More moths (including a couple of pugs and several micros) escaped than I potted but there were two Heart and Darts and
these two - I am pretty certain these are Bee Moths (new for the year).
I am not sure about this moth - I thought initially it was a Turnip Moth which would be a new species for the garden but, on reflection, is it just a colour variant of Heart and Dart? The wings look "wider" than Heart and Dart but it does have a faint black mark on its head (similar to the mark on H and D that looks like a flying bird)!
Edit - Many thanks to Ornithom from "Ripley Moths" for coming to my rescue - this is a Heart and Club! Sadly, my id skills show little sign of improving :)
Rather a nice surprise in the post yesterday
YES!!! Its finally arrived even if I do have to go teetotal for the month of June to pay for it!
I am very impressed - it includes loads of rather excellent photographs and artwork plus distribution maps and introductions and keys to the micro-moth families plus much much more. Unfortunately owning moth "bible" number 2 is no guarantee that I am going to be identify micros correctly - I am still struggling with macros see above! but what a lovely book.
Blue Tit Nestling Update
They are still doing fine, they are being fed regularly and are busy practising flight movements with their wings. I think they are likely to fledge within the next few days.
I took some more photos a few days ago from the tv screen - apologies for the exceedingly poor quality due to a combination of slow shutter speed, bird movement and a cheap nestbox camera! (Springwatch this isn't!) and taking the photo from the tv screen.
I have recorded some video so if I can ever persuade a member of the family to help me I will eventually try and put some on the blog.
7 comments:
That is so cool!!! I love the Blue Tits. As for your moth id book....I have a similiar one with the hummingbirds....and I spent more hours today than I should have to figure out what hummers I saw today.....just like the moths; some of them are really tricky to id! But that makes us better people at id'ing critters:) I'm starting to watch flight patterns to help me figure out if the hummer is different.
Chris - Many thanks - its amazing how quickly time flies when you are trying to id something - when I first started moth-ing I would spend hours on just one moth! Flight patterns can be useful for birds and also some butterflies.
That looks like a very useful book, I hope it will enlighten you!
Love the shot of the two open-mouthed Blue Tits.
I sent for the Collins Complete Guide to British Wild Flowers (paperback version) it was £5.47 including p&p from Alibris a bargain price I thought.
The book sounds and looks good, I must get mine ordered although not having a moth trap I'm not sure I can justify the outlay....as I've said before though, I do like my Nature books ;-)
Good to know the Blue Tits are doing well, I love those big gaping mouths...feed me, feed me!! ;-)
Toffeeapple - That sounds a very good price for the Collins Wildflower guide - I will visit Alibris website! I hope you enjoy it when it arrives. One of the great things about flower id is that they do not move or fly away :)
ShySongbird - The moth book came in to British Wildlife the week before last so they should have plenty of copies :) I am very naughty when it comes to buying books especially nature ones especially as I have totally run out of room and bookcases - many that I can't bear to part with are in storage boxes.
"feed me, feed me," your comment made me laugh. They are still there today - the mother is still sometimes trying to brood them. Although its gone that cold I think she is trying to get warmth off them as they look very snug in the box!
Hi Mrs Robin,
Your mystery moth looks remarkably like Heart & Club (not a moth I have caught unfortunately), very similar to Heart and Dart as you noted in your post.
Kind regards
Steve T
Ornithom - Hi Steve - Thanks so much for the id help - its really much appreciated. I have only caught one Heart and Club before but never a Turnip! Hence my wishful thinking :)
Best wishes
Caroline
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