Monday 15 June 2020

Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind

Friday night was something of a 'milestone' for this
Unmarried Moth'er
as again we changed the format of our trapping device with a change over to
Generator Power to run our Mecury Vapour lamps.
Unfortuneately, the former Light Emitting Diodes seemed not
attractive enough to the Insets so reching for the cheque book we bit the bullet - again.
Unfortunately, the weather condition also took a turn as a fresh breeze continued for
most of the night, clearing what valued cloud cover there was and the
temperature remain in low double digits! However, it would be churlish to complain after
adding  c7 new Macro species to the Year List including one particular 'scarcity'.
 To start with and unfortunately not in out traps, an image from our friend Dave Foot of
 SPOTTED SULPHUR
nurtured from an egg which is a rare Insect now extinct in Great Britain.
Loading the car with our gear in anticipation, the male
 PHEASANTs
were at it again, a sight we cannot resist capturing.
 Our Moths kicked off with a most welcome 
and eye-catching
 GREEN SILVER-LINES
 We will also punctuate the Post with a few of the common Birds we encountered
on the day plus other highlights.
 COAL TIT
MOTTLED BEAUTY 
DARK UMBER
BLACKCAP
 COMMON LUTESTRING
COMMON WHITETHROAT
(the 2 species above were vocal throughout our stay but
not to say they were the same individuals)
 PHOENIX
GREY WAGTAIL
 LESSER YELLOW UNDERWING
(an insect which rarely opens its wings at perch)
His Dave-ship Totally Immersed
DOUBLE SQUARE-SPOT
NUTHATCH
The best of the 'first's for year' is left until last as described as
"A local species restricted to Southern Britain"
 GREAT OAK BEAUTY
It is also described within Dorset as a
'Very Rare Resident'
so no wonder there was excitement as catching c2 on the same day!
TREECREEPER
Although already recorded in 2020 the magical
 CLOUDED BUFF
is added for its sheer beauty as a personal favourite.
SEDGE WARBLER
There was something of a downside when this young buck
ROE DEER
was found by the wayside with no visible signs of how
it might have met its end, but this was mightily countered on the
Post Traps Wander
and what should count as the highlight of the day when this
SILVER-STUDDED BLUE
was found as  a 'first' for the Recording Area!
What a way to end an already Great Day.

Don't be concerned, it will not harm you
It's only me pursuing somethin' I'm not sure of
Across my dreams with nets of wonder
I chase the bright elusive butterfly of love