Monday 11th June and with David bringing home a scarlet tiger moth from the allotment for me to look at my interest in mothing was piqued and I finally dusted off the old moth box for its first outing in the back yard this year.
Scarlet Tiger Moth
I had forgotten that I had put the moth box out and didn't wake up until 07:45am the next morning to check it out but luckily the local house sparrows seemed to have forgotten what it was too - last year they were actively hunting the moths in the trap and as much as I am pleased to see them bounce back after a notable decline over the past few years I don't want to provide a moth buffet for them. Also the herring gulls are nesting on the chimney stack again and despite having at least 2 small chicks they decided not to mob me this morning.
It was warm and overcast overnight but the moth haul wasn't particularly great despite the recent hot and dry weather with a pale tussock and a clouded border being the highlights along with a white ermine, 3 buff ermine, a diamond back moth, a flame shoulder and a bright line brown eye.
Pale Tussock
Clouded Border
Diamond-Back Moth
Vines Rustic and Uncertain
Wednesday 13th June and we started off with a visit to the allotment where a bee orchid had been reported nearby in a wildflower meadow and I easily found it amongst the tall grass.
Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid
Bee Orchid
Also seen were various bees, my first ringlet of the year which looked like it had just emerged and a false oil beetle.
Red Tailed Bumble Bee
Red Tailed Bumble Bee
Red Tailed Bumble Bee
Ringlet
False Oil Beetle
With a Risso's dolphin being reported in the River Tamar off Torpoint we headed off to Whitsand Bay with Davids Mum via the Torpoint ferry for a look. There was no sign of it on the crossing over nor on the return trip but it was reported later that afternoon - never mind.
Whitsand Bay was as beautiful as always and we enjoyed lunch in the Cliff Top Cafe while whitethroats songflighted from the clifftop and a speckled wood flitted about amongst the flowering stinking iris - a very pleasant day out.
Speckled Wood
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