Carvings and Dips

 Monday October, 12

A new - and unwanted - record. Ninety of this morning's moths were Lunar Underwings, and forty six, Beaded Chestnuts.. The best was a new for the year Autumnal Rustic, a smart, cleanly marked, moth.

 

An essential stop at Sainsbury's to buy a Daily Telegraph for the account of last night's football match between England and Belgium, 2-1, a very flattering result. I also enjoy Monday's Herculis General Knowledge crossword as well as the usual puzzles. Pam took these photos of a wooden sculpture outside the main doors, it wasn't even visible to me, sitting in the car.

We didn't think that Dungeness would have put their trap out last night, but thought that we'd better check as David had promised to keep anything decent for us. No moths, and no Mottled Shieldbug either. I was hoping for a better photograph. Last night's visible migration ( probably mainly auditory), was a flood of Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrushes.

Very few people around to-day, it all looked different. Anglers, Birders and Workers, none of the food shacks were open either.

Cook's Pool is at the entrance to the RSPB reserve which we pass on the way to and from Dungeness Obs. We stopped to view the area, looking for the Cattle Egrets and Ibis. The cattle were lying, chewing the cud, at some distance away, one Western Cattle Egret flew amongst them, no sign of any Ibis. The Great White Egret showed again,

 

and a male Marsh Harrier quartered the reeds.

 

Following Birdguides' excellent map directions, we drove to St Margaret's Bay, and Littlestone Golf Course. A Red-backed Shrike had been reported at its western end. A potholed lane led towards the sea where we could see a handful of birders and photographers waiting. Unfortunately, the area was heavily used for dog walking, they were everywhere and off the lead to boot. We looked for some time, without success, until it became very dark and it started to rain. Reluctantly, it was time to retreat. We did see a Stonechat.........