Moth'ers Little Helper - The Rolling Stones

If the predictions of the Weather Forecasters are anywhere near accurate, as they usually are these days, it looks very much like we will have to delve into the archive again sometime soon. 40+ knots of wind with more heavy rain so we were at the Moth Traps even earlier to log what maybe the last catch for a few days, which only amounted to

RED-GREEN CARPET

LESSER SWALLOW PROMINENT

NARROW-WINGED PUG

SCARCE PROMINENT

TREBLE-BAR
and

SILVER Y
Additionally, we very nearly brought luck on our side as square in the middle of the track and in full daylight stood a motionless

WOODCOCK
but only until we flashed up the camera - so still no decent image of this elusive bird.

Having fallen by the wayside by a day or 2 the weather may not be in sync with the Post but at least we have something to report rather than All Our Yesterday's once again.

Sunny and certainly warm enough it was considered likely that they Broad-bordered Bee Hawk-moths should have emerged, already 11 days later than there appearance last year so first stop the

now derelict 

WWII RAF BASE

and the lone
RHODODENDRON BUSH

only to find

BUDS

with only a single

about to break through while on the
Matchams Heath
most are in full bloom.
Not a journey without reward however as it was found that someone has laid a number of

REPTILE COVERS
across the area and also bringing to the log

the first couple of

HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLIES
Back on the Heath and with the fine weather still holding it was no surprise to find a couple of male

EMPEROR MOTHs

on the wing

and the female from the archive to keep your eye in!
Additionally, there was a small scattering of

COMMON HEATH MOTHS

along with this

BLUE TIT
feathering its own nest.
Back to Base where the

CRABAPPLE TREEs
are looking resplendent, maybe indicative of yet another decent crop of fruits,
but far less usual c3

MALLARD
on the tennis court while the

MAGPIE
on the surrounding fence

looks to have a broken lower mandabil.

ROOKs

are also in daily attendance

again not surprising as maybe having in excess of 30 broods to support not 1000 yards away while

smart looking

BLACK-HEADED GULLs
are always tempted by the scattered bread.
Far less usual in the garden is the

JAY
while at the pond parent birds continue to nurture the young

MOORHEN
but stand advised the

Clouds are Gathering.