Sunday 28th May 2006 Kingsgate Thanet &
North Foreland
Early morning walk around after doing the moth trap. Still very wet from
yesterday's rain and the overnight dew, however with the sun various
things quickly began to warm up. Small Blue numbers continue to
slowly increase and are now fairly easy to find and the excellent 1st
generation of Holly Blues continue.
15
Painted Ladies - all fairly worn is the peak so far. Large numbers
of the day flying 'micro' Adela reaumurella were performing
well in various clusters and Esperia sulphurella was also
frequently seen. Harlequin and Seven-spot Ladybirds were
both regularly seen.
Over
200 Man Orchids are on the Golf Course with a further 25-30 at
North Foreland. (F Solly)
Saturday 27th May 2006 Garden Minster Thanet
Two reptiles from my Minster garden on Friday 26th May 2006 were two Grass
Snakes in my pond, one 4foot long the other 3foot. This was
followed by two mating Slow Worms in one of my compost
heaps (Don Wilks)
Thursday 25th May 2006 Minster Marshes Thanet
Short walk round part of the Minster Marshes, very quiet, lots of the
vegetation pushed down by the rain, a good clump of Hedgerow
Cranesbill by railway crossing and Jew's Ear
fungi on elder tree. Butterflies seen were Orange tips, Red
Admiral, Large and Small White, Holly
Blue and on return to my garden my first Common Blue,
female. (Don Wilks)
Wednesday 24th May 2006 Late News
Tuesday 23rd May 2006, a trip, out to Bonsai Bank with Gadget. Not ideal
conditions, largely cloudy with brief sunny interludes and occasional
light showers and a freshening breeze!
Despite the conditions plenty of bits and pieces to see although mostly
in small numbers. Butterflies were represented by Green Hairstreak,
Dingy Skipper, Red Admiral, Holly Blue, the odd White and 12-15
Duke of Burgundy Fritillary. Day flying or readily disturbed Moths
noted included Lesser Treble-bar, Speckled Yellow, Common Heath and
a selection of 'micros' the most interesting of which was the impressive
pyralid Anania funebris.
During the sunnier spells, Lizards were
frequently observed. The weather having dampened activity somewhat we decided to have a very
quick look at nearby Yockletts Bank and Park Gate Down for a couple of
Orchids Gadget had not yet seen. The 'target' at Yockletts was Fly
Orchid and this was soon found, although of more interest was a small
group of the impressive Herb Paris and in parts a carpet of Ramsons.
Park Gate proved to be rather unremarkable. Monkey
Orchids were well distributed and Early Purple Orchid very
common. Lots of Cowslips - as with the Early Purples mostly
past their prime and more notable was a small patch of Adders-tongue
Fern. (F Solly)
Tuesday 23rd May 2006 Kingsgate
Early
morning wander produced 8 Painted Lady, a few Red Admirals and the
first Small Blue of the season. Man Orchids are well
in flower and in record numbers. (F
Solly)
Tuesday 23rd May 2006 Monkton nature Reserve Thanet
Visited the Monkton nature Reserve this afternoon, Man Orchids out,
should last into the next weekend, Marsh Orchids are just coming
into flower and spikes of Lizard Orchid showing well. A good number
of Adder's tongue fern are showing. Butterflies seen were Orange
Tip, Comma and Green Hairstreak. Plenty of Lizards
sunning between showers. (Don Wilks)
Saturday
20th May 2006 Stonelees
A blown out Stonelees produced nothing better than a single Common
Blue (F
Solly)
Friday 19th May 2006 (Smooth Newt) Late News
A Smooth Newt - a male but not in breeding 'plumage' was
discovered on one of my woodpiles in the garden of David Wanostrocht from
Chelsfield, Orpington on Sunday 14th May, (Photos taken by David
Wanostrocht)
Thursday 18th May 2006 Monkton NR Thanet
Most of the Orchids will be about another week or so
before they are in flower Common Lizards are of plenty all
over the reserve, also of note were a good number of Silver-Y
Moths and a few Adderstongue showing in parts of the reserve.
(Gadget)
Monday 15th May 2006 Pegwell Bay
5 Common Seals were in the River Stour this
afternoon. (Phil M)
Monday 15th May 2006 Minster Thanet
Good numbers of Red Admirals over the
fields and the odd Orange Tip flouting about, the Horse Chestnut
was looking extremely smart out in Flower. (Don Wilks & Gadget)
Saturday 13th May 2006 Lydden Down
A brief wander around Lydden Down in the late afternoon. Down land
flowers haven't really got going yet. Milkwort being the commonest
in flower with a scattering of Cowslips and Early Spider Orchids.
