RXwildlife Sightings

Just when I thought I was being upstaged by those chaps down at the Harbour with their Viper’s Bugloss Moth, I found this Pinion-spotted Pug by my trap in Rye this morning. This species is classed as Nationally Scarce and is confined to C and S England with outposts in N Kent and Romney Marsh. The main larval foodplant is hawthorn, sometimes apple, and the habitat is most often hedges along old lanes, woodland edges and occasionally gardens and orchards. It’s another new and unexpected addition to my garden list.

My first half decent morning in the moth trap today, though still with very few species (Rye Harbour is always a slow starter in this respect, though it more than makes up for it later in the year). Four of the six species trapped, Common Quaker, Flame Shoulder, Brimstone and Knotgrass are common and widespread while the highlights were Reed Dagger and, the cream of the crop, Bordered Ermel (below), one of the earliest records here for this rare and striking micro.

Bordered Ermel

Highlights this morning included 34 Whimbrel roosting on the Quarry before dispersing to Harbour Farm, 3 Arctic Skua and a Great Skua were lingering offshore, a Redstart and Willow Warbler were along Shore Ridges, luckily for the two migrants the Merlin seems to have departed.

A good selection of butterflies in my garden in Rye Harbour Village yesterday afternoon, Holly Blue (pictured) and Speckled Wood were new for the year, Orange-tip, Green-viened and Small White, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock were also present.