Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel

but not for long!

Despite some heavy overnight rain, the moth trap still provided 3 additions to the Farm List one of which proved to be something of a scarcity in the county.

THE SALLOW, looking a little anaemic due to over-exposure, along with

COMMON MARBLED CARPET were not altogether unexpected

but DEEP-BROWN DART was a completely new one on me.

Having been out of the 'game' for some while combined with leaving my Moth Field Guide at home, I had to recruit help from Paul Harris to confirm my identifications. Having got the first 2 (almost) right, I had put the third down to Black Rustic which I am told is the only confusion species with Deep-brown Dart. By no means an annual sight in Dorset, I further found that 2 have been caught by Martin Cade, Warden of the Portland Bird Observatory (2007 and 2008), while over the years our farmer friend Hugo Wood-Homer seems to recall he has secured about 5 records. Thanking Paul for all his efforts, he found it of sufficient interest to send the record and photograph to Dorset Moth Group.

A stiff north westerly wind plus every sign of rain was the order of the day, but a minor emergency and the recovery of the Clancy Moth Book saw me return to Weymouth during a break in farm duties. More or less on the way is Hartland Moor which had to be worth a look, and where I found a couple of

 DARTFORD WARBLER,

 a few GOLDCREST, which are also building in numbers back at Parley,

and a STONECHAT.

Unfortunately, time was short but not to short to forsake a visit to Portland having been absent now for almost 2 weeks. Very little to report bird-wise, but

WALL BUTTERFLY was still on the wing, while the 'lines' of the

Yacht SCEPTRE, passing close under the East Cliff, where worth more than a second look. All else to report was another first yesterday when I ate Grey Squirrel for the first time. Seemingly the 'in' dish at many upmarket restaurants these days, when the opportunity arose I took it - That's Life!