tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27121474848248288852024-03-18T03:02:22.384+00:00Literate herring, this way.Delvings into living OrkneyAlastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.comBlogger1049125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-69704968868901819022024-03-01T22:43:00.001+00:002024-03-01T22:43:07.972+00:00American Wigeon<p>I took the hound for her morning walk. Wandered to The Shunan. I had brought my scope and the birding camera/lens combo with me, I don't always. A lot of wigeon again, this time grazing in the field up the slope. Scan, drake wigeon with a nice white blaze on the forehead. Suspicions aroused, check to see if it could be a hybrid. Not a hybrid, nice drake American Wigeon, patch tick, nice. Hound bored.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx7E1oEQMKHhfsHs8PblPKAopbWpA6FfxKXjiQvwu0C12_hyphenhyphenV16FyN39E5nBuPS1YW4uLqo1zjO6IFywKnHyvYbkYoM633Px6Nc4JA3TIU1z3125y8drdUZnjE7f0Ou0Tzx7YdSSyxQJ-hEvwp_aX94841TKTQe-UTawXL9l3VD3igf0SavScAiRo97o/s736/Yank%20Wigeon%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="736" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx7E1oEQMKHhfsHs8PblPKAopbWpA6FfxKXjiQvwu0C12_hyphenhyphenV16FyN39E5nBuPS1YW4uLqo1zjO6IFywKnHyvYbkYoM633Px6Nc4JA3TIU1z3125y8drdUZnjE7f0Ou0Tzx7YdSSyxQJ-hEvwp_aX94841TKTQe-UTawXL9l3VD3igf0SavScAiRo97o/w640-h436/Yank%20Wigeon%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mylYNOfvwcCSTVI1hdsgLosmqTv3tshiwzv6il373NNrpu28HP3cop_RuMLOlpkfWY3e-bwx5Xb7FST2K8nJ6gxEvxQgw-THG8OZQHOfjuuRni5y9IWFPPUX4pfuiivgF9PWVJZsBoooQSkzquEo7VX5gZ0MNaHcAz4G1UpZHgwAwG_E8PyS3zOflfI/s736/Yank%20Wigeon%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="736" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mylYNOfvwcCSTVI1hdsgLosmqTv3tshiwzv6il373NNrpu28HP3cop_RuMLOlpkfWY3e-bwx5Xb7FST2K8nJ6gxEvxQgw-THG8OZQHOfjuuRni5y9IWFPPUX4pfuiivgF9PWVJZsBoooQSkzquEo7VX5gZ0MNaHcAz4G1UpZHgwAwG_E8PyS3zOflfI/w640-h436/Yank%20Wigeon%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ0H-QyWHCsgItNyHt1YFffhzsSR4eY2T74tynpmcXQYKLeEb_cTG698OEDCr1MOxboERC23zRIsUboVa1PAtwNX-jBgdkU7LtVbXwn5bnt3r9-RMa_31M-_3aQ3UBiUnP324UBykauw4VS8pYQ2HnSPG6gHfOKJ3TK7Nbt7GbvNflB8e9K3_1ijTE1s/s736/Yank%20Wigeon%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="736" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZ0H-QyWHCsgItNyHt1YFffhzsSR4eY2T74tynpmcXQYKLeEb_cTG698OEDCr1MOxboERC23zRIsUboVa1PAtwNX-jBgdkU7LtVbXwn5bnt3r9-RMa_31M-_3aQ3UBiUnP324UBykauw4VS8pYQ2HnSPG6gHfOKJ3TK7Nbt7GbvNflB8e9K3_1ijTE1s/w640-h436/Yank%20Wigeon%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They all flew down on to the water after a bit.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I have had one before on the 3km patch, but this is the first on the home, 1km patch. Unfortunately not visible from the house or garden. (Well, I might try from the bedroom window tomorrow...)<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-58367900375813311422024-02-29T23:53:00.001+00:002024-02-29T23:54:47.156+00:00persistent.time.window<div><p>Not so long ago I didn't know what3words, what it was. Until Nahal pointed out that I had a series of blog titles reminiscent of the apps language. I then found the app and now rather like it, quite handy for telling folk where you are or giving an accurate location. Anyway, today the blog post title is intentional, but it doesn't lead to any particular place via the app, it just refers to an odd coincidence.</p><p>Persistent because I've gnawed away at a problem with the county micro-moth list until eventually today I came to a solution. Time because the solution was in 2017. And window because there lies the coincidence.</p><p>So here was the problem, a moth called False Codling Moth <i>Thaumatotibia leucotreta</i>. Originally, when going through the county recording sheet for micro-moths I noticed the scientific name was incorrect, the genus wasn't capitalised, so I made a note for the County Lepidoptera Recorder and highlighted the species in the list.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlLWjbDiDFO_bhiSOE5RVWEhSQcmHlmbNURvVVZcpI8FuyRb9AsW466pmpj53TYybs4G3ERevGkQ3mOnuDwxU_CmbCLzwtAf2HoAhwAonCb1rR1tBMJzf8G_DIrAg_FQPwjfFbzEMZx6Rm1dlp_spGxh-fNByEQREtqanD1HtwPRbidkeLHkF1-uMIkg/s1024/Thaumatotibia%20leucotreta%20new%20edit2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlLWjbDiDFO_bhiSOE5RVWEhSQcmHlmbNURvVVZcpI8FuyRb9AsW466pmpj53TYybs4G3ERevGkQ3mOnuDwxU_CmbCLzwtAf2HoAhwAonCb1rR1tBMJzf8G_DIrAg_FQPwjfFbzEMZx6Rm1dlp_spGxh-fNByEQREtqanD1HtwPRbidkeLHkF1-uMIkg/w640-h466/Thaumatotibia%20leucotreta%20new%20edit2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thaumatotibia leucotreta </i>False Codling Moth.<i><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The CLR then couldn't find the record of the moth. So I embarked on a bit of a search, emailing folk to see if they knew anything about the record. No joy. Finally, I emailed the previous CLR who came back with a bit of a surprising answer, he'd found a photo of the moth in his records, my photo, I'd sent it to him in April 2017. Searching my photos on a backup drive I couldn't find the image, but then I had the bright idea of searching the local insect Facebook Group. And out popped the answer. The story of how I'd found the moth on the kitchen window, on the inside. I'd misidentified the moth initially, as it isn't in any of the books, it's an adventive, an Afro-tropical species. I'd mis-identified it as <i>Grapholita molesta</i>, another adventive; my photos were still named as that, which is why I couldn't find them. Now, at the time I was working, so distracted by the hum-drum of the job and not knowing the rarity of the find, I'd included the moth in a blog post and then forgotten all about it. The CLR of the time had somehow mislaid the record between correctly identifying it and writing the annual report, although he had entered it on the recording sheet.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFgc2TTfeQP6perSw_CFTpmr0blJc7hQq0KkUbBXkEhkPTel5X_-A-Zjpf35euqvVIKSrZFJVXIUELbnawUbLZDKMudzDiFyVON0zAcYvBFs7MDcAsWB2YCkvGV4WbtkgATjv8vjc1pa1yWBBQXNEQTPeTqQiepvnrpZy98ATJWiIu_NcWsmi95aDDN0/s1024/Thaumatotibia%20leucotreta%20new%20edit%20measure%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFgc2TTfeQP6perSw_CFTpmr0blJc7hQq0KkUbBXkEhkPTel5X_-A-Zjpf35euqvVIKSrZFJVXIUELbnawUbLZDKMudzDiFyVON0zAcYvBFs7MDcAsWB2YCkvGV4WbtkgATjv8vjc1pa1yWBBQXNEQTPeTqQiepvnrpZy98ATJWiIu_NcWsmi95aDDN0/w640-h466/Thaumatotibia%20leucotreta%20new%20edit%20measure%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thaumatotibia leucotreta </i>False Codling Moth, 9mm forewing<i>.