David B

Barn Owl and a couple of Short-eared Owl completed the day at Harty Ferry road. Surprised to still find a couple of Sandwich Terns at Leysdown / Shellness Beach. #birds #kent

Last shoresearch of the year yesterday on Sheppey - what a treat. New species for me, Sponge Crab - Dromia personata. Not really sure what they were doing on the shore, supposed to be in deeper water. #shoresearch #crabs #nature

One of those classic insect days, when you fail to find what you set out to find, find out Teasel has its own special moth and fail to i.d. a very attractive Ichneumon species. Lydden Temple Ewell. #moths #wasps #insects

Narrow-leaved Ragwort still looking healthy at a very breezy Cliffe Pools today. #wildflowerhour

Shaggy Soldier, as a pavement plant it does well at Bough Beech. Some interest in the largely dried up pond too - Trifid Bur-marigold was my best guess from the hide. And something I won't need much next week, a parasol! #wildflowerhour

Found on a BC group survey in Clowes Wood, Blean today. I think it is a Bristletail but not seen anything like it before. Great jaws if that is what they are. Classified as arthropod sub-phylum Hexapoda....!! Not an #insect surprisingly.

Pellitory-of-the-Wall, I think, don't remember it looking quite like this before. Rather a lot near Plumb Pudding (nr Minnis Bay). #wildflowerhour

Oxford Ragwort - a lot in flower at South Swale today, mostly being used by the little black solitary bees, of which still many about. Also a couple of Vipers Bugloss plants - usually have bumblebees attached, but none today. #wildflowerhour

Sunny afternoon. sunset, bag of chips, owl flypast and more moths Monday, what more could you want! Reculver from Minnis Bay, Fishers Estuarine (Tankerton survey with BC) and a Brick. #kentcoast #moths #sunsets

Glasswort sp. Not uncommon on saltmarsh. What is interesting, the broken bit (middle left) is a Case bearer moth that bores in to the plant and then attaches the plant. Coleophora salicornia, Glasswort Case-bearer. I did not know of this until last week. #wildflowerhour #moths

Fly Agaric. Thought it might be too dry to get dinner place specimines, but no, just need right conditions. #fungifriday

Sea Aster mining bee(s) and a special bumble (4 seen), very worn, the second in flight photo is a better clue if your not familiar, even though out of focus. Nice to see both in October, quite late but not exceptionally so. #bees #bumblebees #pollinators #sheppeyshrills

Fishers Estuarine moth - the focus of yesterdays survey with Butterfly Conservation. Nice to find Lunar Underwing and Delicate too. #moths #mothsmatter

A few birds from yesterdays Tankerton, Long Rock area walk. The Wheatear was pretty glued to the spot. Good numbers of Ringed Plover too between Long Rock and Hampton at high tide. #birds #kent

Tankerton from Long Rock #kent

Sea Wormwood, Artemisia maritima - the sea wall at South Swale has a lot of plants. #wildflowerhour

Autumn Ladies Tresses and Autumn Gentian at Dover - the post that should have gone out last week. #wildflowerhour

Ivy. Plants at Cliffe Pools today, supporting bees, wasps, hoverflies, flies and butterflies. #wildflowerhour

Common Calmint has recovered with the rain a few weeks ago - Common Carder bumblebees showing their appreciation for a little nectar. #wildflowerhour

Around 300 Avocet and 100 Curlew at Cliffe, plenty of little waders too, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover and Dunlin. Bit dry over there, the normally wet ditches are empty. #birds #kent