The Bagsy Blog: One More Weekend

Thursday, 25 September 2014

One More Weekend - Bob Dylan

What an early morning

SKY-SCAPE?

but regardless of the signs from above, there was little (or NOTHING) that was going to rain on my parade as I gathered the traps from around the farm this morning. At Janet's stables there was the usual search of the surrounding areas, with little more that just a

BROAD-BORDERED YELLOW UNDERWING
and a

WILLOW BEAUTY
clinging to the wood cladding of the stable wall.

Hopes of anything being in the trap faltered as the Mercury Vapour Lamp

was switched off to reveal a leaf or some other kind of vegetation jammed in the funnel.

Walking back to the car, the 'blockage' suddenly started moving, my heart skipped

more than a beat as it was realised that I had caught my first

CLIFDEN NONPAREIL

A Moth of myth and legends (steady up son we know you're excited)

and one that must be 'very high' on any Moth'ers Must Catch List.

Beautiful simply sat there all tranquil and calm but come the moment it

decided to open its wings well,

You Are As Good A Judge of That As Me!

Notwithstanding a little wing damage it is going to have to be something

'Off the Scale'

to dislodge this as

Moth of the Year.

After a short photo call, which included just a couple of tumbles on to its back briefly showing the Underwing, it was released. It first sort shelter briefly on a leaf before once again taking to the wing, gained great altitude, being harassed en-route by a much smaller Moth and was lost to view at an estimated height of 60 - 70 feet! I am now wondering if it is best to sign off now, while we are ahead? but no there is the continuation of the weekend yet to visit.

However, before we do that, this

ANGLE SHADE
(a very common Insect)
looked so good it was thought worthy of inclusion.

This was Sunday morning and with 3 traps at the northern end of the
property and 5 at the other both
DAVE (FOOT)
and I were raring to go.
We didn't have to wait long for a result as from the first 2 traps
3 new species for the farm were secured.

ORANGE SALLOW*

NEGLECTED RUSTIC*

and the dramatic

FLOUNCED CHESTNUT*

GREY PINE CARPET

HORSE CHESTNUT

WILLOW BEAUTY
(melanistic - 'dark' form)

OAK NYCTEOLINE

PINION-STREAKED SNOUT
are just a sample of the rest that were caught, but pride of place

fell to the 'Rare Migrant Micro'
TEBENNA MICALIS
a great pity it escaped!
OTHERWISE

the more 'unusual' in the tarps that day included what must have been upward of 500
HAWTHORN SHIELDBUGS
seen here with a single
RED-LEGGED SHIELDBUG
while

SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY
was a first (out of a Moth Trap) for me.

CRANEFLIES

also prevailed, no knowing just how many of those there were.

Yet another
VESTAL
which have been almost daily over the past fortnight likely pointing
to the fact that they breed here rather than migrate to PCF?
The northern Birch/Oak woods are now alive with fungi
here is just a small selection.