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><p style="text-align: left;">Now, the window that I'd found the moth on is by our pantry, and in our pantry there are always peppers, chillis and oranges, the food stuff for <i>Thaumatotibia leucotreta. </i>This moth was just the second Scottish record of this species.<i> </i>Oddly, the window the moth was found on has a radiator underneath it, on which I found the first Scottish record of Blair's Mocha <i>Cyclophora punctaria</i>.<i> </i>Coupled with the slight embarrassment of forgetting about finding this rare moth, there is now the odd coincidence of where it was found.<i> </i>A hot spot for finding rare moths for Scotland is inside our kitchen by the radiator<i>;</i> that's weird!<i><br /></i></p></div><p></p><p><br /></p><div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-60272961201745144982024-02-21T14:16:00.003+00:002024-02-21T14:16:23.060+00:00Life get's in the way...<p>A fortnight and no blog post has been an unusual event in the last couple of years, but I've struggled with time of late. I've been in shed demolishing mode which has proven to be quite a job, nearly done now, with the remains either ready to be taken to a good home or cut into fire wood. The shed was in fact an old rail truck, rolling stock that no longer rolled, the wheels having long since gone to another place. With a bit more work the space will be a horsebox parking bay.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpnkFsJj2yus9_whHQZRFggsP27uSKHgaqsQjs1AxjEwdmo2xm3zfWw9wLYx_UGBniYbC3UBhh9ieZRxWw3LdE6xq5t8muI0axweVYY1vLKd3X2AzvVY4Pt4Kyc7MPAZpwUCv7cvehdCoytT9qpSTh3EbnEwPRM0Kwkj1Cq37LJJQ_3-NN6RC1rGG8UU/s1170/416576361_1396160087670187_2942676190990906746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1170" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpnkFsJj2yus9_whHQZRFggsP27uSKHgaqsQjs1AxjEwdmo2xm3zfWw9wLYx_UGBniYbC3UBhh9ieZRxWw3LdE6xq5t8muI0axweVYY1vLKd3X2AzvVY4Pt4Kyc7MPAZpwUCv7cvehdCoytT9qpSTh3EbnEwPRM0Kwkj1Cq37LJJQ_3-NN6RC1rGG8UU/w640-h480/416576361_1396160087670187_2942676190990906746_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anonomised by Ivy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KAQ0YdljyPSxcU1NzzR5TJ9zQ4xzQ2A8nKDN8sextplrNEbiCYz7X_Hhx-T1K-MinFZJKTPEUOk6lRIBBUDicaMU3PSYyQ3cA9dbjUHIaOfBnOXrwOv8rQtKROD_DW9_cBoU00m8kq_vQbSB0wD3DYyyhvkGxnUt3J3UzxkIe-biVGziS7bW7AoeQYE/s1024/Shed%20plaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1024" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KAQ0YdljyPSxcU1NzzR5TJ9zQ4xzQ2A8nKDN8sextplrNEbiCYz7X_Hhx-T1K-MinFZJKTPEUOk6lRIBBUDicaMU3PSYyQ3cA9dbjUHIaOfBnOXrwOv8rQtKROD_DW9_cBoU00m8kq_vQbSB0wD3DYyyhvkGxnUt3J3UzxkIe-biVGziS7bW7AoeQYE/w640-h384/Shed%20plaque.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shed plaque (and slug - <i>Deroceras reticulatum</i>, I think).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I've also been embroiled in moth stuff. This being the time of year that records pour in. My role as administrative support and verification assistant for the CMR has taken up a lot of time. It is very fortunate that so many folk are prepared to help with identification, huge thanks to BH, MY and RL. And talking of moths another species for the year on the lovely Monday, Ruby Tiger.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9dsPiEbFKMCgCQxi1qsxh1P_Lo695BBDYX9k1Mt30G212yROXrIiePIWARAFG75l5QwtwM653W_7zB5i2vu0BD9gOBDlxWQKg2y82Rxb2K64NVD_I38UgDTmzwXFCTndVLxuKDqof0nsEz9Cg28YarfIflluQbl0RinQMab75ikOBgs8GgHlxvgGyDY/s1024/Ruby%20Tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9dsPiEbFKMCgCQxi1qsxh1P_Lo695BBDYX9k1Mt30G212yROXrIiePIWARAFG75l5QwtwM653W_7zB5i2vu0BD9gOBDlxWQKg2y82Rxb2K64NVD_I38UgDTmzwXFCTndVLxuKDqof0nsEz9Cg28YarfIflluQbl0RinQMab75ikOBgs8GgHlxvgGyDY/w640-h488/Ruby%20Tiger.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby Tiger.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Not the best photo but it was sprinting across the track. Took this on the Pixel 7, it's not so good for this purpose. However, it is phenomenal for taking images down the microscope, especially when a highly magnified image is required.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6yMWIhSavzkPS7u5TEu2TlWIS8eQ6-AaRGlycIwjY5eopA4TNWy1FHV52Fa9mvrmHqSg24l2sycrEi_plkphHaPKYepJmNf0wYPo3h6ESsSbXoPpGvvMkCQC3ssvzq73iIXzvv4lEyGEgAAty6G1lwXc8WsHhfyWz-1ctKEzaXwNVPrNpS6ZFG_YYAk/s1746/PXL_20240219_180151913~3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1746" data-original-width="1226" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6yMWIhSavzkPS7u5TEu2TlWIS8eQ6-AaRGlycIwjY5eopA4TNWy1FHV52Fa9mvrmHqSg24l2sycrEi_plkphHaPKYepJmNf0wYPo3h6ESsSbXoPpGvvMkCQC3ssvzq73iIXzvv4lEyGEgAAty6G1lwXc8WsHhfyWz-1ctKEzaXwNVPrNpS6ZFG_YYAk/w450-h640/PXL_20240219_180151913~3.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male genitalia of <i>Philonthus carbonarius</i>, a Staphylinid beetle. (Incidently, I ran this on Obsidentify just to see what it would come up with and it suggested <i>Philonthus cognatus</i> with 98% certainty; that's wrong but not a bad try!)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdq8HTpkdADKcrnzV30fI3S5RgV9nln-BHn-iyA5fhaKoeZeXr5_Tml0P4E6-NhSgN8D69IKhFAtAMEt6EXkvoMGUndtWqb7eRb93e-DOASXJJjThZH0j3hTRkwFz47D_kdypd1Q5HdJ5sGsDPpADmUaRaLtlA6eryMri_YasE0khMMVJIN3ERka1Xg4/s1626/PXL_20240220_161547001~2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1626" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdq8HTpkdADKcrnzV30fI3S5RgV9nln-BHn-iyA5fhaKoeZeXr5_Tml0P4E6-NhSgN8D69IKhFAtAMEt6EXkvoMGUndtWqb7eRb93e-DOASXJJjThZH0j3hTRkwFz47D_kdypd1Q5HdJ5sGsDPpADmUaRaLtlA6eryMri_YasE0khMMVJIN3ERka1Xg4/w640-h474/PXL_20240220_161547001~2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labial palp of a <i>Tachyporus </i>beetle. Detail of the labial palp is useful for identification in this genus.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>However, getting the detail of all the spines on the elytra is very tricky. It's easier to draw the pattern to be honest.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnJDNpDx31_ASZ6WXmAkWRZGq0WF-bWIwikZEiHNvGwbvmJ3MrLQ8zXuoMloU0KNlf_fnpqmtHLIjxTk2QOXql-4cO7pLq4AUxSBS7q282uxGDy_RuxHfDqYoMiJj6BH7Nm8UxdG7t_fTRRIuvV-lkWy-CMYVUSOw93PjYq3kglxpOZRcvZdvrnSqrQc/s1024/Elytra%20left%20Tachyporus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnJDNpDx31_ASZ6WXmAkWRZGq0WF-bWIwikZEiHNvGwbvmJ3MrLQ8zXuoMloU0KNlf_fnpqmtHLIjxTk2QOXql-4cO7pLq4AUxSBS7q282uxGDy_RuxHfDqYoMiJj6BH7Nm8UxdG7t_fTRRIuvV-lkWy-CMYVUSOw93PjYq3kglxpOZRcvZdvrnSqrQc/w640-h456/Elytra%20left%20Tachyporus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tachyporus </i>elytra, position of spines, as best I can see.