Moths and more Moths 10 August 2012

It was such a nice night that I could not resist giving it another go despite my Robinson moth trap having an apparent irresistible attraction for low flying helicopters. Believe it or not they were back last night at exactly the same time. Maybe I should call up Brize and tell them when I have put the kettle on. This time I put the trap in a new location beside the mellow cotswold stone walls of our house. Next morning bright and early I was up and found myself confronted with a mega haul of moths that had been attracted into the trap plus many others nearby, superbly camouflaged against the walls of the house. Many of the moths I had never seen before. Nothing particularly unusual apart from the Black Arches which is said to be 'local' and to my mind is a very attractive moth. And don't you just love the names? There is something really quaint and old fashioned, almost Victorian about their names redolent of eccentric vicars and 'spinsters of this parish' very much in sharp contrast to the scientific and to my mind almost soul-less approach today. I wonder if I will ever encounter a  Green Silver-Spangled Shark or perhaps in homage to my Scots upbringing I should go in search of a Rannoch Sprawler? Although come to think of it that would also be a good pseudonym for a few of the opposite sex I met up with in the Highlands on a Friday night, in my youth! 

                                   Here is a selection of the best moths from last night.

                                                              Dark Arches

                                                         
                                                         Nut Tree Tussock

                                                               
                                                              Black Arches

                                                           
                                                          Swallow Prominent

                                                               
                                                               Flame Shoulder

                                                               
                                                            Sallow Kitten

                                                                   

                                                             Purple Thorn

                                                            Brimstone Moth 

                       not so well camouflaged against the wall but this was the exception

I must have caught over 50 moths last night. By far the most numerous was Lesser Broad bordered Yellow Underwing.  Being a novice it takes an age to identify many of the moths courtesy of the Field Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland superbly illustrated by Richard Lewington but I am slowly getting there. Micro moths seem to be for the hardcore. I don't think I will be going there!

Species caught last night were: Large Yellow Underwing; Lesser Broad bordered Yellow Underwing; Dark Arches; Black Arches; Purple Thorn; Common Wainscot; Poplar Hawk Moth; Swallow Prominent; Nut Tree Tussock; Large Twin Spot Carpet; Sallow Kitten; Marbled Beauty; Mottled Rustic; Brimstone Moth; Willow Beauty; Flame Shoulder; Iron Prominent; Dusky Sallow; Autumnal Rustic; Riband Wave and last but by no means least V Pug. No - that really is its name!

Things Flying at Night 08 August 2012

                                                         Clouded Border

Another marathon bout of Olympics watching came to an end and as dusk settled I ventured into the garden and turned on my version of the  Eddystone Lighthouse to hopefully attract another selection of moths. Blimey it is bright! As I  returned to the house with spots before my eyes I was delighted to be buzzed by a bat. Regrettably I have no idea of the species except it seemed mid size. Not exactly helpful but with no means of recourse to any equipment to identify the frequencies of its squeaks and even if I had, no idea how to use such things, we will have to leave it there. My delight was based more on the fact that after renovations to the house next to us I had not seen any bats for a very long while and feared the worse as I am sure they roosted in the chimney next door. Every summer for the last fifteen years at least we have had bats flying around our house and gardens at dusk but since the builders arrived next door there has been no sign of them until now. They are like old friends and somehow the world seems OK when they appear. Sentimental twaddle I know but it's little things like this that make all the difference sometimes in this restless world.

Once back indoors I retreated to my computer on the top floor and about thirty minutes later was distracted by a large helicopter approaching low, in the still of the night. This is not so unusual as being relatively near Brize Norton we occasionally get them flying low at night presumably using up the vast amounts of tax payers money available to them, on night training flights. However I was more than concerned when the bloody thing started to hover over the house. This was at eleven at night. Oh no! I knew that moth light was bright but I had by the sounds of things attracted much more than a moth to my dazzling bulb, situated plumb centre on the lawn and presumably visible from outer space let alone earthly skies. Mind you they could hardly miss it as they sounded virtually to be on the roof, so low were they. Thankfully after five minutes they moved off. I wonder if they saw the light and were examining it through whatever devilish, high powered, night vision optical equipment they had on board? I wonder if they thought it might be an Improvised Illuminating Device? Well they would be correct on that score. Perhaps the pilot was a moth enthusiast? I like to think he was curious as to my equipment and probably needed to satisfy himself that I was using only the best - a Robinson - and then flew off satisfied and re-assured. I in turn headed for bed incurring a severe bout of wrath of wife about the helicopter. Apparently it was my fault. 

