The last few days

Just a couple of short visits at the end of the week hasn't produced a lot but a TURTLE DOVE flew over the veg garden Thursday morning and 3 young KESTRELS sat high in a tree calling constantly as I searched for the first returning Sedge Warblers that appeared about this time last year. The highlight of a short walk yesterday were a couple bursts from MARSH TITS in Roundshill and Bull and Birches.
A brief glimpse of a dragonfly turned out to be my first Migrant Hawker of the year, the only other dragon/damsels were a couple of Large Red Damselflies loafing on a reed.
Moths have been loving the warm weather and Steve has had some busy mornings in the last three days culminating in 107 species being recorded just yesterday morning with over 700 macros and maybe 1000 micros in and around the traps, some highlights were WAVED BLACK, DARK SPINACH, KENT BLACK ARCHES, CLAY FANFOOT and OLIVE. Here are few recent pics.

Young Kestrels

Dewick's Plusia from last week

Sunrise

Young Fox exploring the freshly cut hay

Light at the end of the path!

Goldfinch

Where to start.....?

Visits to the castle have been few and far between as you can probably guess through the lack of posts. I certainly have been missing reading everyone's blogs, although have managed a few short forays on to the computer. June passed with the finish of the Nightjar and Woodcock survey in Bedgebury which was very enjoyable. Since then things have been pretty rubbish really for various reasons but I have been getting out and about here and there.
Sissinghurst has produced 2 Whimbrel seen by Dad early in July a pair of SISKIN were in the wood on July 10th and another unseasonal sighting here was a COMMON SNIPE on the 21st. More regular birds still include good numbers of YELLOWHAMMERS and SKYLARKS also GREEN WOODPECKERS look to have had a good breeding season.
Moths in recent days have picked up in number with the weather, a DEWICK'S PLUSIA (2nd site record) was a surprise for Steve on Friday 20th July and a PYGMY FOOTMAN was new for the site on the night of the 22nd followed by another one on the night of the 24th!

Woodcock

Sunrise at Sissinghurst

Beautiful Golden Y found in June

Kestrel

 Here are a couple pics from a couple of days in Suffolk

Skylark - Dingle Marshes

Red Deer - Dunwich Heath