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Using Mike Hackston's key and the Roger Booth key (I can't get along with Joy) this comes out as <i>Tachyporus atriceps</i> which might be new to the county.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieLHrJZbQ-xEY4tqnldD9Wiz7Ck7s6UqpQsFxNUZxzb5hs6SfwFwKdg4tTf7i34EGxxtIDQ_3OG1veAUXBksCNO_WCejych4hRtGAB9DqAQm3x-zf7B0ZPGf9yDS9v7QV80PdUg43KBv_Nv-TYgeKR1ruABeMD2QHlPRxtUfdB_9PLago92kiWP7DxNc/s1024/Tachyporus%20atriceps%20dorsal%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1024" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieLHrJZbQ-xEY4tqnldD9Wiz7Ck7s6UqpQsFxNUZxzb5hs6SfwFwKdg4tTf7i34EGxxtIDQ_3OG1veAUXBksCNO_WCejych4hRtGAB9DqAQm3x-zf7B0ZPGf9yDS9v7QV80PdUg43KBv_Nv-TYgeKR1ruABeMD2QHlPRxtUfdB_9PLago92kiWP7DxNc/w640-h502/Tachyporus%20atriceps%20dorsal%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixel microscope image <i>Tachyporus atriceps.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8yvOAcE8mfYYHNZ0f7Lrd7Sw77jyXz-3o06oH4KVeD4sK0C4q3w-OoEcXyU4Nn5lRkQWWFCt9c5SIjhElmvyHt6MoGJIOzTT_Eit0aMjRsSWfdWIL1CPuXLZf1e_CtTCF-mO2XDVLjRCyi8nTQy_ey_h4o3VZFMujpeoRLzoaSqkhAppLZXSrehiass/s1185/Tachyporus%20atriceps%20dorsal%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="984" data-original-width="1185" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8yvOAcE8mfYYHNZ0f7Lrd7Sw77jyXz-3o06oH4KVeD4sK0C4q3w-OoEcXyU4Nn5lRkQWWFCt9c5SIjhElmvyHt6MoGJIOzTT_Eit0aMjRsSWfdWIL1CPuXLZf1e_CtTCF-mO2XDVLjRCyi8nTQy_ey_h4o3VZFMujpeoRLzoaSqkhAppLZXSrehiass/w640-h532/Tachyporus%20atriceps%20dorsal%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macro photo of <i>Tachyporus atriceps</i>, 2.8mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I've spent a lot of time on three parasitic hymenoptera, and I should be writing up the annual report on these species. I'm trying to dent the backlog in the fridge. With help three have been identified, a possible <i>Hyposoter brischkei</i> (thank you AG and NM), a certain <i>Itoplectis aterrima</i> (thank you JB); both from 2023; and a certain <i>Ichneumon oblongus</i> (thank you AC) found in moss from which I also extracted the above beetles and a <i>Notaris acridulus</i>. The <i>Itoplectis </i>is quite possibly new for Scotland.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFJ6PJKQILrtYSiI6Zf25_qCy4U74697vI-0Vg8UMo2exYxIOx_RCBaihDAArtZ4N7nCgYougP70xgmCncVel8jgfWNYLQU_tzuk2wgLpgchbF-XSoyDg7Hk-4WykWpTZmjP9-x2kYaB-4xQq6mSeEjnnhUN1k-BvTrzJRL3an7S1dT8ziXjAx4aIH6c/s1024/Ichneumon%20lateral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFJ6PJKQILrtYSiI6Zf25_qCy4U74697vI-0Vg8UMo2exYxIOx_RCBaihDAArtZ4N7nCgYougP70xgmCncVel8jgfWNYLQU_tzuk2wgLpgchbF-XSoyDg7Hk-4WykWpTZmjP9-x2kYaB-4xQq6mSeEjnnhUN1k-BvTrzJRL3an7S1dT8ziXjAx4aIH6c/w518-h640/Ichneumon%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="518" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I managed to mangle the <i>Itoplectis aterrima</i> rather badly, macro image.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJyaCv7OC2MxIsLnfZC_FuZcCu12ZZYINtSOL9srnjVQjrSwDrHUB64wLMGbUrkvTwov_PsIbHBaKHlB7YatCClSTVr3uaTh7YPB6U_Jv_DghCA-9yslA4fW0pqewIsC5AxqOIBpyQ69sQ3hWo-xi_HI2osjQFc89VnRKqV4CvMVCJBGsvTuE9B5phtw/s1537/Fore%20tarsal%20claw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1537" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJyaCv7OC2MxIsLnfZC_FuZcCu12ZZYINtSOL9srnjVQjrSwDrHUB64wLMGbUrkvTwov_PsIbHBaKHlB7YatCClSTVr3uaTh7YPB6U_Jv_DghCA-9yslA4fW0pqewIsC5AxqOIBpyQ69sQ3hWo-xi_HI2osjQFc89VnRKqV4CvMVCJBGsvTuE9B5phtw/w640-h532/Fore%20tarsal%20claw.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fore tarsal claws are an important ID feature, Pixel 7 down stereo microscope shot.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxOxlHuvsZzEjhLjRgNvwNheKYlh_EKdwnFhfwn6JmHrHq-qdaPDNuR7U9sQKxlt8ypkMbhkKsKLwUl2Y3S3ejeZooJMtv0R_7_z931_pn3kGDF1QqKP0wNkcjsO456AvkYga-upHejh_LhSXacloSpht15-75RvbioY8DAF7Soh6CMvB7Eg_6YV0Ss/s1464/Lateral%203%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="1464" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpxOxlHuvsZzEjhLjRgNvwNheKYlh_EKdwnFhfwn6JmHrHq-qdaPDNuR7U9sQKxlt8ypkMbhkKsKLwUl2Y3S3ejeZooJMtv0R_7_z931_pn3kGDF1QqKP0wNkcjsO456AvkYga-upHejh_LhSXacloSpht15-75RvbioY8DAF7Soh6CMvB7Eg_6YV0Ss/w640-h534/Lateral%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ichneumon oblongus female, a brachypterus individual, macro image.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNu8SXjtHfK3fJl-LBHLePIOnF8CVagdq3R6oKo1Ikl7GBoQHFhsy1g7Gmh8nLTy47vIoWR75DzLo3XqqZ0RVISnVNUGspeRar0GVFl_cI38xXdc0er__MM4L3pdpYxmS2rdEQkRGDBP110rbaofVbWtUjU-NCzbkNvfdQoxj2ORgVdwbWI8ET3OwSic/s1508/Clypeus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1508" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNu8SXjtHfK3fJl-LBHLePIOnF8CVagdq3R6oKo1Ikl7GBoQHFhsy1g7Gmh8nLTy47vIoWR75DzLo3XqqZ0RVISnVNUGspeRar0GVFl_cI38xXdc0er__MM4L3pdpYxmS2rdEQkRGDBP110rbaofVbWtUjU-NCzbkNvfdQoxj2ORgVdwbWI8ET3OwSic/w640-h510/Clypeus.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Face showing the clypeus, important for ID, micro/Pixel 7 image.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSnRA3ovsk9ivV1NRo_3FSJWs1OFxdeziLmB1H_0yiBFFl-TLaOCQUB1hDGk8O8QN85w2XcQtv5R9h-ezc6c8P7jnIhHfs79j8uVCnigS894FIwn4-_p_7EG0XZrchP5pMSJGAut-0psZi0nuLS0Ownaj9UuGrP8rVK_xwQ6-7JvGr0W5cDhOICuwbS4/s1024/Meta%20meso%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSnRA3ovsk9ivV1NRo_3FSJWs1OFxdeziLmB1H_0yiBFFl-TLaOCQUB1hDGk8O8QN85w2XcQtv5R9h-ezc6c8P7jnIhHfs79j8uVCnigS894FIwn4-_p_7EG0XZrchP5pMSJGAut-0psZi0nuLS0Ownaj9UuGrP8rVK_xwQ6-7JvGr0W5cDhOICuwbS4/w640-h444/Meta%20meso%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Micro/Pixel 7 image meta and mesosoma (T1 and T2), lateral.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the bird front spring is here with Shelduck and Oystercatchers turning up earlier than ever I think, Black-headed Gulls and Lesser Black-backed Gulls have also been on The Shunan. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bo4HSHv3dxPCKpUBwFDuvddodPone9o2Al6QagyZXNGe9lHLCF-_b4DHiFCfL0R9fgO7PYY4tUIaPRiPjE00hyphenhyphenjySpl9EPNcabXOJyFpTbtLi8uJvAyi4b9spXix1SEWhSB0zSoSAr-thxvkR8wqs7v0KBAtiT0v38LFomtU-dg8y4DGdO7w1iEnNdI/s1024/Shelduck%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1024" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2bo4HSHv3dxPCKpUBwFDuvddodPone9o2Al6QagyZXNGe9lHLCF-_b4DHiFCfL0R9fgO7PYY4tUIaPRiPjE00hyphenhyphenjySpl9EPNcabXOJyFpTbtLi8uJvAyi4b9spXix1SEWhSB0zSoSAr-thxvkR8wqs7v0KBAtiT0v38LFomtU-dg8y4DGdO7w1iEnNdI/w640-h448/Shelduck%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdfqi0pwSbYSI2DTsvAfRXpz4ZRGCbf9Db-kAb1QKLru4LPhJaAoJC1t5i0ZeOiOXVnXRYSzNrcwwxcHrnD2MpG3Xi_Q0G-WzG-iLsotV94HZYyrmZBsrwWl-22f5gA56WNPoErs2wOlQ1sgnIhmJKChlwYTXYNY7WPrlehnDdhlf8jXMfvrrvtug-bI/s1024/Shelduck%202%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdfqi0pwSbYSI2DTsvAfRXpz4ZRGCbf9Db-kAb1QKLru4LPhJaAoJC1t5i0ZeOiOXVnXRYSzNrcwwxcHrnD2MpG3Xi_Q0G-WzG-iLsotV94HZYyrmZBsrwWl-22f5gA56WNPoErs2wOlQ1sgnIhmJKChlwYTXYNY7WPrlehnDdhlf8jXMfvrrvtug-bI/w640-h476/Shelduck%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelduck, drakes disputing territory.