April

2008

A bright enough start to the month, but a persistent easterly airflow pegged back temperatures, resulting in reduced insect activity. A couple of butterfly transects produced peacock & comma, but nothing else; and moth-trapping was also fairly unproductive. Highlights included the 2nd dotted chestnut of the spring and a female emperor for the 3rd year in a row. Otherwise, the quakers, clouded drabs & hebrew characters were still present, supplemented with new spring moths like muslin moth, shuttle-shaped dart, flame shoulder, small phoenix, oak tree pug and herald.

Brown hares continue to perform well out on the marsh and there have been several records of harbour porpoise in the Thames off Cliffe Pools

2007

An incredibly dry month, with a grand total of 1.7mm of rain!

The butterfly transect saw good numbers of peacocks and orange tips, with the first holly blue recorded on 27th. Small coppers were also on the wing early, although weren't recorded on the transect.

The fine conditions meant that the moth trap was run almost nightly. Highlights included the first sloe carpets (Nb) for 30 years and a dotted chestnut (Nb) for the 3rd year in a row. A single reed dagger (Nb) was more expected and there were a couple of female emperors, another species that is becoming more regular. There were also good numbers of the local scorched carpet and pebble prominent. No big counts of any species, but powdered quaker was the most numerous.

Little obvious dragonfly activity until late in the month, when hairy dragonflys were present at both Shorne & Northward Hill.

Brown hares have been making a bit of a comeback in recent years and have been particularly obvious out on the marsh. Around the Marshland Trail, badgers have been much in evidence.