The Bagsy Blog: The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

Saturday, 9 July 2016

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine - Laural and Hardy

LONESOME PINE

Now we are talking, a static anemometer, 8 oktas of cloud cover (full), no precipitation in sight and a dawn temperature of +15°C was surely an indication of a good haul from the Moth Traps. While we have been bleating a bit lately about the Bird Doldrums now was as good a day as we have seen over that last few weeks to cheer things up a bit if only with Insects.

First out of the first trap was the robust

PINE HAWK-MOTH

not an addition to any list but a magnificent specimen for all that.

On the other hand

SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH

certainly was an addition to the Year List, but nor so seen here with a larger cousin

(SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH) and ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH

With 3 traps completed we headed for the next which is close

to the 5th Tee on the Golf Course, where we were distracted by

what at first thought to be a Black-headed Gull flying along our beat.

Closer inspection however proved it to be a

SANDWICH TERN

a little off course maybe? An addition to our Recording Area Bird List

it is also only the 8th Sea Bird to be noted here, all of the others being Gulls.

Along with Dave Foot, we have often commented that this stretch of the

RIVER STOUR

is crying out for a visiting Tern but never thought it would be of this Species!

GREY DAGGER

is a 'grey' area as far as Moth catching is concerned as it cannot be

distinguished from its relative

Dark Grey Dagger

except by examination of the genitalia, not a process we are likely to put ourselves through.

MARBLED WHITE SPOT

was also an addition to the same list.

a 'sound' recording only of this bird which now dominates the
Dawn Chorus and any other Chorus that is going!
And from the Trail cameras only familiar fare but slightly better

images and clips.