Next morning up at around seven and down into the garden to examine the night's captives. Lots of new species but as I was examining the moths a strange call came from the skies. I knew it but just could not place it. It was a wader call and it called constantly as it approached. Sounded a bit like a Green Sandpiper but not quite right and then suddenly it dawned on me - a Wood Sandpiper! Amazing! It came over the house heading west and was gone. My 86th bird species seen in and over our garden. 

I think I will give the moth trap a rest tonight. Maybe tomorrow? Perhaps I will attract a Hercules next time? Ever the optimist.

Moth Olympics 04/05 August 2012

                                                       Poplar Hawkmoths
                                           note how the one on the left is very worn

Along with countless millions I watched the TV yesterday evening enthralled as Team GB finally 'brought home the bacon' with three Gold medals in the Olympic Arena. After watching all the celebrations, interviews and endless analysis  it was almost midnight before I stirred from the couch. Inspired by the athletes efforts and with a surge of optimism I decided to expend a little energy of my own by setting up the moth trap in a corner of the garden. Better late than never. The light glowed pink, then white and finally as it got into its stride illuminated a disturbingly large area of my end of the village. I had earlier pre-warned my neighbour about what was going on and not to panic although suggesting maybe some blackout curtains would be handy. Doubly inspired by the athletes I also resolved to go for an early morning run the next day which handily meant I would be able to retrieve the moth trap first thing from the predicted rain and deal with the occupants on my return without disturbing my wife. I am new to moth trapping and unashamedly get great delight from the simple pleasure of looking in the trap to see what has been caught. Hawkmoths always give me a huge amount of pleasure and I struck gold three times this morning with a trio of Poplar Hawkmoths. Alright so they are common but I have only seen one once before in my garden when I trapped one a few weeks ago so I was delighted to see three of them together.

Other contestants found in the trap this morning were as follows:

Scalloped Oak; Dark Arches; Large Yellow Underwing; Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing; Common Footman; Pale Prominent; Common Rustic; Lesser Common Rustic; Common Carpet; Mullein Wave and Marbled Beauty

Port Meadow Oxford 04 August 2012

The historic and ancient area called Port Meadow situated within the boundaries of Oxford and readily accessible from a number of points provides an ideal opportunity when conditions are right for a veritable bonanza of waders and ducks. Today was just such a day with the meadow's floods providing ideal conditions to attract waders. Fortunately the forecast rain stayed away and a light, warm wind and sunny conditions greeted me on my arrival this morning. Common Sandpipers seemed to be everywhere along the edge of the floods and the count slowly rose to an astonishing twelve with one of the birds appearing to have a broken wing. Early on three Greenshank, as always very flighty and highly strung flew around the flood and eventually departed high to the North but there was still much to see. A Wood Sandpiper not that common in Oxfordshire appeared and disappeared amongst the tussocks and moulted gull feathers at the water's edge and three Green Sandpipers joined it later that morning. Five summer plumage adult Dunlin fed further up the flood mingling with the gulls, a  juvenile Common Redshank lingered nearby and a flock of Lapwing sheltered in the long grass. Could there be anything else? Well yes - a Ringed Plover skulked amongst the cattle churned mud and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover also tried to make itself invisible on the far shore. The meadow was alive with Pied Wagtails and feeding with them was a White Wagtail, so clean looking compared to its UK cousins. A juvenile Yellow Wagtail, calling loudly, flew up from the reeds and joined the cattle. Swallows, House and Sand Martins skimmed the water. All this in one morning almost within sight and sound of the City centre. Idyllic yes, almost unique yes, but now threatened because the floods are meant to be bad news for Creeping Marsh-wort, a rare plant that allegedly only grows here. The whole area must be drained. Surely there can be some form of compromise? If not then Oxford will lose this prime birding spot and we will just be left with horses, cattle, joggers, Creeping Marsh-wort and no birds. Is that really right?

