kent). This is very very good news for BH was lost to Kent many y...

Hi Janet. Your Blue Damselfly (05/07) is the Common Blue Damselfly . Nice photo.

David M replied Thanks for this, Ian. Nice to see britannicus on these pages. Seems like this species is being almost ignored this year with all the exciting stuff happening elsewhere Judging by the full car park at Ditchling on Wednesday I would say most Butterfliers were looking at Black Hairstrea...