Moth trapping

• Black Arches: 2
• Brimstone Moth: 1
• Common Footman: 9
• Common Rustic: 16
• Common Wainscot: 3
• Coxcomb Prominent: 1
• Dark Arches: 3
• Dark Dagger: 1
• Dusky Sallow: 5
• Flame Shoulder: 17
• Gold Triangle: 1
• Green Carpet: 1
• Large Yellow Underwing: 5
• Leopard Moth: 1
• Lesser Swallow Prominent: 1
• Mother of Pearl: 5
• Pebble Prominent: 1
• Peppered Moth: 2
• Phylyctaenia coronata: 2
• Poplar Hawkmoth: 2
• Purple Bar: 1
• Riband Wave: 2
• Ruby Tiger: 7
• Sallow Kitten: 1
• Scalloped Oak: 2
• Scarce Footman: 7
• Shuttle-shaped Dart: 1
• Silver Y: 1
• Small Magpie: 2
• Small Waved Umber: 1
• Snout: 1
• Straw Underwing: 2
• Swallow Prominent: 1
• The Clay: 1
• The Rustic: 4
• The Uncertain: 18
• White Satin Moth: 1
• Willow Beauty: 1
• Yellow-tail: 2

Ran the trap all night. Conditions clear but fairly warm - got up at 7 to empty the trap as it was getting hot already.

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Visitors

I was washing up when I first spotted this juvenile Green Woodpecker on the lawn. I didn't have my glasses on, and for a split-second I wondered what on earth the big grey thing hopping on the grass was...

Green Woodpecker (juvenile)

The other news from the garden is that the rabbits seem to be getting smaller, and cuter:

We've also been trapping moths again. Last night was quite good - warm, dry and fairly still.

Leopard Moth

We're just putting the trap out at weekends at the moment, as we're so slow to identify the contents that getting the moths done before going to work would be a real challenge!

Being almost total beginners is really interesting. Though there are a few common species that are easy to ID, we're still having to look in the book to check many things. I'm sure we're making lots of mistakes - species like The Uncertain and rustics are proving a bit problematical. It's very tempting to just open the book, find what the moth looks most like, and say, 'well, it's one of those!'

On the other hand, we've had some pleasingly distinctive beasts, such as Poplar, Lime and Privet Hawkmoths, Black Arches and Leopard Moth.

Moths in plastic pots have taken over the salad box thing in the fridge (refrigerating the moths stops them from flapping about while you ponder over what on earth they are).

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Bambi's older sisters

This morning was a good one for the garden.

Last night, they started harvesting the oilseed rape from the field at the back of our house. And this morning, these two female Fallow Deer were wandering around in the field, just over our back fence!

Fallow Deer

Green Woodpecker

When I looked out of the back window, the first thing I saw was this male Green Woodpecker digging in the lawn for ants. He then went and sat on the clothes line post and posed for a little while. Which was nice.

And finally... we were just about to get into the car when two Kingfishers flew past, calling. There are a few ponds and small lakes nearby so I guess they were commuting from one to another. Garden tick!

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995 + Leica Apo Televid 77 with 20-60x eyepiece + bedroom window glass

Smile!

Common Darter

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Garden stuff

Hobby

This photo was a bit lucky... After tea, I went for a wander round the garden and to mow the lawn (this is virtually a full-time job in itself). I was trying to get photos of the bees on the mallow flowers...


... when I saw some Swallows flying over. As I looked up, I saw a Hobby flying in the opposite direction, not very high up. As I already had the camera to hand - and switched on - I managed a few shots.

Looking at the brownish wings, I think it's a first-summer bird. Though I may be wrong. That means it hatched last year, went all the way to Africa, crossing the Sahara, and has come back again. They mostly eat small birds and largeish insects (eg. dragonflies).

Talking of dragonflies, there was a Brown Hawker in the garden yesterday morning, and a Southern Hawker this afternoon.

Anyway...

Red Admirals seem to be out today in good numbers

Darren saw SIX rabbits on the lawn yesterday!

Up to seven Peacocks were in the garden today, on the Buddleia or sunning themselves

Meadow Browns still around - this was one of the neater ones

Dusky Sallow moth - perhaps one of the two trapped on Friday night

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Privet Hawkmoth

Lately I've been inspired by John Wright's blog, which showcases his considerable talent as a naturalist, photographer and artist.

I went out into the garden to photograph butterflies when I spotted this Privet Hawkmoth hiding on the back fence, out of the wind. I knew it would sit dead still so I got my paints and some paper, and had a go at painting it.

Rabbitrabbitrabbitrabbit

In recent weeks, two rabbits have started coming into the garden. So far, they've been good, cutely nibbling the seed-heads off long blades of grass, though I did spot them chasing each other around yesterday. I hope this isn't the start of bad behaviour.

As long as they keep their teeth off what's left of my vegetables and flowers, they're very welcome.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Moth trapping

• Brown-line Bright-eye: 3
• Buff Arches: 1
• Buff Footman: 1
• Clouded Border: 1
• Common Footman: 5
• Common Rustic: 10
• Dark Arches: 6
• Dingy Footman: 6
• Dusky Sallow: 2
• Flame Shoulder: 1
• Large Yellow Underwing: 3
• Lesser Swallow Prominent: 1
• Mother of Pearl: 2
• Nut-tree Tussock: 1
• Peppered Moth: 1
• Poplar Hawkmoth: 2
• Privet Hawkmoth: 3
• Purple Thorn: 1
• Riband Wave: 2
• Ruby Tiger: 2
• Scalloped Oak: 2
• Scarce Footman: 1
• Silver Y: 3
• Small Magpie: 3
• Smoky Wainscot: 7
• Swallow-tailed Moth: 2
• The Clay: 1
• The Drinker: 3
• The Rustic: 1
• The Uncertain: 20
• White Satin Moth: 2
• Willow Beauty: 1
• Yellow-tail: 1

Ran the trap all night for the first time. Quite cool and breezy by morning. John came round to help with IDs.

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Wren

We were standing at the kitchen sink when this Wren started singing from the washing-line post just outside.

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM, through kitchen window glass

Summer's here!

Lunchtime today finally felt like summer. The sun was out - for once - and so were the insects. It's about time, too.

(zoomed-in)

Emperor

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Comparison between Small Red-eyed (left) and Red-eyed Damselflies

Red Admiral

Peacock

Migrant Hawker

Common Blue Damselfly

Bumblebees

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Sunset

From the back garden this evening

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Moths

The Drinker - male

The Drinker - female

Black Arches

Dark Arches

Brown-line Bright-eye

Riband Wave

Poplar Grey

the unidentified

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Dragonfly Day

Southern Hawker, freshly emerged and still drying out

Ruddy Darter

Emperor

Common Darter

Common Darters mating

Spot the damselfly...

At The Lodge today, I saw:

• Small Red-eyed Damselfly
• Red-eyed Damselfly
  
• Common Blue Damselfly
• Blue-tailed Damselfly
• Banded Demoiselle
  
• Emperor
• Migrant Hawker
• Southern Hawker
• Ruddy Darter
• Common Darter
• Four-spotted Chaser
  

I missed the Brown Hawker, though...

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM