The Safari hasn't been able to get outside today, too busy and even if we hadn't of been the rain was persistantly heavy all day, downright miserable. Luckily just outside the office door there is a small Ragwort patch which has been visited by a Cinnabar Moth. There's a lot of caterpillars and not alot of Ragwort so there's going to be either a bit of starvation or a bit of cannibalism going on later.
Back at Base Camp we have some good news to relate - we have baby Dunnocks! Not sure where the nest is, perhaps in the tangle of Clematis on the pergola over the front gate.
In other birdy news juvenile Godfinches are now regular visitors to the feeders.
The recent bout of 'hot' dry weather has meant water must have been at a premium locally as there is always a bird in the waterfall having a drink and a bath.
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| Ox-eye Daisy |
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| With a hoverfly |
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| A tiny Thyme flower |
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| Tubular Waterdropwort |
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| A pretty tub of something bright - no idea what thougbh |
Last Sunday - seems a long time ago - we spent a sunny hour with our Extreme Photographer on Patch 1. We had a good spell inverting coming up with all manner of nice finds including several Meadow Grasshoppers.
The top, smaller pond, had a good colony of Iris sawfly caterpillars chewing away on the Yellow Flags. Unfortunately just a few inches beyond comfortable (ie no risk of falling in) arm's length and the light was fading so pics aren't as sharp as we'd like.
Butterflies were good in the sun, loads of Meadow Browns and Large Skippers with a few Speckled Woods thrown in for good measure.
Down at the bottom end of the rough field there were a few Small Skippers enjoying what the Brambles had on offer too.
Another trip out there, this time with the Brownies was in dull conditions and butterflies, the pack's quarry for the night, didn't put in much of a show, although just as they were arriving a Red Admiral flew past us but didn't reappear for them.
There were however far too many of these evil little monsters
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| A bit ropey - taken from a safe distance through the side of a pot |
What is it with their eyes? What exactly do they see with all those patterns? What ever it is we wish it wasn't!
Where to next? National Moth Night (3rd - 5th) has been a windy washout so far but here's hoping it dries up in an hour or so the mothy can go out.
In the meantime let us know who's getting you all scared in your outback.
2 comments:
A fine selection of sightings & photos Dave, love the sawfly 'pillar photo.
Our Goldfinch deserted us when the feeders ran out whilst we were on holiday, but they're slowly coming back - our House Sparrows remained much more loyal & are probably into double figures.
The flowers are Mesembryanthemum, we used to call them Livingstone daisies. Very tender, succulent, brightly coloured. Haven't seen them much recently!
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