It really doesn't matter what time you get up in the morning to tend the Moth Traps, sure as eggs is eggs the Birds will be there before you. Here, its mainly House Sparrow
and this opportunistic, perched this morning on the Moth Table,
ROBIN
but there was another discovery to report from the early hours.
The existence of
BALSAM CARPET
has been well documented through these pages since it was first discovered
here at Parley Court Farm in 2014, with all but one of the Insects coming
from the Stable Trap. No we don't have an 'Unstable' Trap!
Collecting the Garden Trap this morning a chink of colour caught my eye
and looking a little closer noticed this healthy growth of
ORANGE BALSAM
close to the Ornimental pond.
No wonder then, as this is the food plant, that the 'second, or summer brood'
Balsam Carpet (shown above) was secured here.
A little more interest and variety in the traps this morning with the
rather lethargic and almost Slug-like, but nonetheless attractive,
LEOPARD MOTH
taking centre stage.
CURRENT PUG
Absent for a week or two now
PALE MOTTLED WILLOW
DARK GIANT HORSEFLY
TABANUS SUDETICUS
GIANT DIVING BEETLE
bringing up the remainder of the interest.
There isn't a lot of
GREATER REED MACE
on the property so, on the way to Merritown this morning, it was thought
worth a stop as the 'poker-like' heads are now mature.
We have been waiting for a good moment to show 2 trees which flourish
either side of the Merritown Heath Gate.
On the left an
APPLE TREE
beneficial to both Humans and Cattle alike. The bovines have already
been tucking in, but still a little tart to the palate for me.
Always worth a though that this tree might just have been planted by
a member of the Armed Forces (most likely Royal Air Force)
during the Second World War?
To the right is an
ALDER BUCKTHORN
now bearing an abundance of berries. While only a few have as yet ripened
to a deep dark purple/black the local female Blackcap is already being selective
along with Dunnock, Song Thrush and a few Tits.
No chasing across the open Heath swinging a net for this little fella.
No, this immature female
LONG-WINGED CONEHEAD
simply hopped into the St-Range Rover most obligingly.
One of the Hebeloma Species of Fungi which is thought to be
RADICOSUM
We found this pair of
RUDDY DARTER
copulating on the hard-standing close to the Airport after which
c2 Slow Worm were found before taking a look at what effect the
recent heavy rains have had on the newly dug Balancing Ponds at the other side of the fence.
In a word
FLOODED