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> There's now a pair settled on The Shunan.</p><p>The farm have been cleaning out all the ditches, making The Shunan shallower, it will certainly be more suitable for waders this spring<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYDprnJJ_qr__3EL-YL4yjZ1PwG386L9goEAebD7zydEAwlRSMgKJrm8GAgHyBiFI8XdtIN3S0xYZHlo8L1878QLg5eGaRSiKCvMMkZzeF7Z7VxB_-sIe8E8y_DtrFZmZKa719cptRO3wZVv2dY_2Vg1lhe97-FuT42bmVk9yjpvsb8oYN3UUa0RFW_s/s1024/View%20home%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1024" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYDprnJJ_qr__3EL-YL4yjZ1PwG386L9goEAebD7zydEAwlRSMgKJrm8GAgHyBiFI8XdtIN3S0xYZHlo8L1878QLg5eGaRSiKCvMMkZzeF7Z7VxB_-sIe8E8y_DtrFZmZKa719cptRO3wZVv2dY_2Vg1lhe97-FuT42bmVk9yjpvsb8oYN3UUa0RFW_s/w640-h394/View%20home%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Oh, and I gave a talk about photography and microscopes to the Field Club, I'll pdf it and put it on a page of this blog.<br /></div>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-30188539072548973162024-02-06T10:06:00.000+00:002024-02-06T10:06:33.480+00:00Skating flies<p><span data-offset-key="2bof1-0-0"><span data-text="true">Towards the end of July last year I found a lot of flies skating on the water surface up on Birsay Moor. I took some field photos and IA kindly identified them as most probably of the genus <i>Hydrophorus</i>, members of the <i>Dolichopidae </i>family. IA also pointed me towards the 1978 Royal Entomological Society key to the family which is freely available online. A quick look at the NBN, OWIARC and the key suggested that <i>Hydrophorus praecox</i> was the likely contender of just a few members of this genus. I went back up on the moor to take some specimens with the hope of obtaining a specific identification. Collected, labelled and put safe in the specimen fridge to await identification. Somehow I managed to lose the specimens in my fridge, however, whilst sorting through some Ichneumons in there the other day they came to light, having been misplaced. Under the microscope and referring to the key it quickly became apparent that the flies were not <i>Hydrophorus praecox</i> which has no wing clouds, my flies have two. Males and females key separately, but the wing clouds eliminated all but three species quite quickly. It then became a bit of a wrestle. I went back to the key and started from scratch, keying out the genus, as IA hadn't been 100%. However, he had been right, the flies were <i>Hydrophorus</i>. I tried Steven Falk's Flickr collection, no Dolichopidae, but, as luck would have it there were photos on Bioimages, Malcolm Storey's fabulous photo resource. These wonderfully detailed photos showed exactly what I was seeing with my specimens and assuaged my doubts with a couplet in the key. <i>Hydrophorus bipunctatus</i>, which is new for Orkney. Photos below include an original field photo and studio specimen images. I've been playing with that Pixel 7 again, it can take images down the microscope quite effectively.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span data-offset-key="2bof1-0-0"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHuB_CPacoEbco9kvw7ssrxYhqxnLiFeNc9sjfhRels20JDTGXdbnNXjU2y7LBGJ7wjjMtRB0t2YgykLWvqjqreoX2ZnQyZG065QtcbhtgmVvS8t000QuhLrPjofC7_pZOjl7_CJI_P5mT0G60OWyisFAhId2p1BmGuqMWNK-vELA7WaukYoCIWlAt2o/s966/Hydrophorus%20bipunctatus%20field%20image%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="966" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHuB_CPacoEbco9kvw7ssrxYhqxnLiFeNc9sjfhRels20JDTGXdbnNXjU2y7LBGJ7wjjMtRB0t2YgykLWvqjqreoX2ZnQyZG065QtcbhtgmVvS8t000QuhLrPjofC7_pZOjl7_CJI_P5mT0G60OWyisFAhId2p1BmGuqMWNK-vELA7WaukYoCIWlAt2o/w640-h504/Hydrophorus%20bipunctatus%20field%20image%201.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hydrophorus bipunctatus</i>, original field image, 28/07/2023.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpc_gp7IFi_AiTrgZ3HSYT29zhbZ3gV7vk1Rj0KDEjVkNu0jqj3u7-nAo6KChP52BmYQ6t21p9TIUJQ-mcOioTAFh5aN26KZDEJ9TZTcS0EJpf-G-zscjS9SVtxO3QG_f9hd8dOQUO0o7f_g4GlM2R-2xWNlNh7ZbtcPdwtJVRYvNIfA1sPZNNyDV7c0/s1156/Face%20&%20pronotum%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1156" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpc_gp7IFi_AiTrgZ3HSYT29zhbZ3gV7vk1Rj0KDEjVkNu0jqj3u7-nAo6KChP52BmYQ6t21p9TIUJQ-mcOioTAFh5aN26KZDEJ9TZTcS0EJpf-G-zscjS9SVtxO3QG_f9hd8dOQUO0o7f_g4GlM2R-2xWNlNh7ZbtcPdwtJVRYvNIfA1sPZNNyDV7c0/w640-h490/Face%20&%20pronotum%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDZlmtVrVr2fe-bRQU-CWempog8sHdob446rPDJhrUv1-jIls4Hl7gz5zCxhUhp-_QtpEucThoDcWUVL9QsjK6WgoDNe0DcE_CcpZriYgtPJ7XfGOssy5Orb5nE2LqMgkHG2n_FkHOFzYO05_RmWsH5jYZoOwm3TynP0NsgAyPzy3vJDNz_iCmjEUuoQ/s1024/Hb%20f%20lateral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDZlmtVrVr2fe-bRQU-CWempog8sHdob446rPDJhrUv1-jIls4Hl7gz5zCxhUhp-_QtpEucThoDcWUVL9QsjK6WgoDNe0DcE_CcpZriYgtPJ7XfGOssy5Orb5nE2LqMgkHG2n_FkHOFzYO05_RmWsH5jYZoOwm3TynP0NsgAyPzy3vJDNz_iCmjEUuoQ/w640-h480/Hb%20f%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqWr14978RsHc3BfXcrNVFqO2kmDeBJf8FZal-ExaZji66korAfw9hwa88wvjmxkphGNZVALEM6FymOa0qDYz8ZvH9Vk9udeTrhi8ECIwBn5wv2izYF_hILMyqUgGNBblfQR_kLp9rP9ciy9EYV3B0EQeVFzMOEkNzmRLBHC1F9zhLFgH3rtxD80Fvzg/s1024/Hb%20Fore%20femur%20ventral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1024" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqWr14978RsHc3BfXcrNVFqO2kmDeBJf8FZal-ExaZji66korAfw9hwa88wvjmxkphGNZVALEM6FymOa0qDYz8ZvH9Vk9udeTrhi8ECIwBn5wv2izYF_hILMyqUgGNBblfQR_kLp9rP9ciy9EYV3B0EQeVFzMOEkNzmRLBHC1F9zhLFgH3rtxD80Fvzg/w640-h492/Hb%20Fore%20femur%20ventral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3pFTLIivFXFNe_ZtlAvflR0_emPLs2PJw75zS-FCeOTo2ctFNZX5I0QZoO3ZMlXpc0SQ8wzlGjm9-8Mct7GYVlue1I1uHnTBSb2dH6PrRlEYnTBNeDYm94GjK3JHcc0LRJH6FTWYz0-nPie9w8k-95qVTVm5_HTHrRV9Xam5o7Qbk-iSXz4GBe5bNAU/s1024/Hydrophorus%20bipunctatus%20lateral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3pFTLIivFXFNe_ZtlAvflR0_emPLs2PJw75zS-FCeOTo2ctFNZX5I0QZoO3ZMlXpc0SQ8wzlGjm9-8Mct7GYVlue1I1uHnTBSb2dH6PrRlEYnTBNeDYm94GjK3JHcc0LRJH6FTWYz0-nPie9w8k-95qVTVm5_HTHrRV9Xam5o7Qbk-iSXz4GBe5bNAU/w480-h640/Hydrophorus%20bipunctatus%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIReFl0h3Jl0HvNtO-IOfXVuDXb_fLVo5wzh_rerSQiZeF2zjQr8h9HG6OzRlk64D9j-uJBHppAGOZmP-QVx0ziA0J31E8a_mN63-rGJN92Pcs_6uB6WjbrzZh2owEAnwQznsOywLu5QA5rQggtia4f_gRHkyNZMdb0feOELvqH88tu6KwhA5s3ys-ufA/s1024/Hb%20face2%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1024" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIReFl0h3Jl0HvNtO-IOfXVuDXb_fLVo5wzh_rerSQiZeF2zjQr8h9HG6OzRlk64D9j-uJBHppAGOZmP-QVx0ziA0J31E8a_mN63-rGJN92Pcs_6uB6WjbrzZh2owEAnwQznsOywLu5QA5rQggtia4f_gRHkyNZMdb0feOELvqH88tu6KwhA5s3ys-ufA/w640-h516/Hb%20face2%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span data-offset-key="2bof1-0-0"><br /></span><p></p><p><span data-offset-key="2bof1-0-0"><span data-text="true">.