Moths of 2013 - so far

No need to dwell on the low numbers and late appearance of moths this year, but it's all catching up fast now. On the 19th June there was this Campion lurking in the trap - it'a a new species for my trapping activities, and a lovely little moth it is, too

 

 

More prosaic was this Waved Umber, a master of disuise

 

 

and a super super Elephant Hawkmoth first appeared towards the end of June

 

Angle Shades is always a treat to see 

and the clean-ness of this Peppered Moth suggests the air quality hereabouts is pretty good

 

A delicate little Brimstone brought a bit of sunshine with it

 



This Silver Y was the first of several mid-month when, during a brighter and almost warm spell, two Painted Ladies also appeared in the garden

 

 I tried so hard to make this Common Carpet into a Galium Carpet, which it clearly wasn't when I studied this photo

 

A very unusual moth for this garden was this Ghost Moth, the first for a couple of years

 

Is this a Buff-tip moth, or a piece of  rotten birch twig?

 

Help please with this blighter, I've no idea except that it must be a micro-moth at about 1 cm across, but what a delicate insect

 

Pilot Officer Biggles put in an appearance in the form of this Spectacle moth, complete with flying goggles ( and a well - worn bonce, too)

 

Best moth of the year so far is this Eyed Hawkmoth from Sunday morning

 

when there were also these 2 beautiful Green Silver Lines in the trap too

 

and in the sky above, with me gardening in preparation for the Garden Safari, and not a camera handy, there came by a super Red Kite which stooged off towards Langdon Bay pursued by several Herring Gulls and a couple of Crows

Whatever happened to June??

 

Not a lot worth blogging about happened through June, and the weather didn't make for exciting outdoor activities. Tony Morris mentioned the shortage of moths in his St Margaret's blog, and it has been the same here. Apply this shortage to insects generally and it's little wonder breeding birds are struggling. "Our" Swallows seem to have taken a long time to bring off their first brood which grew through June and flew at last on the 4th July (cue the Star Spangled Banner). They took to perching on the washing line and adjacent 'phone wire, so no washing could be hung that day. They are now storming about in a mixed group with some young from (presumably) New Townsend Farm and having a great time with the flush of insects now it's got hot

 

 

The annual trip to Richebourg for the Battle of the Boar's Head commemoration was blessed with fine weather. Philip came for the experience and throroughly enjoyed the weekend away. Unfortunately there was a contingent from Worthing Rotary Club and Town Council this year who insisted on making yet another speech and bought along their own translator in spite of Julie (John Baines' widow) specifically asking them not to do so at the cemetery but rather, as they were a civic group, at the Mayor's reception. Their refusal to accede to this request and hi-jack the ceremony was nothing short of disgraceful. Even so, the dignity and meaning of the ceremony overcame this slight

 

Quite why all these extra wreaths from Worthing needed to be there escaped me - perhaps they ought to remember their war dead at the Worthing War Memorial?

 

Philip had a camera and these pics are thanks to him

 

The view from Philip's bedroom window in Bethune

 

On Sunday we went down to Vimy Ridge mainly to see the new visitor centre and show Philip the reconstructed trenches, which he enjoyed

 

Lunch was a picnic at the cemetery just outside Thelus with delicious sandwiches made fresh for us at the little Boulangerie in Neuville St Vaast

 

Earlier in June on a rare bright (tho' cold) day we watched Matthew play in a cricket match for the school. I was lucky to catch this wonderful action shot of his bowling. At 7+ years old there's plenty of time to work on his technique, but no doubting his determination even now

 

and there was a steam past at Martin Mill to bring back memories of the 'arrer