The only thing I can't resist is Temptation!

After a dash through. what was a disappointing, catch of moths, I had a quick look round at the Monument. A few minutes and a brief call to Phil, was enough to convince me that there wasn't much to see there. As I hadn't been down to Dungeness to see the Purple Herons and since there was a possibility to see SIX heron species in one day in Kent I couldn't resist.

As soon as I got to the bridge along Denge Road I saw the Great White Egret, already under the surveillance of several birders. The views were good telescope views but rather distant for decent photographs, unless you are good at "digiscoping".

The Great White Egret had a little foray into the open, but soon made it's way back to a position where it was hidden by the reeds.

When they turn their heads round, these large herons can hold their necks in the most weird snake-like shapes. A Bittern flew over while we were looking for the juvenile Purple Heron that had been around. After a while my impatient gene got the better of me and I decided to go and have a look at the ARC pits. As I was preparing to go Ray Turley watched the Cattle Egret land distantly, almost out of view on a gate to the left of the flood.

From the road this distinctive white blob could be seen quite well through a 'Scope'. I have never thought that Cattle Egrets were particularly charismatic, and with views that this one was giving I any unlikely too change my mind.

At the ARC pits I met Dave Walker who was watching a Lesser Emperor Dragonfly. Try as I may I just couldn't get a picture of this migrant. Unlike Emperors it never seemed to stop and hover over one place for a few seconds. I did manage to get a picture of one of the many common Darters around. There were several Little Egrets feeding in front of the screen and I heard both Whimbrel and Greenshank. From here I waked out to the Dengemarsh Hide where I was rewarded with good views of the flying juvenile Purple Heron and Grey Heron flying over. So six species of heron, but only one close enough to take photos of. I may have seen six species of heron in a day in southern France (no bittern but add in Night Heron), but surely the current Dungeness experience is unprecedented in the UK.

White Flashes

Once I'd processed my moths this morning I headed for Bockhill, hoping that the start of the migration season might brings something special.

At the monument three Wheatears were feeding on the well manicured grass. All three were as expected Northern Wheatears, perhaps alter in the season it will be Bockhill's turn for one the rare Oenanthe species visit.

Mind you there's nothing shabby about a Northern Wheatear they are very smart birds with a great dapper attitude, standing up straight in a military fashion.

I'm not 100% sure what this one is doing. I think that it is quite likely that it had just eaten either a slug or a snail and was wiping it's bill. I suppose it is possible that it just had an itch that it had to scratch. What ever it is, it means that the white rump that has lead to many of it's colloquial names is on display.

While we were watching a commotion in the sky caught our attention, as the local Herring Gull went up noisily and the local crows joined them. It wasn't long before the cause became evident when this Common Buzzard drifted over us, flying in a north-easterly direction.

The last time I photoed Burnets I was surprised when I looked at the pictures and I realised that I'd phot'ed Narrow-bordered Five -spot Burnet's. Now, later in the summer, it it Six-spot Burnets that are flying over much of the rough grass along the cliff tops.

There were a lot of butterflies around today including several groups of Marbled Whites. In certain areas Gatekeepers were very prolific, and I also saw a couple of Painted Ladies. Still wating for that elusive Camberwell Beauty.

Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary

We had an afternoon out with Simon and Sam and went up to the Lee Valley Regional Park.

The Cornmill Stream

The Cornmill Meadows Dragonfly Sanctuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and with a species list of 23 Dragon and Damselflies is the best site in Greater London for seeing these beautiful insects. Unfortunately the sun was rather hidden behind the clouds for much of our visit, but we still saw a few species and had an enjoyable walk.

The Cornmill Streams runs across the site and is the favoured habitat of Banded Demoiselles. I only saw males, the females are are a metallic green and do not have the striking band.

I noticed several groups of Mother of Pearl Moths. Although I catch them in small numbers quite frequently this is the first time that I have seen them in colonies flying in the day time.

The day was great, but not the journey home! The Blackwall Tunnel was closed and I made a complete mess of it when I turned off the approach road and managed to end up almost back to Simon's, by getting to Whipps Cross. We finally got to the Dartford Crossing and arrived hope at 12.30 p.m., hence no blogging yesterday and a late start to my moth traps this morning.

Hanging out together

Autumn migration was beginning to get into full action today, with lots of Willow Warblers and Whitethroats at Bockhill, St Margaret's.

At this time of year the majority of Willow Warblers seen are immature birds of the year. Their bright yellow plumage is a trap for the inexperienced birder who expects the cleaner, less gaudy birds of spring.

I did see a couple of adult birds and among the bright youngsters these can be confusing. The occasional quiet song could be heard, and I have noticed before that quite a few sing while on migration.

Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta)

There were also quite a few dragonflies around, and I saw both Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta) and Southern Hawker (Aeshna cyanea). By Farm Wood I was watching one, that nosily seemed to be watching me, by flying very close, before continuing on it's hunting circuit. It seemed to follow an insect up to a Hawthorn bush before it landed there, about 2 metres (or yards for the traditionalists), in front of me. I took a couple of pictures from distance, before changing cameras and moving closer.

Migrant Hawkers (Aeshna mixta)

As I was doing this a second Dragonfly landed about six inches above and left of the original one.

Both were males and neither was in full mature colours. Unusually for large dragonflies they allowed me to approach very closely and had I had a macro lens I could probably have got frame fillers of the head.

This is the second one. I think it was just a little bit more colourful than the first.

Neither budged when I went to the side to get a better angle to photograph the side-on pattern.

Enlarging the head it is possible to see the very small, almost vestigial antehumeral stripes on the head, just behind the eyes. On a Southern Hawker these stripes are very prominent. On both of these the diagnostic yellow "nail mark" on segment 2 was almost white. I don't know what was so attractive about this area, but I suddenly realised that a couple of foot to the right a Southern Hawker was perched up. I forgot how wary these normally are, having got used to the two very docile insects I'd been photographing. As I turned my camera towards it, it took off and continued to patrol the area.