Strolling, just strolling,
in the cool of the evening air.
I don't envy the rich in their automobiles,
for a motor car is phony
I'd rather have Shanks's Pony!
It's always the same when you utter such a profound statement such as " we don't see a lot of 'visible migration' around here" that Sod's Law (or for those of a more delicate ear The Law of Sod) takes the reins. This morning having gathered the Moth Traps at the sorting area, the sky was alive with many, many 'hundreds' of Hirundines of the 3 most common species
SAND MARTIN
SWALLOW
and
HOUSE MARTIN
now all with mud gathering days far behind them, within 30 minutes
they had all cut-off to the south.
With the 5th Ultra-Violet Light Trap now back in operation and
strategically placed on our bank of the River Stour, if nothing else
we were hoping for and part expecting a larger catch than of late.
That, not simply because of the extra trap, was the case as the
374 Macro Moths of 34 species which included 217
LARGE YELLOW UNDERWING
(of a number of shade variations)
was 'double' that of any day of the last seven.
Also included in the haul
OLD LADY
unusually showing a little 'stocking top' (Latin for 'underwing')
and
Au Naturel
a 'dark' specimen of
CENTRE-BARRED SALLOW
YELLOW-TAIL
brandishing 'tail'
and
RED UNDERWING
which would not show any 'red' at all!
Time for a prolonged but very welcome interruption.
GERALD HARRIS
one of the Parley Court Farm Workers
has been 'off the scene' for a number of months now due to ill health, so
GREAT to see him back on his old Iron Horse, ploughing the fields and scattering
so to speak. Good to see you Gerry!
CAN WE CONTINUE NOW?
Both
SMALL MOTTLED WILLOW
and
PALE MOTTLED WILLOW,
both absent for some time now, were secured in quick succession,
and last of the Moths a nice example of
WHITE POINT
The Hoverflies (not to be confused with Wasps which get 'no quarter' here)
are always of great interest regardless of how many times they have been seen before.
DEAD HEAD FLY
Myathropa florea
Episyrphus baleatus
commonly known as
MARMALADE FLY
commonly known as
MARMALADE FLY
and a
CRANE FLY (Daddy-Long-Legs)
Changing the subject, my entire knowledge of Motor Cars could easily be written in 6" capital letters on the reverse side of a Decimal Definitive Postage Stamp (complete with Machin Head) so what was to come next may have proved to be the laugh of the year. The poor old St-Range Rover, still confined to the Sick Bay, had been temporarily replaced by a Lexus (Hybrid) Courtesy Car (a WOT Brid?) kindly delivered by the Farm Manager Adrian and this was my first shot at driving it. The first thing that was discovered about this sleek, low-slung, lady attract-er was that it wasn't designed for a Fat Lad! Second, and most important, it wasn't going to be able to tackle the kind of terrain which was planned for today's run but it certainly endorsed my LUCK (no skill attached here) in buying my current vehicle rather than the very much fancied red C-Class Mercedes Benz. In addition it only had capacity for 2 Moth Traps so it had been a double run to the other end of the property earlier. Now we were bound for the open road but not for long as we were soon on the northern section of the Farm and little other traffic to contend with. However, one of the features of the Petrol/Electric engine is that in the latter mode you can get this close to a
but couldn't get close to either the Irrigation Pond or Gravel Pit.
Sticking strictly to the none too level bridleway it was park at the
Sewerage Works then revert to Shanks's Pony.
looking well past its sell-by-date.
in abundance!
to be seen and smelt or smelled if you prefer.
on Fern
GOLDENROD
on the Sewerage Works wall, and don't know why it should be but
it seemed strange to see a MALLARD (left) there as well?
FOUR-SPOTTED ORB-WEAVER SPIDER
Aranius quaratus
MUTE SWANs
were on the march again.
it is though they would have been skilled at avoiding the
Tennis Court Netting!
Sitting down in the comfort of Slight Return II to compose this Post
there was a stirring below what was once a waist line, which
necessitated the removal of outer garments.
which was quickly potted, consigned to the fridge for a few minutes,
to lower its metabolism before being photographed.
Our deaf friend John Gifford tell me/us that this Arachnid comes in a variety of colours/shades including Yellow/Orange/Reddish/Brown, with 4 large spots or without any at all or with just a few various coloured spots.
Late back from my wanderings today with a fair few items 'in the can', John came up trumps in double quick time to identify many of the Creatures and Plants published here today. It's likely couple of pints of
THANKS JOHN!
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