Channel Island cat!

I put my moth trap out last night, the first time for several nights on account of the wind and rain. This morning there were 47 moths of 11 species in among the egg boxes, including a delightful little Purple Bar which I regrettably didnt phoyograph, sorry - you can find a pic by asking Google images to look for one -there's one on western-isles-wildlife.co.uk website. Even better, at lunchtime this fine Jersey Tiger appeared on the windowcill outside; interestingly Tony Morris found one on 11 August, and there were 2 in the garden here last August, so it seems safe to believe they may now be breeding not very far away

At about 3 cm long, its a spectacular beast, which Waring and Townsend in 2004 reckoned to have become established near Rye

Nève Rosa Wells' christening

Yesterday baby Nève was christened at St Margaret of Antioch Church here in the village, followed by a reception in the Old Chapel tea Rooms. The service was conducted by the vicar, Diane Fawcett, and was relaxed, warm, friendly and welcoming. Nève had hiccups through the service but performed without any tears or upset - took it all in her stride - and also enjoyed the reception, as did all the guests, a lovely day

Swallows in the rain

Today Phil Green was to come down for a morning's birding - the forecast was 'orrible so we called it off. I woke about 6, no rain, a bit foggy, so I went out anyway to find absolutely nothing except Magpies and Woodpigeons in the murk. About 9 there was heavy rain, coincident with Phil texting to say what a lovely morning  it was in Tonbridge!
A bit later the young Swallows from the garage here decided to make their first flights, perching as they usually do on the net frame which keeps cats out of the garage, enabling these photos. There are 4 in this second brood - the first was also of 4, but one appears not to have survived

A little later this Sparrowhawk must have heard or seen the commotion and came looking for an easy meal of fresh young Swallow. It wasn't successful 'cos I went out and shoo'ed it away, after Nancy had taken these pics through the kitchen window - don't think I've ever seen such a scruffy bedraggled specimen!

Harvest and Helicopter

An evening walk to Hope Point provided the opportunity to see the wheat being combined (at last, and very wet) and a gung-ho Chinook pilot showing off

the one that didnt get away

Philpi, or maybe it was Philip - if only this keyboard could spell - and I spent a few hours at Cottington this afternoon in the gloom and drizzle - we started on Black Lake and soon started to hook nice big Silver Bream, but they went off after an hour so we decamped to the Match Lake, where the fish were shy and not feeding well, but bread flake on the bottom and plenty groundbait induced some nice common Carp to feed, like this splendid fish successfully played and landed by Pip

There was also, to my surprise, a this year's Cuckoo stooging quietly about among the willows, busily feeding at one stage. No hope of a photo with my phone though

Steam!!

We visited the light railway on Friday - that's the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway to you - great fun and ended very satisfactorily with Ice-creams from Casa Gelata in Cheriton Place, Folkestone afterwards, yum yum.

Nice to see the railway still runs on tea and gossip!!

Moths

I run a Watkins and Doncaster plastic bucket mothtrap, an actinic lamp based trap which is very effective in our garden, and has increased my knowledge of and interest in what's around. Some recent species are these :- 

Angle Shades

Definitely not a Broom Tip - maybe a sedge fly or similar

Clouded Border

Phoenix

Rosy Footman

Square Spot Dart

Autumn's here

Autumn migration is well under way, John trapped two Grasshopper Warblers this morning for ringing and release, wonder if and where they'll turn up again - lovely little birds