It was just a casual remark from
Hugh yesterday that had me abandoning the Moth Traps, mid-session, this
morning. He simply asked if I had been to the neighbouring property of
late to check out the Little Ringed Plovers, I hadn't! Not a long
wander, I was there just a little after 06:00 and what met my eye was a
veritable 'nursery' of young birds. It has to be said that everything is
at great distance there with a telescope being a priority. First to
catch my eye were the 'pair' of resident
.JPG)
.JPG)
SHELDUCK
which had, at my last visit, lost just 2 of their 15 hatchlings.
Today the number of juveniles was reduced to c11 but all now
of such a size that would be less likely to fall to most predators.
were soon in evidence, first a single then 3 more together and
eventually a total count of 8. The best news was that among them
were an undetermined number of 'fledged' juveniles, so mobile
it was impossible to tell just how many.
While all of this was going on a feeding
was spotted which over the hour spent 'scoping turned into c6.
In addition there was yet another brood of c4 recently hatched
Lapwing along with a single adult
and at least 100 Common Swift.
Unable
to believe my luck I headed back hoping that the same 'luck' would
follow me to the remaining traps. It did as almost first up was a single
example of the most bizarre looking
"Not named from any of the features of the adult, but the flanges or lappets which run along the body of the caterpillar, these
make it more invisible against a branch. Moths that were named by the
Victorians often used features of the Caterpillar and not of the Moth". Not my words, but those of a far more learn'ed friend. A
new species not only for the property but one that I have never caught
before. I do believe one was seen at the Portland Bird Observatory some
years ago, but the memory dims! As if all of this were not enough, a
second Property Tick was plucked from the same trap and goes under the
name of
LILAC BEAUTY
and you can quite see why.
and you can quite see why.
GHOST MOTH
male (foreground) and female
male (foreground) and female
Good numbers of females have been caught over the years, but this
was my first male showing clearly how the name may have come about.
was my first male showing clearly how the name may have come about.
FESTOON
said to be something of a scarcity and making up the day's
'hat-trick' of new Moths for the Farm.
'hat-trick' of new Moths for the Farm.
A 'pale' example of
PEBBLE HOOK-TIP
BARRED YELLOW
TREBLE-BAR (type)
difficult to separate from Lesser Treble-bar!
difficult to separate from Lesser Treble-bar!
COMMON EMERALD
were also part of the haul
were also part of the haul
but as we don't do Micros? a name has not been found for this
extremely attractive little Insect but it was decided, for that
reason, to share it with you anyway.
extremely attractive little Insect but it was decided, for that
reason, to share it with you anyway.
My first ever Damselfly in a Moth Trap
AZURE DAMSELFLY
AZURE DAMSELFLY
Another 'tiny' little thing
YELLOW MAYFLY
BARBEL
© Bill Graham of the Ringwood and District Anglers Association.
True to his word Bill came up with the goods and late this afternoon
took me to the river bank to point out 'feeding' Chub.
YELLOW MAYFLY
What
for me is a 'Huge Bonus' to end today's Post as having befriended one
of the local angler, requesting a photograph of any catch, before
returning to the river, we received this.
© Bill Graham of the Ringwood and District Anglers Association.
True to his word Bill came up with the goods and late this afternoon
took me to the river bank to point out 'feeding' Chub.
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