Friday 17 June 2016

The Final Countdown - Europe (in or OUT)

UNDOUBTEDLY,  THE MOST FANTASTIC 'MANUFACTURED' 
POP/ROCK RECORD OF OUR GENERATION, PERFORMED BY
THE 'PRETTIEST' BAND IN THE WORLD!
While the 2 days of the weekend were in the main given over to Mothing, there was still plenty of time for looking around all the likely spots across the Recording Area which we publish as the third and final part of the Unmarried Moth'er Trilogy. Having identified and logged all the Moths in the 8 Mercury Vapour Traps, a long, pleasant but painstaking job, our first stop as the Irrigation Pond, where the 'springing' Wader was immediately recognised by the bold flash of white to the rump as likely the first 'returning'
GREEN SANDPIPER
but far too quick for me, however it did head for the Gravel Pit
where it was thought to have landed, still a chance yet!
In the meantime we concentrated more on the
COOT'S NEST
while both parent birds were busying themselves elsewhere,
while we saw what looked like 7 eggs.
Before leaving a search around the margins found
WHITE-LEGGED DAMSELFLY
along with a good number of
 YELLOW-WINGED DARTER
with one found to be in a 'teneral' state which is to say
recently emerged and not having attained its full adult colours yet.
There was also a
COMMON SHREW
on the path but unfortunately engaged in the everlasting sleep!
Or suspicions were right, the
 GREEN SANDPIPER
 had landed on the Gravel Pit edge but only at great distance.
 We agreed not to waste time waiting
so these 2 images were clawed from the Archive.
Also there the pair of 'summer plumage'
LITTLE GREBE
continue to frolic with the only noticeable difference being the

 
'female' taking up, and maintaining this 'submissive' stance for lengthy periods?
There was no sign of copulation!
Our next port of call was the area of what could easily be mistaken for waste ground, but is a haven for all sorts of Creatures especially Insects. In the distant past a General refuse Tip which in later time some attempt was made to regenerate the Heath there. Gramps (Janet's father) and a host of willing helpers sourced and planted 100's of naturally wild Heather plants among others, but over the years the Sallows and Gorse have predominated. With no more than a dozen paces behind us this Fabulous Beauty
CLOUDED BUFF (Moth)
flushed from the undergrowth where it has been noticed before in the past.
DANGLING MARSH LOVER
and a representative of the extensive
HARLEQUIN LADYBIRD
 clan put in an appearance followed by a number of Butterflies including
SMALL HEATH
male
and female
COMMON BLUE
and a fine specimen of

GREEN HAIRSTREAK
Another diurnal Moth was a First for the Year
BURNET COMPANION
but just by pure good fortune the Best was left until Last.

An odd looking
DRAGONFLY
was caught and very gently examined 'in the hand'
finding it to be a
SCARCE CHASER
which is just as the name suggests.
The Standing Invitation remains firmly in place Dave so
Don't Be A Stranger!
Here are a trio of his Micro Moth Images
of great interest to myself but all too technical, Latin names and all!
PHTHEOCHROA RUGOSANA
 © Dave Foot
GYPSONOMA SOCIANA
© Dave Foot
CYDIA CONIFERANA 
 © Dave Foot
PLEASE PASS OUR LINK ON TO OTHERS!
THANKS. 

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