</span></span></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-47375604251115119782024-02-01T17:19:00.000+00:002024-02-01T17:19:27.967+00:00Weather<p>We've been getting a lot of weather. More than usual. There was all that snow. Then there was gloom and wind. A couple of really lovely days, and now we're back to the wind. This afternoon I struggled to make headway against the wind, it must have been 40mph and gusting 50. More than 50 will likely blow me over. An indoors day spent photographing and identifying things collected over the last week or so, there are still quite a few to do.</p><p>I do like the genus <i>Stenus</i>. They are <i>Staphylinidae </i>and fairly tricky to identify, they are quite small also. To my eye they look like wee aliens. I took a clump of Cock'sfoot, <i>Dactylis glomerata</i>, the other day and pulled it apart in a plastic tub. There were a few Stenus in there, it looked like three different species. Not unexpected was <i>Stenus clavicornis</i>, a largish one at 5.0mm. Like many Staphs the way to be sure of your ID is to dissect out the male genitalia. That can be a bit of a challenge with small beetles like these but I've developed a bit of a technique. After photographing the whole animal I chop off the tip of the abdomen and put it into glycerine. In glycerine it is possible to manipulate and pull apart the abdomen with a couple of setting pins, ideally ones that a a bit bent over at the tip. With a bit of care, and with the glycerine preventing the specimen part being pinged across the room, it is usually possible to get the male bits out.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiH_0g2H74d5gwmT6X7LzwHFrlTM1wQ37EPWj-C01M06_K32DiUiAIHfBTHm0gyI7L6o7uBBd8QaNZqid4_bleGhgOUhbSLWL_y5bUIKpy9GBs3Qf_E5BQHIPu3isKNdmSaQKee7sEL0o1HW7v_AqhO747bLvq28maPGooYYbQOJt_L6TZNn6LPsAAKs/s1024/Stenus%20clavicornis%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiiH_0g2H74d5gwmT6X7LzwHFrlTM1wQ37EPWj-C01M06_K32DiUiAIHfBTHm0gyI7L6o7uBBd8QaNZqid4_bleGhgOUhbSLWL_y5bUIKpy9GBs3Qf_E5BQHIPu3isKNdmSaQKee7sEL0o1HW7v_AqhO747bLvq28maPGooYYbQOJt_L6TZNn6LPsAAKs/w640-h460/Stenus%20clavicornis%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPR6lYfykis5tT6XfZ1NHlfUksSEhPviPhyOyigOIDsQkPqecZYY-btAF0hG37lR0WoXBoKTmo0urWkaHWYz-e6UJHwzVFazT-aI8UgewVaVtT6RqXlSduA1sq9XSOYSsLEBwSQP9IIb_P6ZfR-Hdx0vU0NiS9AYIxtMgrPfjTvcrUgyU5bouttPY9Aw/s817/Stenus%20clavicornis%20m%20gen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="817" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPR6lYfykis5tT6XfZ1NHlfUksSEhPviPhyOyigOIDsQkPqecZYY-btAF0hG37lR0WoXBoKTmo0urWkaHWYz-e6UJHwzVFazT-aI8UgewVaVtT6RqXlSduA1sq9XSOYSsLEBwSQP9IIb_P6ZfR-Hdx0vU0NiS9AYIxtMgrPfjTvcrUgyU5bouttPY9Aw/w640-h482/Stenus%20clavicornis%20m%20gen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stenus clavicornis</i> male genitalia, macro image, cropped.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmg3BfdPMqitLg2K96ZNRS_jw9_R316v9jTzde0rjHP33sFQgljzGeMVjv3gdX44ojTWfYb_U0daoJIDzcicJhNQzdXwfs1Ku8SJC7E89KHQPY4YzF-SeV1xRCSIVohHKjetoXhsFbbr8p2EyUluIgbbXDmcxL513xjBEhjsVgmJeZGFCyEWvrq0ldrE/s1024/Stenus%20clavicornis%20ventral%20m%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmg3BfdPMqitLg2K96ZNRS_jw9_R316v9jTzde0rjHP33sFQgljzGeMVjv3gdX44ojTWfYb_U0daoJIDzcicJhNQzdXwfs1Ku8SJC7E89KHQPY4YzF-SeV1xRCSIVohHKjetoXhsFbbr8p2EyUluIgbbXDmcxL513xjBEhjsVgmJeZGFCyEWvrq0ldrE/w640-h460/Stenus%20clavicornis%20ventral%20m%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stenus clavicornis</i>, male.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>With really small things like genitalia I can photograph them down the microscope, by holding the camera to an eyepiece, but the results are usually better using the camera with the 30mm macro and then cropping the image.</p><p>With this<i> Stenus ossium</i>, proven with the genitalia, I photographed the dissection down the microscope, but the image is not as clear, although good enough to prove the ID.</p><p><i>Stenus ossium</i> has been recorded in Orkney once before, although not on the NBN. However, I recorded it last year as well I think, but I didn't dissect it on that occasion.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_oojKZWufn3w9jgy9QiaNfRqtuVLQ5gwYqDtfhzJBF8RtTW-F9KM0PmnEUU_Q77EBTdyrYd8iODsZp9GGk2TmHcRz4n8i9MlAsQsCBncp4PRL2rQzXoSRtC0qMjBsB5gJn_PMzjA0doMBRaGIg9zX6l8mCvMC3TKs3he2G9q5WSACjk5qVF61uUr0fA/s1024/Stenus%20ossium%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_oojKZWufn3w9jgy9QiaNfRqtuVLQ5gwYqDtfhzJBF8RtTW-F9KM0PmnEUU_Q77EBTdyrYd8iODsZp9GGk2TmHcRz4n8i9MlAsQsCBncp4PRL2rQzXoSRtC0qMjBsB5gJn_PMzjA0doMBRaGIg9zX6l8mCvMC3TKs3he2G9q5WSACjk5qVF61uUr0fA/w640-h476/Stenus%20ossium%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxWFehMRyjuFjz-UQfLg_9n4St9zFBrIOP0D0zxsBsNVXInlI8LZ8pYM0umYd8i8zSHSI58gRM-bHJfAfqZSo_m1xPUtmM01WCgaRw0S49oDVWkg08ppYmIIwZpMtuTJMbxpyPPj_5O95Q0h8P-XDyp36ThYi83r_B16UF_TKyQxj15e8sCA2Mh0fdlg/s1293/Stenus%20ossium%20m%20gen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="951" data-original-width="1293" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvxWFehMRyjuFjz-UQfLg_9n4St9zFBrIOP0D0zxsBsNVXInlI8LZ8pYM0umYd8i8zSHSI58gRM-bHJfAfqZSo_m1xPUtmM01WCgaRw0S49oDVWkg08ppYmIIwZpMtuTJMbxpyPPj_5O95Q0h8P-XDyp36ThYi83r_B16UF_TKyQxj15e8sCA2Mh0fdlg/w640-h470/Stenus%20ossium%20m%20gen.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stenus ossium</i>, male genitalia, microscope image.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ilOzlnbjROxY5s7dzSGzJsLNIMAWMRbbaWm4wimIANYdLjCjd9QDTd_Vnk_mTnD3ojMNZBJWht2TiLuK0EcyGpOM458fKWIFgoDCcraM-hpKnElwVGMK1AF2c9rLdmJrbeGt0D-TfijHaHfga-jsKdmyK7dD2x7QXmbFF9D8dXrZOZ83LsscTsXc-y4/s1024/Stenus%20ossium%20m%20ventral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1024" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ilOzlnbjROxY5s7dzSGzJsLNIMAWMRbbaWm4wimIANYdLjCjd9QDTd_Vnk_mTnD3ojMNZBJWht2TiLuK0EcyGpOM458fKWIFgoDCcraM-hpKnElwVGMK1AF2c9rLdmJrbeGt0D-TfijHaHfga-jsKdmyK7dD2x7QXmbFF9D8dXrZOZ83LsscTsXc-y4/w640-h510/Stenus%20ossium%20m%20ventral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stenus ossium</i>, male, 3.5mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>Stenus latifrons</i> is supposedly rare in Scotland, again there is a previous record for the county. Both the collected specimens on this occasion were female, so no dissection proof. But it keyed out fairly easily, so I'm confident.