From Mighty Oaks - The Moody Blues

 Only our third edition of the newly resurected Blog and it looked weather-wise as though we were going to be rained off from the word go - luckily not! Despite weather also holding good over-night the Moth Traps were none to busy with 22 specis of 'macro moth' (usually the larger of the group in oppose to 'micros') with a total of 22 Species x 87 Insects. On future posts this early morning count will appear something like 

"22 x 87".

The tiny migrant known as the

VESTAL

  and now in decent numbers can appear in various hue's determined by its area of origin which in this dark shade is likely to have originated from somewhere across France while the

more pale specimen may have come from as far south as the arid regiond of the  The Sahara.

THE STREAK
is also common at this time of year and before we drift off the subject something of an induction for any new readers and maybe a reminder for others of some of out layout. We run 5 Moth Traps every night except in very cold conditions with one stowed thorughout the day on the monitoring table close to home while at night it is moved alongside the

Wooden Fence as something of a Double-Whammy

as some Insects choose to rest in the trap and others on the palings.
The second of the homeward bounders is strategically placed atop of the

BUND
where, theoretically it is more likely to attract migrants having recently crossed the English Channel which is no more than 8 miles from home. After monitoring these we then head north checking out all sites which may hold any sort of Wildlife such as the

IRRIGATION POND
named by myself as used for watering acres of high-quality turf which has now been superceeded by Solar Panels and where yesterday it was a great surprise to find a pair of

SHOVELER
(male)

(female)
a 'scarce' species here while at the other watercourse, known as the

GRAVEL PIT
for that is what it was and where was found a lone

LITTLE GREBE
along with an occasionaly

flighty pair of

MUTE SWANs
Within the largest of the Solar Panel Compounds stand another c3 Moth Traps but not before studying the overnight workings of the

FAIRYs
having formed their little circles but without much joy from the traps with this being designate

No. 3 within the Solar Panel Compound, very close to the woodland and Carp Pond where

DAUBENTON'S BATs
exist, a borrowed image.

Traps 4 and 5, also within the S.P.C. along the tree-line which along with the Moors River is the property boundry and where the

BALSAM CARPET MOTH
flies in season, the barriers are to keep the Sheep at bay.

PUFF-BALL FUNGI

have just about worn their season out, while across the southern extremity all trees are looking

Beautifully Autumnal

COMMON BUZZARD

while the row of ornimental
CRABAPPLE TREES
are bowing with fruit awaiting the arrival of the northern Thrushes as are we!

FROM MIGHTY OAKS - The Moody Blues