Moths and things

 

There has been a better catch of moths this spring than for a couple of years - here's a selection

First is a first for this trap, a Scalloped Hazel, beautiful understated and subtly coloured moth. Surprising I haven't seen one before seeing as there's plenty of hazel around the garden

 

 

Brimstone moth isn't uncommon here, but it IS a beautiful creature

 

Another first this season is Square Spot Rustic, a frequent catch

 

Shears too are common, but this year they are an early presence in the trap

First Setaceous Hebrew Character this morning, there will be hundreds later in the year

 

 

After lots of poring over my Waring and Townsend, I concluded this is an unusually dark Heart and Dart, what do you think?

 

Another new one for the season, hundreds of these Large Yellow Underwing will be around later

Rustics are early too this year, and the Early Grey is actually a bit late for this garden, tho' not the first by 5 weeks



 

Out walking yesterday this Corn Bunting was very confiding, and he rattled his keys well for us

 

 

Lots of spring flowers, even common ones, look good now

 

Dog walking is a pleasure this time of year too

 

 

Now, can anyone tell me what this is, found on a gatepost up on the Barrow Mount

 

Less time for model railways now, but some progress building retaining walls out of hardboard, not bad eh?

 

 

there's also a new footbridge and the beginnings of the station building

 

next to come is the painted backscene - unlike these two, it will need to be an urban one, something of a challenge to my feeble painting skills

Look what I found in the garden

 

The garden here been an interesting place to be this week, firstly because this little beauty was in the trap on Tuesday morning, a Peach Blossom

 

In spite of it's name, it likes to eat Brambles when it's a caterpillar - smasher isn't it?

 

The first Common Marbled Carpet of the year was pretty enough but not ever so well marked

 

This, however, was a bit special. It was found in the evergreen Honeysuckle (also known as Henry's Honeysuckle - Lonicera henryi - by the front door yesterday

By my reckoning it's a Hummingbird Hawkmoth caterpillar, but if not please tell me what it is

Thanks to Claire (see comments) who has identified it as a Copper Underwing caterpillar - thanks Claire

 

 

Also this week I returned with Ian Roberts to the Heronry at Lympne, where, thanks to his help, we managed to find 13 nests, a huge improvement on the six I counted earlier. At least three were new nests and another 3 seemed to be in a "new" tree in a different part of the wood, maybe displaced by a fallen nesting tree last winter

 

While in the wood, electric eyes Ian also found this superb little moth which didn't photograph well in the dark and with his 'phone, but you can see well enough it's a Mocha, a bit of a rarity I believe

 

 

Now all we need is a Latte, and a Cappuchino perhaps!!

A mixed week

 

We went over to Sussex last week, for a meal at our favourite pub - the Ash Tree Inn at Brownbread Street. The view from the carpark shows the Sussex weald at it's best this time of year

 

 

Then it was off to Crowhurst to give the family graves a tidy-up, and into the Forewood to enjoy the Bluebells once again, flowering somewhat early this year

 

 

 

When we returned our illustrious neighbour knocked the door bearing a print from one of these 3 photos taken while we were away. They noticed this large bird of prey, and, not knowing what it was, managed these photos for me. The bloody thing is sat on MY CHIMNEY!!!

 

 

It's that escaped falconer's Saker cross  which has been around on and off for a few years now - flipping cheek!!

 

Today another steam excursion, Tangmere doing well through Martin Mill

 

A bit of a lift

 

Today got off to a good start with a lovely overnight rain which freshened the garden beautifully, and also rained this moth into the trap

It's a new one for this garden for me, a Chocolate-tip, about a half-inch long

 

 

 

Smashing little creature, isn't it?

 

Better still, Mrs Swallow turned up during the morning and the male was absolutely beside himself to see her, singing and dashing about, wonderful sight

Back to Earth with a bump



 

After all that good news and fun, I was rather shattered today by the result of the first annual count for this year of  the Heron's nests at Lympne. In spite of double-checking and peering carefully through the emerging foliage, thus:-

 

 

 

I only managed to count 6, yes six, occupied nests this morning, with another two either under construction, or worse, abandoned. I shall count again in  2 or 3 weeks to find out. This count is an all-time low compared with the counts I have been able to access since the late 1950's. The previous low was a count of 8 nests in 1960, 1961, and 2009.

 

On a more uplifting note, the Orchids in particular put on a spectacular show even though they are "only" Common Spotted Orchids, and the display of wildflowers generally in this fairly specific habitat was superb 

 

although I took care not to disturb the Ramsons so as not to cause too much of a stink!

 

this specimen stood about 15" ( sorry 37cm) high and looked gorgeous in that ray of sunshine

and finally, a poor photo, though better than yesterday's, of our new, blue, resident to cheer me up a bit - no sign of the missus yet

A very very special day

 

 

Today (Easter Sunday) got off to a superb start early on while I was walking the dog in advance of the Christening and super family gathering. First off were the 3 or 4 singing Whitethroats heard while walking down toward Kingsdown. Then, in a belt of new woodland planted some 15 years ago, there was a lovely lovely Nightingale singing away superbly, it brought a tear to my eyes I'm not ashamed to admit

 

After a hurried breakfast it was round to see Neve and help get ready for her brother Gil's christening - we were all very impressed with the cake beautifully made by Barbara

and with baby Gil in his christening suit

 

Diane conducted the christening, indeed the whole service, in her usual relaxed, friendly and inclusive style, it was a pleasure to be there, but I regret not being able to move the ewer!

Later, back home here again, look who showed up for the first time this year, more tears from me, and a very moving sight, and boy, judging by the song, he was ever so pleased to be here at last - a bit later than average this year no doubt due to the adverse winds over the last 2 weeks or so

 



 

hopefully now we can look forward to more scenes like this through the summer

On the subject of special days there was a trip to the Bluebell Railway for me and Mathew last Monday and the first opportunity to travel over the newly restored line over Imberhorne Viaduct from East Grinstead, brilliant!