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQdJCyqjzrGH6l7HCoLR4CIxnUiurA5X8-eTQRpJqTbwMAWEnyn4Ar7kSAAjSox1w6e9TKUjUYo9A0exalH43nzqfDWp_hLO6K5xPGcr4u6Vfte-ynOH5huRerbuzY0XIul4FwW3y8X5NZgu1MFu-Da0vDLOkyGrHENFA4lZS7t6Lw0tMdmSGlA1hKRk/s1024/Stenus%20latifrons%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQdJCyqjzrGH6l7HCoLR4CIxnUiurA5X8-eTQRpJqTbwMAWEnyn4Ar7kSAAjSox1w6e9TKUjUYo9A0exalH43nzqfDWp_hLO6K5xPGcr4u6Vfte-ynOH5huRerbuzY0XIul4FwW3y8X5NZgu1MFu-Da0vDLOkyGrHENFA4lZS7t6Lw0tMdmSGlA1hKRk/w640-h486/Stenus%20latifrons%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHz05XqIcYuuCzceES2wc9-jn_fOAGdC8oZb_b3X4Eaw25CdKz-ueuyEYBcNS_3TiL90MfTWVaXA1vR7rgLhEf-OgpoI8DCIkDe27st3vUAnDmdCXioKMETrnUl1EeBdXVO0T-l3dsMwm48LNPCNTLonKh1j5ZrBwZ1xQVLW-V3qLbkbsnSssfJxrkh0/s1024/Stenus%20latifrons%20ventral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHz05XqIcYuuCzceES2wc9-jn_fOAGdC8oZb_b3X4Eaw25CdKz-ueuyEYBcNS_3TiL90MfTWVaXA1vR7rgLhEf-OgpoI8DCIkDe27st3vUAnDmdCXioKMETrnUl1EeBdXVO0T-l3dsMwm48LNPCNTLonKh1j5ZrBwZ1xQVLW-V3qLbkbsnSssfJxrkh0/w640-h486/Stenus%20latifrons%20ventral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stenus latifrons</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The most intriguing thing in the Cock'sfoot sample was this 2.2mm long parasitic wasp. I should have recognised it, but I didn't, fortunately PV again helped me by telling me the genus. Last year PV helped me with a similar wee beast, <i>Cyrtogaster vulgaris</i>, but this time he thought I had something different. I downloaded a book on the family, and then found a I had a key to the genus already. PV had suggested this one might be <i>C. clavicornis</i> (coincidentally the same specific name as one of the Stenus). And with a bit of careful manipulation of the specimen and observation I eventually found the three criteria which seemed to prove this identification.</p><p>There's always a bit of doubt with these things using an old key and with a family that is fairly regularly subject to the finding of new species and genera and taxonomic changes, but for now it will be recorded as <i>Crytogaster clavicornis</i>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkUKsIlFBXTbDsKx8nvDnr2hYm45hsl_Y8_8vbYpeyhLO-TKxAmC4h2Y_odvhlSlTNCqxI-o_f6tIZgLHr5DjOftBIUqwNCtCFvLUk1mkf69joX2-6z7nvf8u_DBrPFa9FUyB6xJebCobGbmKrdxkWvvhIwh4T945Mr_PyrbhymdV-zDPe9Y52cjUmBE/s1310/Hymenopteran%201%20dorsal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1310" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkUKsIlFBXTbDsKx8nvDnr2hYm45hsl_Y8_8vbYpeyhLO-TKxAmC4h2Y_odvhlSlTNCqxI-o_f6tIZgLHr5DjOftBIUqwNCtCFvLUk1mkf69joX2-6z7nvf8u_DBrPFa9FUyB6xJebCobGbmKrdxkWvvhIwh4T945Mr_PyrbhymdV-zDPe9Y52cjUmBE/w640-h454/Hymenopteran%201%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97oKhKVqjaeBIQ4gnr0OApi-iHXtU4_lLfSuv8V27ypjw9O71valYZfUSn2X5X0iwzg1CM5voo5VsiK0EvY-dWMv6hUagxKhYoWIYoK1fQIyOHPcp_962Ja5GPmFPT3gmT7zqK60gg8rABxzsRiXO7-njPVFwv3jIV0PmMWrzB0z_tKx0wWjkOE62gxI/s1084/Hymenopteran%201%20lateral%20right.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1084" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97oKhKVqjaeBIQ4gnr0OApi-iHXtU4_lLfSuv8V27ypjw9O71valYZfUSn2X5X0iwzg1CM5voo5VsiK0EvY-dWMv6hUagxKhYoWIYoK1fQIyOHPcp_962Ja5GPmFPT3gmT7zqK60gg8rABxzsRiXO7-njPVFwv3jIV0PmMWrzB0z_tKx0wWjkOE62gxI/w640-h498/Hymenopteran%201%20lateral%20right.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaD0DsjjxfxoggSn98tlixE5f6IF5F2BGQ5a0Upe95fNTvoVA3OGSFUqpq0cmSc7gJ6Q9DweAOB9hHH77WNLD1Me6zOnrctVFnpwDHd6FINjYnHpShZiL3-m1dzni46gLbA52aCCp5MpFukZkZ4Ch4L6zuh8PjYIWSJ8V74NyFLvDeV-PY4VCfut-G3U/s1310/Hymenopteran%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1310" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaD0DsjjxfxoggSn98tlixE5f6IF5F2BGQ5a0Upe95fNTvoVA3OGSFUqpq0cmSc7gJ6Q9DweAOB9hHH77WNLD1Me6zOnrctVFnpwDHd6FINjYnHpShZiL3-m1dzni46gLbA52aCCp5MpFukZkZ4Ch4L6zuh8PjYIWSJ8V74NyFLvDeV-PY4VCfut-G3U/w640-h454/Hymenopteran%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4saIliiWMFofYOjwQEveSK91YiAYb9zk3iDO6nh7GQvLllk_dMjk207C9853wbeL_KIW-zj41kcUZYXi-2ni43oCUZP8niWqfXEkyR6ZeUXASA_jIl85gvrce02fIv0UbqfYWvRYLrF-rFQAkpjWN8EdJCVY41zRcq9QKM-fWCXE5YOHb5_ZoT3qxG3M/s1024/Notauli%20mesoscutum%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4saIliiWMFofYOjwQEveSK91YiAYb9zk3iDO6nh7GQvLllk_dMjk207C9853wbeL_KIW-zj41kcUZYXi-2ni43oCUZP8niWqfXEkyR6ZeUXASA_jIl85gvrce02fIv0UbqfYWvRYLrF-rFQAkpjWN8EdJCVY41zRcq9QKM-fWCXE5YOHb5_ZoT3qxG3M/w640-h512/Notauli%20mesoscutum%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Crytogaster clavicornis</i>. The wee grooves in the mesoscutum (notauli) run complete to the base so that rules out <i>C.vulgaris</i>, as do the way the hairs are arranged on the forewing. The notauli were well seen in the end with a change of angle and lighting this morning, in the image above they are very tricky to see.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It's not hard to spend a whole day trying to identify an animal like this. With beetles the keys are usually pretty good, and folk are producing new ones, improving keys at a fairly regular rate. And on the whole the taxonomy is stable and there are not many "new to science" species popping up. With <i>Hymenoptera</i>, and especially with <i>Chalcidae</i>, and this family, <i>Pteromalidae </i>everything is in flux, the keys may be unreliable, or not include all the species. With a bit of determination and a pocket bar-coding kit I suspect finding a species new to science would be possible pretty much anywhere. It's easy to get drawn in to spending a lot of time and then still not getting an ID with these though. I found an Ichneumon the other day from the genus Gelis (probably). These are very, very difficult and I should just leave it as <i>Gelis </i>sp; but I've already spent a bit of time asking for help and looking at keys. With a fridge full of last year's Ichneumons still to look at I should just leave the <i>Gelis </i>be.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2C0DKAbwLfANb_TnVpPrxb7v6T5C7MtSmunmMc2DGq0DWgPt-Wy3IoFWmE1HYSavAsoz1EMc-ogs4eJa8pDlPsmfKDaK47TS6Ab5c9ZslENBet9BXbsNpPXI3qWGxtZAJ-0A__HduVXwDFVVtnT8R0lC6EnT9HzlKqNBeCz1L809c5ONzTnvDzoHXfo/s1024/Gelis%20rufogaster%20dorsal%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1024" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2C0DKAbwLfANb_TnVpPrxb7v6T5C7MtSmunmMc2DGq0DWgPt-Wy3IoFWmE1HYSavAsoz1EMc-ogs4eJa8pDlPsmfKDaK47TS6Ab5c9ZslENBet9BXbsNpPXI3qWGxtZAJ-0A__HduVXwDFVVtnT8R0lC6EnT9HzlKqNBeCz1L809c5ONzTnvDzoHXfo/w640-h490/Gelis%20rufogaster%20dorsal%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gelis sp</i>, wingless (apterous) female, best leave it at that...