RXwildlife Sightings

While carrying out the weekly butterfly count at Castle Water I came across this delightful little moth on White Horehound near the viewpoint. It is a Horehound Plume Moth (Pterophorus spilodactylus), a local species which has been recorded from very few places on the reserve, and for the last few years only on a tiny patch of White Horehound near the viewpoint. Closer examination of the plant found another three adults, several pupae and one or two larvae (bottom).

Horehound Plume Moth
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Well Bee Orchid - which I think is our most stunning flower, is out now. This year there seems to be fewer than normal. They have a fascinating biology which can be discovered in David Lang’s book online…

http://www.britainsorchids.fieldguide.co.uk/?PP=species_account&SPID=60&SHC=4&PSD=1

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The vast majority of individuals in the Lime Kiln trap recently have been either Heart and Dart or Dark Arches, two species not noted for their colourful appearance, so it was pleasant to get a few more attractive visitors this morning. This included both Elephant Hawk-moth and Small Elephant Hawk-moth, Cinnabar, and best of all The Coronet (below) a less than annual species at Rye Harbour.

The Coronet

At Pett Pools this morning there were a few interesting birds.
(Probably bees too, but I wasn’t really looking.)
A summer-plumage Spotted Redshank and a Green Sandpiper, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Avocets and 2 Redshanks.