Migration time

The numbers and species of moths in my trap have been tailing off, more so with the cooler North-East winds we've been enjoying. With few "new" species for the year to come, I hadn't set the trap for several days until last night, prompted by the Migration Watch at Samphire Hoe. To my surprise this morning, the catch was a  bit special - here goes

First up, a migrant,  this pristine Silver Y with a nice hint of bronze, 

Bigger surprise, another migrant and less common, L Album Wainscot. By the time I'd cleared the trap, the count was FOUR. That's one more than the average years total here!

Feathered Ranunculus in a local resident, a beautiful moth

Another pristine migrant is this Angle Shades, one of 3 this morning

Going back a few days, this one was a new species for this garden, a Flounced Chestnut I believe

 This Green Brindled Crescent is another beautiful local moth but never in great numbers

Here's an example of colour variation, both the following are Beaded Chestnut, which turns up in fair numbers each autumn

I can't resist the second Angle Shades from this morning 

I went out first thing for a look round the South Foreland Valley and Langdon Hole, to see what migrant birds were about to report in to Samphire Hoe. A spectacular autumn migration morning, with a Short-Eared Owl, a Merlin, about 10 Ring Ouzels, a flight of 50 or so Swallows, and thrushes all over the place. Song Thrushes in particular seemed to be present everywhere. There were numbers of Robins, and many Lesser Redpolls in Mark's nets along with Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blackcap and Chaffinch. The finches in particular are moving in vast numbers at present, and in our garden is a large flock of Goldfinch, perhaps 200 in number. They are feeding on the remains of Verbena Bodensii and Lavender flowers right in front of the house

One looked different, see?

Just a single Siskin looking quite comfortable in the company of the Goldies. Altogether as fascinating an autumn day as I have enjoyed for a long time. I wonder what tomorrow will bring?