Saturday 27 June 2020

Dragonfly - Fleetwood Mac

Firstly, an apology for yesterday's Typo as the caption should have read
"By and large the Macro Moths are of a larger nature, while the Micro's are generally small".
The correction has been applied!
Something of a strange but most welcome start to our perambulations today as 'first thing' amid the Dawn Chorus both Whitethroats were happily singing together in the garden.
 Nothing unusual about
COMMON WHITETHROAT
 being vocal here, especially by the riverside, but
 LESSER WHITETHROAT
 to our recolation has only sung here once before - it is however seen / heard at other locations.
Another division which is somewhat falling by the wayside are the the
Moth Identifications
(despite the lads in Weymouth readily lending a hand)
but we never lean on them before giving them all our best shot first!
Today's Gathering Included
HUMMINGBIRD HAWK-MOTH
which unlike the one seen on the day this is an archive image of
one (unusually) caught in a trap last year with the more recent individual
being free-flying and nectaring Honeysuckle.
 SMALL DUSTY WAVE
 ORANGE SWIFT
 BROWN-TAIL
 If or when you see these small waxed boxes strewn along the 
hedgerows, they are there in an effort to eradicate the Larvae
of this destructive creature. They will strip a hedgerow in a matter of days!
With much of the rest of the day taken over by Insect life we had better
kick off the remainder of the Post with a Helicopter of the
CIVIL AVIATION KIND
which flew directly over the Heath and then the Airport where this
BOMBARDIER GLOBAL 600
has taken over poll position outside of 
Company Head Quaters
as one of the Virgins is 'tugged' into the hanger
highly likely for maintenance?
Otherwise on the Heath the first 
COMMN BLUE BUTTERFLIES
(male)
(female)
No surprises to find
 GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY
(my absolute favorite)
 in the grassy margins
and the first flowering
 RAGWORT
horses beware, can be a deadly plant to livestock!
 Another 'first' were a couple of juvenile
WHITETHROAT
before entering the 
Solar Panel Compound
to find just c2 of the 8
 RAVENs
 at great distance and
 gaping to keep cool
 Could have done with being a little nearer
but nonetheless a great performance!