The Garden Moth Scheme which runs from March to November started on Friday, 6th March. Fortunately the night was mild and dry so out went the moth trap. I was really pleased to trap 3 species - all new for the year (not surprisingly)!
Friday 6th March - GMS Week 1
Minimum Temperature 7.2 degrees centigrade
15w Actinic Skinner Trap
Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) - (the females of this species are flightless) x 1
Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) x 1
and the very beautiful Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) with the most beautiful antennae! x 1
The last photo was taken with the Canon Bridge SX50HS on the macro setting. Am still trying to get to grips with this camera - I am not keen on the view finder which is hopeless but can't get used to focusing using the fold out screen. In desperation I have finally given in and have started to print off the manual which comes on a cd and opens as a pdf on the computer. I am also going through a forum with a thread on the Canon bridge, recommended by another Blogger, which is very useful although time consuming!
I ran the trap again last night
Saturday, 7th March
Min Temp 5.7 degrees centigrade.
Just one moth this time also new for year!
Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) x 1
This brings the species total for 2015 up to six - not a bad start for my garden. I also potted a small, brown, exceedingly non-descript micro which won't keep still and is likely to remain unidentified!!
Theatre
On Thursday D and I went along to Birmingham Rep to see The King's Speech. I was that worried about the roadworks near the theatre in Birmingham City Centre that we left far too early and ended up arriving 90 minutes before the performance began. Normally, we eat sandwiches in the car but we left these and had a meal at the Handmade Burgers Restaurant which does the most delicious veggie burgers. I rarely go to this part of the City Centre but Brindley Place and the canal looked lovely at night. One of these days I'll go in the daytime and try to get some photos of this area.
The performance, a production between the Rep and Chichester Festival Theatre, starring Jason Donovan and Raymond Coulthard was excellent.
I've always wanted to come across a feathery antenna moth like that...must experiment with a very basic trap.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see those moths looking so pristine isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't persuade my OH to watch that film so I will have to wait for it on my computer at some point.
The Jason Donovan?!
ReplyDeleteBTW interesting to see Castle Bromwich evolve!
Simon Douglas Thompson - Thanks so much for the comment - well worth experimenting. You will be amazed at the variety of moths you can attract :) Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteToffeeapple - Thank you. Yes, its lovely to have the moths back and so pristine :) Have missed them.
The film is well worth watching when you can.
Pete Duxon - Thanks Pete - yes B was saying how much better the gardens there looked than his last visit (which was quite a few years ago!!!).
Yes, it was the Jason Donovan. TBH hadn't done my usual "homework" and it was only when I was looking at the programme just before the play started that I said to D "Oh, my goodness is that THE Jason Donovan"!!! :) By the way D once interviewed him for his paper :) He must have been appearing in something else local at the time.
Peter Duxon - Forgot to say the Nature in Art place looks absolutely superb. They seem to have an exhibition on Botanical Illustrations at the moment too. If I don't have time after Tewkesbury I will definitely add it on list of places to visit. Looks a real gem - thanks for the suggestion :) (I wonder if they serve scones :) )
ReplyDeleteSo lovely to see the Oak Beauty- have been waiting for those here over the past week or two. Well done on all your news ones.
ReplyDeleteThe theatre trip sounded lovely :o)
Nice to see the moths back again, I do like Oak Beauty moth. I had put my home made moth trap out on Saturday night but did not get anything.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a little post on how I take my close up photos, but like you I find my viewfinder on my new camera to be a bit pants. On mine you can focus it with a little wheel at the side, but have to keep changing it depending on what photo you are taking. New camera has a screen which I have not had before, but need to wear my glasses to see if my photos look OK.It can be a lot of faffing about, so I put everything on manual and take loads of photos.This week discovered it has a birdwatching mode and lots of cool filters as well. I think the best way to learn is just play about with all the buttons !
Amanda xx
Countryside Tales - Thanks so much CT - I do hope you get an Oak Beauty soon.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to return to the Theatre as we haven't been for a while.
Amanda Peters - Thanks very much. I often get an empty trap at this time of the year so its worth perservering!
I look forward to your post on close up photos. Yes, the view finder is really rubbish and I just can't get used to the screen as I've always used the viewfinder on the dslr. My main problem is that its just too easy to use my normal camera which I know inside out. I really need to become more self-disciplined and work my way through the bridge manual and then, as you say, experiment. Looking at bird photos on the forum I've been visiting the camera is capable of taking good pictures - there again you never know how much they've been edited!!!
Nice to see your moth haul is picking up RR! I haven't been to the theatre for a shamefully long time. I used to be a stage manager and then a prop maker and when I got out of it, I didn't go for a decade!
ReplyDeleteI think my comment might have been deleted because I forgot to say I wasn't a robot. I don't think I can write it all again! Love the moths.....x
ReplyDeleteEm Parkinson - Thanks so much for the comments - it was ok the first comment did get through. Eeek I have never bothered myself with that not a robot box!! Have probably lost lots of comments left on posts :(
ReplyDeleteInteresting what you say about working in the theatre and then not going for ages. I worked at a famous football club (which I have supported since I was 10 when my father took me to my first match) for several years in my early twenties. When I left (due to the long working hours) I lost all interest in football for about 10 years - I couldn't face going to matches as a "normal" supporter. I so missed the real involvement I had as an employee!!