Here It Comes Again

 The FLOOD that is but there was something of a Weather Window mid-morning which at least allowed a couple of hours in the field, but with little more than that which has become usual with just a couple of exception, those being a dead

MOLE
almost on our doorstep and a First for the Year

SCARCE UMBER
which the Field Guide tells us is "moderately common throughout England and Wales" but seemingly not so here as our last one taken was as far back as 2013! Along with those came the 'same-olds'

BLACK RUSTIC
and a First for the Year

MOTTLED UMBER
For a bit of colour the male

PHEASANT
within the Solar Panel Compound along with one of the also

resident

MISTLE THRUSH
a brace of

STOCK DOVEs

The

ever grazing and irresistable

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE
with the

clouds still gathering we headed back south to run straight into a

Magic Moment

with one of the local
COMMON BUZZARDs
we rarely capture the under-wing.

Neighbouring Farmer had put his

SHEEP
out to graze but at great distance and we know not the species but bet we will by this time tomorrow!
Finally, we paid another visit to the Green Keeper's workshop to check on the activities of the local

BARN OWL

which is still quartering a couple of the fairways along the banks of the
River Stour at dawn and dusk.

A MIGHTY increase in the number of 'HITS' this morning so would like to Thank whoever might be resposible. Take the opportunity to do likewise please!!

Here Comes the Flood - Peter Gabriel

 As once again the Ill Wind

brought some GOOD with it as after just a single Moth from the Traps

YELLOW-LINE QUAKER
we made for the newly flooded Water Meadows but not before yet another encounter with the

Escaped Cattle

from the Heath with contacting the

Herdsman having become tiresome!

Among the host of an estimated 100

BLACK-HEADED GULLs
there were suspicions of a couple or so Meds with didtance not allowing qualification?

However, there was no doubt about the
LITTLE EGRET
perched high on a dead tree with a second

making the most of the new bounty.

Shifting location along the same watercourse afforded some decent views of

a number of

GADWALL

and a similar number of

TEAL

while for a finale there we very nearly missed only the 3rd ever

GREAT WHITE EGRET
on what we loosely describe as our
Recording Area
while topping the lot off with what could be described as a 'host' of

WREN's
(Sewerage Works)

(closer to home)
but also right across the property.

Lord, here comes the flood,

we'll say goodbye to flesh and blood.

 If again the seas are silent in any still alive,

It'll be those who gave their island to survive.

Drink up, dreamers you're running dry!

Autumn Almanac - The Kinks

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar

 when the dawn begins to crack. It's all part of my autumn almanac! 

It is doubtful if the content of today's Post will enthral any but the keenest of Entomologists but the magical World of Nature stretches far beyond Birds and Killer Whales! In the first instance we would ask you to cast your mind back to the Post of Wednesday 09/11/2022 when we secured only our second ever

GOLDEN TWIN-SPOT

In the first instance there was the matter of a correct identification as there are confussion species and the fact that the Insect is something of a scarcity. With that in mind and to be certain, it was considered a wise decission to drive it to Weymouth and let one of "3 far more knowledable than I gentlemen" to take a look to confirm or otherwise. Of the 3 it was Dave Foot who sprung to mind as sure to be at work and able to take a few moments to confirm as was the case. As a bonus to himself it was found that en-root SHE had laid a batch of eggs which was right up his street as also being an excellent enthusiast as to nurturing such things to adulthood. In true Dave fashion it was of no surprise to recieve from him yesterday morning what is now presented to our Valued Readership the Life Cycle of your Average Insect!

Hi Bagsy, hope this works. The following are photos of your Golden Twin-spot first and second instar larva and videos of a larva hatching and taking its first meal, its own egg shell.

The majority of British macro moths have 5 instars, the final one being the pupa.

 (Unfortunately this system does not favour the 'cut of the jib' of those there videos)

 Instar’s are the stages of a larva’s life where it feeds until it needs to change its skin. The skin doesn’t grow, so when it gets to a stage when it no longer fits, it is shed and the new skin is a little more loose and baggy.

 The majority of British Macro Moths have 5 instars, the final one being the pupa.

The larva is transparent and the green line through the middle of its body is the food it has eaten and the small dark area at the end is frass / excrement being expelled. 

Our First One  

Extract from the man himself

We have limited the precis mainly

to the southern counties of

Great Britain

We don't want His Dave-Ship on our tail so as ever Many Thanks Mate!!