Flying a Kite 30 July 2012

Unwittingly the RSPB at vast expense but with all good intentions have established a temporary feeding station for Red Kites at Otmoor. It is operational during the Spring and early summer months and specifically designed to provide a round the clock supply of Lapwing chicks for the local kites with supplemental feeding of Redshank chicks if no Lapwings are available. Doubtless DEFRA will soon be called in to control the kites which are becoming increasingly emboldened, show no fear and according to local media have been flying off not only with Lapwing chicks but when the Lapwing chicks run out will soon be doing the same with small children especially those clutching cheese and pickle sandwiches. We are in such a mess with our good intentions. No sooner do we try and create a solution to one problem than that very solution creates other unforeseen problems and so it goes on.

Still support the RSPB. Although they do daft things at times the good they do in protecting our birds far outweighs anything else and without them we would not have nearly so many good places to go birding and incidentally also to watch dragonflies, butterflies and assorted wildlife

Pestilential Parrots - Really? 29 July 2012

Rose Ringed Parakeets are noisy, exotic, beautiful but non native to the UK and their population is now burgeoning in the southern counties of England. They form huge roosts which in themselves are a sight and experience that in my opinion is well worth visiting.Yet now there are rumours that the RSPB are intimating that they should be controlled i.e culled as their large numbers impact on our native birds.The hired guns of DEFRA cannot be allowed to go silent now there are no Ruddy Ducks left!  

I do hope the rumours are untrue although after the RSPB's public relations debacle of the Ruddy Duck cull I have my doubts. I would suggest that the RSPB might like to consider what the release each year of 40 million non-native Common Pheasants may be having on our native bird species. However Common Pheasants are an industry that equals money, privilege and have Royal patronage and in this land of inequality that seems to stand for everything these days and please don't get me started on Canada Geese!

Its a car - stupid! 29 July 2012

Surely after the non-native Common Pheasants that are released every year in their millions across our fair and enchanted isle and that we see parading across our roads in rural areas, Woodpigeons are the most suicidal of birds. Common Pheasants at least have an excuse for being 'stupid', being raised and fed artificially for release into the countryside for the chinless ones to blast out of the sky at the earliest opportunity or for Black Audi drivers to run over on the road. Try the A44 by Blenheim Estate near Woodstock any time after October to see the pheasant carnage on the road.You can hardly move for bodies and feathers! 

Woodpigeons however are a native species that regularly insist on walking or standing in the middle of the road and allowing vehicles to approach dangerously close as if almost to invite collision and violent death. They just stand there eyeing any oncoming car as if they cannot quite believe that the on-rushing  vehicle will really not slow down and drive ever so graciously around them. By the time they work out that this is not going to happen it is often too late and a blizzard of scattered white feathers marks the demise of yet another Woodpigeon. 

I have found no real answer as to why they are so slow on the uptake. Let's face it all other birds give moving vehicles a healthy wide berth and certainly do not stand there watching their impending doom approach at speed. There is a theory that Woodpigeons do not perceive cars as moving as fast as they actually do but surely over time they would have evolved a strategy to realise that they best fly out of the way when a vehicle approaches as they represent extreme danger. They do after all fly off PDQ when they see a human on foot- especially round here where anything with feathers or fur is considered fair game. 

Hedgehogs have fairly rapidly realised it is not sensible to curl up in the middle of the road when the four wheeled monster approaches but to continue running for their lives. Maybe for Woodpigeons, as a species, evolving a rapid fly away strategy is not worth it as no matter how many are killed by cars or shot by farmers there appears to be no diminishing in their numbers. Indeed in the autumn large numbers can be seen making mass movements into the UK. Are they all coming to die with our native birds? Are they not happy to dice with road users on the Continent? Looked at closely Woodpigeons are really beautiful birds with their pastel shades of pink and grey but this beauty apparently does not go with an innate sense of self preservation..We shrug at their supposed stupid ways and think nothing of their bodies scattered along our roadsides, there are so many of them after all, but remember the Passenger Pigeon and what happened to that unfortunate bird