Saturday 17 June 2017

Moth to the Flame - Thunder

Moth to the Flame - Thunder - Link
Last weekend was always destined to be something of a 
MOTH FEST
as already my friend Dave Foot had booked a bunk with a strong
likelihood of being joined by other eminent company?
While no weekend, or day for that matter, is ever strictly rigid as to what we do
Moths would in fact play a large part but there would also be plenty of other
INSECTS
to test us!
As my own 5 traps are confined to the wide expanse and well appointed
 HARBINS FARMHOUSE
 GARDEN
it was an obvious place to start.
In typically (ex) Military fashion we started as is usual at the
Stable Trap
where almost immediately the 'rounds' started with something of a
BANG!!
 SLOE PUG
was not only an addition to the Recording Area List but a 'first ever' for me personally.
However, there was a massive stroke of luck attached to this capture,
for had Dave not have been there it is no doubt that this 'first' would have been released
as a misidentified Green Pug, shown above (top) for comparison.
While it was quickly realised it had not been an overly productive night, save for the above,
another First for the Year was plucked from the trap at the now redundant 5th gold tee
 the tiny but absolutely superb
BARRED YELLOW
Just as we completed the final trap on this leg we met Hugh who was
busily refilling the winter firewood bunker, or had least he would have
been had he not found this
 NEST
of a
BLACKBIRD
 having been built in the top.
It was now time to travel a little further afield and to the Heath where
Dave had placed his c3 traps overnight and to make rendezvous with another
of our most welcome friends
Doctor Phil Sterling
not only
 Natural Environment Manager at Dorset County Council
 but also co-author of 
a fine tome even if like our self
"we don't do Micros"!
We met close to the 
GOAT COMPOUND
 where the traps were set that night, and while it may look from this image
that the Goats are interacting there has been some clashing of horns.
 As is his want Phil immediately got down to the important task of preying to the
Great God of Macros and Micros
ALABONIA GEOFFRELLA
Only one shortfall here, relating to myself, as it quickly dawned on me 
that I had completely forgotten to learn to speak
Fluent Latin
as the the other 2 commenced conversing in that
Foreign Tongue'
However, just a quick glimpse into the traps showed that there had been a reasonable catch,
and hopes were high that we might add a Macro or two to the list.
First out was a fine
 SATIN WAVE
followed by c3
 PRIVET HAWK-MOTHS
 in quick succession followed by the tiny bulk of a
FESTOON
We had started well but there were other interesting and sometime bizarre Insects
among the catch, and none more so than a
 ROMBIC LEATHERBUG
 and a far more recognisable
 14-SPOT LADYBIRD
What may look downright dowdy and uninteresting to the casual observer
was, on the day, singularly the Moth that most captured my imagination a
BRINDLED WHITE-SPOT
along with more captivating beauties such as
 HAWTHORN SHIELDBUG
BLACK SILVERHORN CADISFLY
 a new one on me, along with an unknown species of
CLUSTER FLY
With the ever changing face of all these wonderful creatures and the magical diversity
it may be difficult to believe that BOREDOM was setting in but, it was certain that
Dave would sense this and do something to distract our attentions for a while. 
Returning to his 'folding chair' it was obvious that he had done
something to make it collapse as soon as he sat down on it.
 Oh what a tumble, Oh what a laugh!
Via this clip the SYMPATHY can be heard simply oozing out!
 He was asked to do it again as the video camera was not on alert
but said there were enough repeats on BBC TV already.
So, if we may continue next out was a 
 much sort after
 SCARCE MERVEILLE du JOIR
and

LESSER TREBLE-BAR
While the other 2 continued potting Insects for identification my task was to
photograph the 'new comers' and release them without further ado.
The final flurry included
 FAN-FOOT
 MOTTLED BEAUTY
 the 'eye-catching'
 GREEN SILVER-LINES
and a single
 DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT
With Phil and Dave looking very pleased with themselves that
concluded the Moth Trap side of the day, but Dave was not yet finished.
In the warmth of the afternoon sun he went off looking for the larvae of
PINEAPPLE WEED
COMMON BLUE BUTTERFLY
(male)
 (female)
 LIZARD Species
 Egg Shell
BROWN ARGUS
SMALL GRASS EMERALD
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