Dingy Skipper
was by far the commonest Butterfly and also about six male Brimstones.
Other butterflies in lesser numbers included Small Copper, Green
Hairstreak, Green-veined White, Comma and Speckled Wood. Day
flying Moths were represented by Burnet Companion, Mother Shipton,
Treble Bar and the micros - Pyrausta aurata Pdespicata and P
nigrata. Lifting a small piece of corrugated metal revealed 8 Slow Worms. (F
Solly)
Saturday 13th May 2006 Shuart
and Chamber's Wall
We were going to go to Chambers Wall, but at the end of Potten Street
where the concrete road goes down to the fisherman's car park there
is now a locked barrier across the road, have you heard
anything about this.
Shuart lane and Chamber's Wall
plenty
of butterflies and flowers out. Many Red Admirals, Holly
Blues a few Speckled Woods, Orange Tips,
and Small Tortoiseshell, Small & Large Whites
also first larva of the Drinker Moth. Also along the wall
there are plenty of Sainfoin in Flower. The Marsh
Orchids there are showing good growth but now flower
buds yet
Saturday 13th May 2006 Spider?
Hi
Don after looking at your Spider and going though the books that I have I
would sagest that its Steatoda Bipunctata which is part of
the Theridiidae Family. (Gadget)
Saturday 13th May 2006
Garden Shed Minster Thanet
Cleaning out my shed today and came across a small colony of spiders,
photo attached.
My
knowledge of spiders is very limited so can any one identify this. Its
about half an inch long with the a shiny ball shape body. (Don
Wilks)
Friday 12th May 2006 Pegwell
Cliff-top to the Hoverport
Pegwell
Cliff-top to the Hoverport at lunchtime. Lots of Holly Blues
and good numbers of Small and Green-veined Whites. Several Red
Admirals and Commas with single Painted Lady, Peacock,
Speckled Wood and Common Blue. Day flying Moths were
represented by a Mother Shipton and the 'micros' Esperia
sulphurella and Adela reaumurella. The cliffs are
well-adorned Wild Cabbage, Oxford Ragwort, Hoary Stock and
Wallflowers. (F Solly)
Friday 12th May 2006 Samphire hoe &
Park Gate Reserve
If any one wants to see Early Spider Orchids go down to
Samphire Hoe as they are at their peak now. Anytime in the next
few days will be the best time to go. According to the lady warden there,
the count has been 9433 this year, I disagree I only made it 9432! Only
one species of butterfly seen it was a Red Admiral.
Park Gate
had plenty of Cowslips and Early purple Orchids.
Sad to say I could see no sign of Monkey Orchids, but there were
Budded stems of Butterfly orchid and one Lady
orchid. Two weeks should see them in flower. Butterflies seen
were Green hairstreak, Orange tip and
one Painted lady. Also the wife almost tripped over a basking
Adder, (Don Wilks)
Friday 12th May 2006 Stonelees
Pegwell Bay
The evening of the 11th May 2006 A brief look in Stonelees after work this evening proved to be more
productive than I was expecting, with Butterflies being much in evidence.
Several each of Holly Blue, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral,
Green-veined and Small Whites, Orange-tips and Speckled
Woods with single Wall, Green Hairstreak and Large
White. Single
male Emperor and Fox Moths were flying in the evening sun
with Common and Red Twin-spot Carpets readily disturbed from
vegetation. A
single Hairy Dragonfly and several Common Blue Damselflies
put in appearances.
About 10 Green Tiger Beetles is by far the most that I have seen
in Stonelees but of most interest was the impressive Hoverfly - Xanthogramma
citrofasciatum.
Not a great deal in flower yet, several patches of Lords and Ladies
- mostly past their peak and the rather dull Orchid - Common
Twayblade has just started flowering in abundance. Lots of Rabbits
as the evening progressed and a single Weasel. (F
Solly)
Friday 12th May 2006 Chambers & Coldharbour
A Painted Lady on the track between Chambers
Wall and Coldharbour. (Barry Matlock)
Thursday 11th May 2006 Pegwell
Painted Lady flying past the Viking Ship on my way home from
Pegwell in the afternoon. (Phil M)
Tuesday 9th May 2006 Monkton NR
Spent an hour in the reserve this morning, plenty of butterflies about, Green
Hairstreaks (5), Holly Blue and Orange tips, found ova
of Orange tip in car park on Garlic Mustard. Orchids
roseate looking good should be a good show of Man and Marsh
Orchids. (Don Wilks)