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Not much on the bird front although there were two Shelduck sightings in January, and four Coot on The Shunan on Tuesday, the earliest of both in 14 years. The Great White Egret(s) seem to have disappeared and nothing much else going on, a couple of Woodcock sightings being the highlight. Redwings and Fieldfares have pretty much disappeared since the snow. I should deploy the camera trap to see if there's a Water Rail about. Hoodies and Ravens are sorting out territories and nest sites, and the Rooks are eyeing the rookery on fine days.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt2NNKQS9Rso_53i6_QpKlCUO1tIHGpAL_wBvAxH6klW11QmGeE_SzmqSf6pdfSQkoREcjyvqjBfhQ62F70FP0mUwxAoUVZLgSU2YxulEZEEY92nThU_c9wYWDuarxQoBxGrUOpSMqiWsFgQXAySGjE-oo07xR1VJfiJzVVo3YIyAJ2mVtk7a0Cl2h0M/s1024/Hoodie%20food%202%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1024" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUt2NNKQS9Rso_53i6_QpKlCUO1tIHGpAL_wBvAxH6klW11QmGeE_SzmqSf6pdfSQkoREcjyvqjBfhQ62F70FP0mUwxAoUVZLgSU2YxulEZEEY92nThU_c9wYWDuarxQoBxGrUOpSMqiWsFgQXAySGjE-oo07xR1VJfiJzVVo3YIyAJ2mVtk7a0Cl2h0M/w640-h484/Hoodie%20food%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jZtzUlUdFMKhLjRoptJq4h3fujTr_GwIimGFwyF5VcNG1SXsADkuqzjK3q6tLNIF41Qbt-5MV0xX__v3UISQZUjxqzxGTrgon04gTSsr_LawDmecUVYsJUY1zMr-LHv72YyCSu1mcx6QUJ1ze-uC4EywRxUwdqd7WPv7NwJVBCj8rhEdsUH9HAPND_c/s1776/Hoodie%20food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1343" data-original-width="1776" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jZtzUlUdFMKhLjRoptJq4h3fujTr_GwIimGFwyF5VcNG1SXsADkuqzjK3q6tLNIF41Qbt-5MV0xX__v3UISQZUjxqzxGTrgon04gTSsr_LawDmecUVYsJUY1zMr-LHv72YyCSu1mcx6QUJ1ze-uC4EywRxUwdqd7WPv7NwJVBCj8rhEdsUH9HAPND_c/w640-h484/Hoodie%20food.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Crow with something dead.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIshkzK_SrcYJPwP-2SEdU7pOh6XC8OG47aEDjDZR0kj-pPur3GRewx63jTltRVIloXXAY1el8qMCsVaukG96LopqfXgzprZS-52XsDgMsPo5ysC9NKHYbZjfi0QnVub3oLtOBBLh35AfM-x41LRWxG5N6G4OlkzNWBqASk1Wlf8l-jl2BfWzOFvXW-8/s1024/Rook%20nests%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIshkzK_SrcYJPwP-2SEdU7pOh6XC8OG47aEDjDZR0kj-pPur3GRewx63jTltRVIloXXAY1el8qMCsVaukG96LopqfXgzprZS-52XsDgMsPo5ysC9NKHYbZjfi0QnVub3oLtOBBLh35AfM-x41LRWxG5N6G4OlkzNWBqASk1Wlf8l-jl2BfWzOFvXW-8/w640-h470/Rook%20nests%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a very few nests have survived the winter.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="text-align: left;">The grass clump from the Wee Wood had a few other beasts within, best of which was this <i>Tachporus obtusus</i>, another Staphy, quite a smart one.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitJk6DpprGYe0yFbG4U4NYcfLPBIlySqzYHnxc3RlL_GUr4m9dJ7Y-fRZXAKAtGb_LO6IkT_K-qkIj2qqYe-Hf38IV1V1vOfpCfexN69a8M-Yj0Uz0tAwlzf1tABmjwaarYqZ4HOUJzp30pg3hZXY52hyphenhyphenq5W8xjCLub0GbOnBvy1e9hupOLy0Ck1KImE/s1024/Tachyporus%20obtusus%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="1024" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitJk6DpprGYe0yFbG4U4NYcfLPBIlySqzYHnxc3RlL_GUr4m9dJ7Y-fRZXAKAtGb_LO6IkT_K-qkIj2qqYe-Hf38IV1V1vOfpCfexN69a8M-Yj0Uz0tAwlzf1tABmjwaarYqZ4HOUJzp30pg3hZXY52hyphenhyphenq5W8xjCLub0GbOnBvy1e9hupOLy0Ck1KImE/w640-h496/Tachyporus%20obtusus%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tachyporus obtusus</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There were a couple of<i> Micrambe ulicis</i> in the grass as well, a bit of a way from the Gorse. A single <i>Trichoiscus pusillus</i>, a very small, but very common woodlouse was also in there.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">In amongst my vegetation collecting were some samples of moss and lichen from the Hawthorn hedge. There were a few collembola in there, yet to be examined, a egg or two in the moss <i>Ulota phyllantha,</i> and on the bare wood, what I thought was a lichen but is a fungi (thanks BH), <i>Lachnella alboviolascens</i> maybe.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7HpvlLbQA0-Boat-cqqr8PebuDKfxZ1Q9_7pe2NclKR2amOV5_MFCyZkWBLMBTnTPcfsfqRa9XWJ1FEg4IoVWPMBzU8JasAdcxOqcAqN9iX65jYA6Y7nPLTJ3SYPMZyZhnebdzBAS2hnA94XzI-8YhQxc-E9fDuQvPVdEV2nZ67O-ATFrqQa5GrjJHI/s1024/Lichen%20Hawthorn%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ7HpvlLbQA0-Boat-cqqr8PebuDKfxZ1Q9_7pe2NclKR2amOV5_MFCyZkWBLMBTnTPcfsfqRa9XWJ1FEg4IoVWPMBzU8JasAdcxOqcAqN9iX65jYA6Y7nPLTJ3SYPMZyZhnebdzBAS2hnA94XzI-8YhQxc-E9fDuQvPVdEV2nZ67O-ATFrqQa5GrjJHI/w640-h466/Lichen%20Hawthorn%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd9H5cBYrHv9a1YYU-ZJQuOnLS0KGBENc6ThDbxiCCqYhCLy_V469V8oHuNpGuQ8MXJ5TSuK8gPJGf8NLMUdaHRNdxL_L_hSMUutdrNTNQZ6NTS8_zdvo1NL37hHgoLi9yRu-Y92vwfkb9Phbf35xJ2S_HxHkqSJ6j_PlpTJrmnhiM9KO3ykeEoPd4Sc/s1024/Lichen%20Hawthorn%20close%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLd9H5cBYrHv9a1YYU-ZJQuOnLS0KGBENc6ThDbxiCCqYhCLy_V469V8oHuNpGuQ8MXJ5TSuK8gPJGf8NLMUdaHRNdxL_L_hSMUutdrNTNQZ6NTS8_zdvo1NL37hHgoLi9yRu-Y92vwfkb9Phbf35xJ2S_HxHkqSJ6j_PlpTJrmnhiM9KO3ykeEoPd4Sc/w640-h488/Lichen%20Hawthorn%20close%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lachnella alboviolascens</i> maybe.</td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I've just received another suggestion for this one of Lachnum bicolor, so I'll follow that up. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Rabbit photos, the Rabbits were "hiding" from us under this piece of Gorse which had been blown into the field.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGultzQWVc0CVpNT3WWW1OWOWGD9Q3RvuSpuwVfNqOHS1uldx4AKcGCsVEf95IoMOeupEzKncxeiI55Wzjb8azHqbRnAdaO6ueV3m5Hd8EdTC_uAWr28QWrogYP0PGYW8_3d3R40mQqgo5Mz5vXxwzR7wLGEcKBMNSwP3LPBcaFiq6VyDTU29yTn3cGxM/s1024/Rabbits%20hiding%203%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1024" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGultzQWVc0CVpNT3WWW1OWOWGD9Q3RvuSpuwVfNqOHS1uldx4AKcGCsVEf95IoMOeupEzKncxeiI55Wzjb8azHqbRnAdaO6ueV3m5Hd8EdTC_uAWr28QWrogYP0PGYW8_3d3R40mQqgo5Mz5vXxwzR7wLGEcKBMNSwP3LPBcaFiq6VyDTU29yTn3cGxM/w640-h420/Rabbits%20hiding%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HPHsYYnuMbFGFYN-B2GeJ-osnp2mxaodKCyFk7P3AoFjhAP3CbwQq5bydDr1xGd-FtB3KD0KBU19fScWWYkM2LLRJaSqR01oZGBc3ZpCG0ftEqquf_bjhsxLwKGadhg5JHuIAjprmsaNDu5K23Lf8owkkHAf5ZnM_yY5CtGlqVqlXT2acrcQf5x7GMc/s1024/Rabbits%20hiding%20close%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HPHsYYnuMbFGFYN-B2GeJ-osnp2mxaodKCyFk7P3AoFjhAP3CbwQq5bydDr1xGd-FtB3KD0KBU19fScWWYkM2LLRJaSqR01oZGBc3ZpCG0ftEqquf_bjhsxLwKGadhg5JHuIAjprmsaNDu5K23Lf8owkkHAf5ZnM_yY5CtGlqVqlXT2acrcQf5x7GMc/w640-h476/Rabbits%20hiding%20close%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rabbit.