Black Is Black - Los Bravos

While what overnight Insects there are seem to be going into the trap, after removal of the white sheet, the weather seems to be against any good numbers. Cloudless, starlit and chill again last night, there were no additions to the Property Moth List, however there were a couple of things rather pleasing to the eye along with a couple of points of interest.

CLOUDED BORDER
is a 'regular' in the trap, while as time goes on

PEACOCK MOTH
is also becoming frequent.

STRAW DOT
An abraded specimen of this Moth completely fooled me last week,
so identification of this 'text book' individual was much easier 

BLACK ARCHES

the nominate (white) form which was caught here some days ago.

BLACK ARCHES

Today we caught the 'melanistic' (dark/black) form which in
Great Britain is restricted to the New Forest, which here at Parley 

we are on the western edge of.

Two colour variations of

ROSY RUSTIC

STRAW UNDERWING

If my memory serves me this is a MICRO (the smaller Moths)

but equally as big as many of the Macros.

A WASP in the trap.

Part of this mornings catch with The Drinker being the largest.

The 'egg trys' provide a perfect roost for the Insects,

while the Mercury Vapour Lamp sends out the right 'waves'

to attract them. Can you see my Mate left of picture?

Just one of a number of opportunist BLACKBIRDs, Robins and Pied Wagtails that attend the trap each morning. Every effort is made to release them to the undergrowth and out of reach of the predators.

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Ruby Tuesday - The Rolling Stones

It would have been good to know exactly which button I did press the other day causing a number of the images to show a 'blue hue', as there have been a few comments about the 'technique', all favourable. The rain now seems to have passed through leaving an almost clear blue sky with just the odd wisp of Cirrus and a crisscross of vapour trails. Having taken the advice of Paul Harris the 'white sheet' was not deployed last night and BINGO, the trap was full of Insects this morning. Only one new species for the property, all assuming I have the identification correct, but some beautiful creatures nonetheless.

 THE LACKEY (light form)

I just love the
CANARY- SHOULDERED THORN

PALE PROMINENT
in good numbers today

DOUBLE LOBED?

if you know something I don't please let me know!

A good part of the day was spent at the north end of the farm where runs the MOORS RIVER. Having found my copy of Steve Brooks 'Dragonflies and Damselflies' Field Guide while browsing I came across a remarkable fact about the

ORANGE-SPOTTED EMERALD

Brooks states - "now considered extinct in Great Britain, previously the species was known for certain from only two localities the Tamar River, which forms the border between Devon and Cornwall, plus the Moors River, Dorset". What more reason would you need to go dashing up there? Best make it clear at this point that I didn't find one - photo courtesy of Wiki.

 female KEELED SKIMMER

 Juvenile PIED WAGTAIL

 GOLDEN-RINGED DRAGONFLY

Sometimes the wildlife comes to you as was the case with this
FIELD GRASSHOPPER
which landed on the windscreen.

 ROWAN (Mountain Ash) BERRIES

plenty of these along the hedgerows.

and there were c7 MOORHEN CHICKs on the lawn early morning.

They are now brave (or foolish) enough to come right up to the

front door. I say foolish as there is a Lurcher in the family.

What's The Story?

 MORNING GLORY
(common name for over 1,000 species of the family Convolvulous)

Oasis

 An early morning PHEASANT at the bird feeders as I
scurried round to attend the Moth Trap to find a few more things
there today, including a 'rarity' and additions* to the List.

The very handsome
SCORCHED CARPET*

 SEPTEMBER THORN

 SCALLOPED OAK

 SMALL CHOCOLATE-TIP*
a scarce capture to say the least which doubtlessly qualifies as
the 'rarest' Moth ever to be caught here.
 

SALLOW KITTEN

KNOT GRASS

 SMALL MAGPIE
which is a common Micro but the small Insect to the left was more
interesting. My thought was it was possibly a Micro Moth but advice
tells me it is not with no other clue to identity.

 As usual the 'ragged'

 ROBIN
was attendant at the trap hoping for a few 'easy pickings'.
 
 New arrivals at Parley Pond this morning were these c4
 
 'Call Ducks'
 likely dumped here by owners who have gotten fed up with them?

and the c5 juvenile COOT that have survived the attentions of
Heron and Crow alike are growing apace.