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Monday, July 28, 2008

Macro and Micro; two more visiting Moths

As I got into the kitchen this morning, I immediately noticed a dark Moth on the window. After having flown in to find the light source behind the open window, it was now unable to find the opening again and with the window opening to the inside, it had trapped itself.
Every time I am surprised again at how easily they walk into my tubs when I hold them in front of them. It was a Macro Moth and its colouring was beautiful sienna. a few quick pictures for ID later, Moth and I got around the table to the door to freedom.
From behind me, another little Moth appeared suddenly; perhaps realising I was going to open the door? However it now sat on the inside of the door, so had to find another tub for mis{s}{ter} Micro Moth. Camera was still on the table {instead of its home in the window} and Micro was less willing to get into a tub or on my finger, as it crawled as far into the corner of the inside of the door, as possible. With the Sparrows yelling for more peanut cake, I needed to get Miss Micro and Mister Macro outside as quick as they would allow me to.
Eventually, Micro let herself persuade to walk into my second tub, and both tubs were placed in safe spots outside, from where they could easily find a safe place among the Nettles, Pine trees or wherever they chose to spend the day.

With these two creatures taken care of, it was the turn of the birds. Junior Jackdaw too sat waiting in the wings for me to serve him his breakfast, and so were all the others.
At around lunchtime, as I was getting ready to go to the shop, an Amazon package arrived and I left the unpacking of my books for later.

And now I sit here with my new “Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland.” Trying to find ID’s for my Moths. And miss Micro has found one for herself already: I think s/he could well be a Small Dark-barred Twinspot Moth. Similar to one I had before, sitting on the outside of the window of the same door. . Just two and a half weeks ago.
Having had two different Micro Carpet Moths earlier this year. One Dark barred Twinspot on the 30th of May, and a Pine Grey Carpet Moth on the 10th of July.
Therefore, I immediately opened my new Moth Guide to The Carpets. And I think that one of the unidentified micro Moths I found on the 18th of July might be a Small Carpet too, it was a combination of White Ermine and a Lighter barred version of the Dark- bar Twinspot. Without a camera it would have been a lot harder, I’d have relied solely on pen{cil} and paper. I still use these, by making a quick sketch of the pattern, when searching either on the web or now in my book.

So hopefully, dear readers, you will see proper names above the photos of my two visitors on 16 July under my post Micro Moths {2} And perhaps in a few days you will also see a name above the picture of my Macro of today. Who knows? I certainly don’t!

Macro, I’m not so sure about; it had some prominent marking on the outside, but perhaps it is just another Arches, not the Dark one, I think.
Have another two Micros to ID, too. And with the arrival of Silent Fields and Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland, also, I’m going to be busy enough. Plus a Collins Wild Guide; one on British Wildlife, from Frogs, Slow worms, Birds, Mammals and Plants.
Now all we need is a delivery of Time! Think Amazon does sell this in proper quantities?

In the garden, I noticed that both my Blue Tits and my Coal Tits are returning, after very sporadic visits since spring.
I used to cram peanut cake inbetween the slats of the planter at a certain moment, ensuring that my Tits would always be able to get to food whenever the Corvids were taking not only much food with them, but also overpowering the planter and thus the foodsupply. They quickly got the hang of it before the Sparrows too were trying to hang onto the wood.
My Coal Tit today, hung onto the slats searching for something there, maybe? It was raining too hard at the moment, but I will put some more of it in there.
Yesterday a Large White Butterfly caught my attention from the kitchen, and although it was fast in feeding and leaving, I did manage these two pictures. Today it was all Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies, even in the Fennel. I'm still waiting for the first Peacock and Red Admiral to appear here, the Nettle and Bramble should be able to attract these?

A new Robin fledgling called in too; as well as the two juveniles, one almost as orange as its parents, the other getting lagging behind very closely. Okay, we got still a lot of latest fledgies, Sparrows, a Chaffing and now Robin. I also believe that we are dealing with a few new Jackdaw juvies.

Macro Moth, UnidentifiedSmall Dark-barred Twinspot Carpet MothA Large White Butterfly, feeding on the BramblesThe first Blackberries in my garden, and left for the birdsCoal Tit searching for peanutcakeHouse SparrowsA Smoking House Sparrow?ChaffinchGreat Tit

2 comments:

  1. It looks like you have lots of activity both inside and outside of your house. Great that you got a book on Moths. I haven't seen many around here this year. Still looking though.

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  2. well, you saw one today, didn't you? And a lovely one at that.

    The book I got is spiral bound; easily to keep open on your lap, when checking one out. I don't have the extra book-holding-open hand available, so this was the best solution, even if the Collins Field guide is more comprehensive. {and bigger, harder to open up.

    I'd looked at this one before somewhere, but not acted on it yet, then Pete found me the book at amazon for £12.30. And I knew I had to order it now, or I would never do it!

    ReplyDelete

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