All in a Mouses Night - Genesis

The simple equation, 04:30 x 15°C - wind + no rain = not a lot in the Moth Traps at all, with maybe the exception of one addition to the Year List.
It didn't dawn on us until late afternoon yesterday, the reason for all that rain, it was Weymouth Carnival Day. With no idea of the statistics it can only be guessed how many of the past events have been dogged by the weather, so from a very small child to present day my figure would be 60%? Despite its persistence coupled with an unseasonable chill, there are still dozens of 

 WASPS

in the traps with these today murdering a close cousin

HORNET

and carrying off the body-parts.

MOUSE MOTH
was the addition while

 DARK SPINACH

 was our second of the year, but if we had a pint for every

 VINE'S RUSTIC

taken we'd be 'singing' 'til the cows came home!

An interesting array of other Insects as well which included an

 ANTHONYIIDAE

species of

 FLY

 PHAONA ANGELICAE

 RED-LEGGED or FOREST SHIELDBUG

and a 

CLICK BEETLE (type)

In addition we have been sent an image of a 

Micro Moth

of the PHYLLONORYCTER family

which we are told is no more than 3mm in length,

how many inches is that?

Last out of the Trap was an unusual looking

 MIRIDIUS QUADRIVIRGATUS

said to be associated with Barley so likely looking for a new home

now the crop here has been harvested?
Thanks go once again to our friend John Gifford
for guidance with some of the identifications.

Passing Parley Pond on the way to relaying the Moth Traps the

 had just heard the order 'Hands to Bathe'

while along one of the many bridleways

a few of the newly 'laid down'

PHEASANT POULTS

The

LITTLE OWLs

where showing as well but,

it's amazing how so many times under such circumstance an

unnoticed Umbellifer, or any other stalk for that matter,

gets in your 'line of fire'!

Among the Solar Panels it was the turn of young

MEADOW PIPIT 

to be obliging while on Merritown Heath there was just a little bit

more to see than in recent days. Firstly, and concealed under old

building rubble a

 WOOD MOUSE

 sometimes referred to as

LONG-TAILED FIELD MOUSE

was prepared to show just head and shoulders before scampering off.

Albeit a little repetitive, these seldom seen creatures are though worth
another look at any time.

GRASS SNAKE (top) SMOOTH SNAKE (below)
just for you ShIela!

COMMON TOAD

and another in the company of a
LEOPARD SLUG
and an unfortunately 'dead'

WOOD MOUSE

One might describe this as
SPIDER WEB with MORNING DEW
but it's far more likely to be
RAINWATER!

c4 GALLOWAY CATTLE
munching their way across the Heath.

The sharp contrast now between the new growth
GORSE now blooming and the BELL HEATHER
(much more stunning in real life)

MULLEIN

 Until today it hadn't been realised just how much
ROWAN or MOUNTAIN ASH
there is on the property, surely

 we will have our very own 'resident' flock of

WAXWING
this winter?
Today we had to settle for c17 Mistle Thrush.
Above the Irrigation Pond there had been possibly 'hundreds' of

 SWALLOWs

 so maybe not surprisingly they were a good number

 congregating

 at the Grass Tennis Court.

A wonderful sight just to be able to

stand at close quarters and watch them along with a

STARLING FLOCK

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