Saturday 12 October 2013

Rainbow Chaser - Nirvana

Overjoyed late yesterday afternoon when I took delivery of 2 new Moth Traps expertly made for me by my long-time 'birding' friend
 DAVE FOOT
A wonderful bit of kit with more extras and lower price than from
Watkins and Doncaster the Entomologists.
For more information contact Dave as above.
Not surprisingly and like a kid on Christmas Morning there was to be no waiting 'til later of checking everything out first! Oh no, straight into it and despite the forecast of high winds and heavy rain they were both pressed into service. All 3 burning brightly all through the night, that is until 05:30 exactly when a 36 miles per hour 'squall' hit Parley accompanied by probably the heaviest rain of the year - even my bathroom got slightly flooded through an open window.
First I knew about it the clouds had rolled away, the wind moderated and a 'full' RAINBOW graced the sky. However, there was more to it than that as in my haste there had been some egg trays (used to retain the Moths in the trap) had been left loose and they were sodden and strewn all over the garden. In addition, where there is usually a lee under the veranda, the easterly gusts and rain had also managed to reach into the plastic box containing Specimen Pots, Electric Timer and other equipment, not the best of starts!
On the up-side, one trap held a certain addition to the
Property List in the shape of
RED LINE QUAKER
a HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
plus 2 potential 'firsts' that have still to be identified.
HELP PLEASE! it's been a fraught day.
This nifty SPIDER made up the rest of the contents where totals
included New Trap 1 (not rain guard fitted) a single Large Yellow Underwing, New Trap 2 (with rain guard - don't ask why I didn't put them on both) 150 Insects including all of the above and the Electric Dustbin completely washed out. Maybe no need to ask why this post is 'late'. Additionally, in the garden
 SMALL COPPER
and hey
 what about that for an 'in flight shot'? Jammy or wot!
 Still good numbers of 
STARLINGS
 and today the first Redwing for this end of the year,
 
plus a GOLDFINCH or 2 feeding on TEASELS while the
Barn Owl continued to 'call' loudly through the eye of the storm. 
An finally from Valued Reader John Gifford this
HEDGEHOG in his garden - With Thanks.
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