Garden Watch!!

Whilst I have been off work I have kept a close eye on activities in my garden. House Sparrows numbers have increased to c30 the young having fledged, the young being fed on the feeders by their attentive parents. Juvenile Great Tit and Blue Tit, up to seven Collared Dove and a Greenfinch are other regulars.

(El Zorro II!)

I have been putting out chopped apples but they have been scoffed the prime suspect being El Zorro who I managed to capture on camera during one of his raids. I'm glad to say this one survived his visit unlike the last fox to visit the garden.

(Large White)

I have had a Large White butterfly in the garden recently but not much else so far. I’m sure the buddleia will work its magic soon enough though.

On calm evenings I have put out a moth light (thanks Dodge) for a couple of hours a night and have started compiling a photo list of the moths that have been caught in the trap.

I have collected moths at Laguna Blanca Paraguay and being a moth novice have applied the same principles using a bed sheet at the back of the light to encourage these night time visitors to pop into the garden. I await my first low flying aircraft as the bulb may well bring down a plane at some point! The list of unidentified moths is growing but I’m sure I will get most of them nailed in the end.

(Brimstone)

The Brimstone (Opisthograptis luteolata) which is common is the most obvious visitor but has only been seen on the light one evening.

(White Ermine)

Three White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) which is common I consider to be the most striking moth so far but it is early days in my world of mothlighting.

(Garden Carpet)

The Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuate) which is common is similarly black and white in colour but does not have the same appeal.

All these moths have to endure is a night in my fridge a bit of paparazzi macro photography  the next morning courtesy of Nikon Coolpix P6000  and then they are released.