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Now follows various scenic pix.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6jm-jeFeal0wIvAZqn0DdOAx-sE0aBI3EdJ_hM5pApgW5vRFfkmJ0k8IztnuiIxRiWuZ2pasvKI30aEZSCd49hEcDhyphenhyphenv7c9aAwHVwLYSz2plD_jJNpaw4byBAzxMZtN_orr684tnqgBK0XYBPEnRk-nyVyqupebSSHZBI2i8jmcmjQOn6xZI6tGhvEo/s1024/Marwick%204%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX6jm-jeFeal0wIvAZqn0DdOAx-sE0aBI3EdJ_hM5pApgW5vRFfkmJ0k8IztnuiIxRiWuZ2pasvKI30aEZSCd49hEcDhyphenhyphenv7c9aAwHVwLYSz2plD_jJNpaw4byBAzxMZtN_orr684tnqgBK0XYBPEnRk-nyVyqupebSSHZBI2i8jmcmjQOn6xZI6tGhvEo/w640-h360/Marwick%204%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scene at Marwick, taken with my "new" Pixel 7.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I decided to upgrade my phone. A tad extravagant but I wanted something with a decent camera in it. I had a look around on various websites, but in the end found idoodirect on eBay who seem to have a good reliability score, they answer any criticism, and with eBay there is that bit of added protection, especially for the buyer.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxPe0gQKzOxoDVdib1oqoRP1eZXFJFVQMuD1ZtV_onBbTztVH4q3MgA0Y4MgoKjj8syjoqxc8ACnd16iswMR5EfCXEGudcm3lY2PNunxk0ETvR2yiKWNEggh0HvhzvD8BAn6QuEmHjovXINK7hDGcDaL9hdiHw7KzL1AVxsHDf748HnIt6-UFB2_0s6w/s348/Idoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxPe0gQKzOxoDVdib1oqoRP1eZXFJFVQMuD1ZtV_onBbTztVH4q3MgA0Y4MgoKjj8syjoqxc8ACnd16iswMR5EfCXEGudcm3lY2PNunxk0ETvR2yiKWNEggh0HvhzvD8BAn6QuEmHjovXINK7hDGcDaL9hdiHw7KzL1AVxsHDf748HnIt6-UFB2_0s6w/s320/Idoo.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The phone that arrived is like new, battery good etc etc. And the camera has lived up to expectations. So pleased that Louise decided to upgrade her iPhone SE, the iPhone 12 that arrived is also just like new. The cost a fraction of new phones, thus the recommendation above.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've been playing around with the Pixel camera quite a bit, I find it a bit strange to use, as I'm used to a "real" camera, holding it still is not so easy, but the results are getting better.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9z3mJ1ppDcXzo5z27hwAcpvkxYjd0AOkO9JtRy1leI3LbA6y5un7Z_YcvkgH7FaJL1P2qSqT77wyCQAICqkuUPzZNZN09q8G-R0qVI6F8dsWsrgrAFOp-5VkC1K3fAd18_pjx9LI8pb6Nut1pUCMwNNClIRV1s6cXtx-GshETEedTWrnNbq3OX4DGTE/s1024/Brough%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1024" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9z3mJ1ppDcXzo5z27hwAcpvkxYjd0AOkO9JtRy1leI3LbA6y5un7Z_YcvkgH7FaJL1P2qSqT77wyCQAICqkuUPzZNZN09q8G-R0qVI6F8dsWsrgrAFOp-5VkC1K3fAd18_pjx9LI8pb6Nut1pUCMwNNClIRV1s6cXtx-GshETEedTWrnNbq3OX4DGTE/w640-h436/Brough%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waves a bit burnt out here.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFZBbWZTsTnsKHmNxgeTWMqGOIule7i4n5z9JZWoQPfax8bz5mL-Yf3SxhYbuExQlsuN5uydZHHQ_v8sgXTCNutmpS_MvmRh-7Td3esFvG-llUBzkkXBgGvdV4_CrQQDSjUdBcHs4Cx1fcMLB0alGhyphenhyphenSmHX3eBiJhhN5Keyz2c05PAoMh502wdxUQef0/s1024/Hoy%20sky%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFZBbWZTsTnsKHmNxgeTWMqGOIule7i4n5z9JZWoQPfax8bz5mL-Yf3SxhYbuExQlsuN5uydZHHQ_v8sgXTCNutmpS_MvmRh-7Td3esFvG-llUBzkkXBgGvdV4_CrQQDSjUdBcHs4Cx1fcMLB0alGhyphenhyphenSmHX3eBiJhhN5Keyz2c05PAoMh502wdxUQef0/w640-h470/Hoy%20sky%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJFaSaF1eJeosUSYkjmb51JNMlZauXToJD8opdkXxEdo81rh6T6xwlU2eZ3ELu8c0avYSkx6IUv_3z4OJPLev_v9sWGpzyFF2DQctbxykf2YEJiTuhQxBnopTVgzp5wdn3djzr7SMTeyveOr1YuMVMMuOCRWfr5HyAyXrlRsIyfRbzgtKpOz-F8VnSIY/s1024/Old%20man%20distant%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJFaSaF1eJeosUSYkjmb51JNMlZauXToJD8opdkXxEdo81rh6T6xwlU2eZ3ELu8c0avYSkx6IUv_3z4OJPLev_v9sWGpzyFF2DQctbxykf2YEJiTuhQxBnopTVgzp5wdn3djzr7SMTeyveOr1YuMVMMuOCRWfr5HyAyXrlRsIyfRbzgtKpOz-F8VnSIY/w640-h470/Old%20man%20distant%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoODPjS2FYiA-2YFzYcx2_I1cfGiiMGzbxC53s3o6iAhGrpncHbvXj5q3WlsLAbGvsV5_XBr0Rq7kBOGGXR2AO9FmKrVltbTT7kOK03nm4Cw3UOiohg7tQZZF8XVynN75EFLpu3KjL8s_DqcOzmQQLaHqahbsoLUPu8qXpUj5ZY31bUVDBfc61Erq1cLM/s1024/Orkney%20Vole%20runs%20Mirbister%20lo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoODPjS2FYiA-2YFzYcx2_I1cfGiiMGzbxC53s3o6iAhGrpncHbvXj5q3WlsLAbGvsV5_XBr0Rq7kBOGGXR2AO9FmKrVltbTT7kOK03nm4Cw3UOiohg7tQZZF8XVynN75EFLpu3KjL8s_DqcOzmQQLaHqahbsoLUPu8qXpUj5ZY31bUVDBfc61Erq1cLM/w640-h476/Orkney%20Vole%20runs%20Mirbister%20lo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once the snow melted there are many Orkney Vole runs visible.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_jiJ6qfED5yc5cBFOS6EsGEKJPplqk-cbrwUAq2-KTRmPF_w3WVp04xU6gEYlxKVdiA-7KTI_0NfvY6SMRTLoThbdX5LUC4kYj2-Fi9CHTG6F6g3mWsDWzgPz4dW60gzq_GVS6NSoov7x7dkofgLfzqzQ5VQHS2IF9dJLKU5zobB6b7yPvAiZPN-Ko0/s1024/Waves%20Old%20man%202%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_jiJ6qfED5yc5cBFOS6EsGEKJPplqk-cbrwUAq2-KTRmPF_w3WVp04xU6gEYlxKVdiA-7KTI_0NfvY6SMRTLoThbdX5LUC4kYj2-Fi9CHTG6F6g3mWsDWzgPz4dW60gzq_GVS6NSoov7x7dkofgLfzqzQ5VQHS2IF9dJLKU5zobB6b7yPvAiZPN-Ko0/w640-h480/Waves%20Old%20man%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Man from Marwick, with a proper camera - E-M1 Mk11 with Oly 75-300mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-77116490121053502172024-01-17T23:24:00.004+00:002024-01-17T23:24:40.028+00:00Two jackets, two jumpers, two shirts<p>The cold has arrived. And with it snow, not an especially common form of precipitation in Orkney, although Harray is perhaps more prone to the white stuff than other parts of Mainland. A lot of snow. Snow drifting today so that vehicular access to the house from The Shunan end would be a no go. We watched our farmer neighbour clearing the snow from the other road though so there is a way in and out if need be.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf15XshWZR_g1K5RWDumSnqJrJPYqr4xepRHaGNYm0QAlh4fHQw34NUp9EHDFAVboZbjjIfcg880wfGBWXUxoLOqmHk29MvF-B1OU09lXDbWZEejqLxpfMDGvyzPwMAilucLyuDciSBRivZrfTwXjaCH4sm7D2KgPb7QqFktUpHXKnxnSwNLGlQM3-ko/s1024/Ominous%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="1024" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqf15XshWZR_g1K5RWDumSnqJrJPYqr4xepRHaGNYm0QAlh4fHQw34NUp9EHDFAVboZbjjIfcg880wfGBWXUxoLOqmHk29MvF-B1OU09lXDbWZEejqLxpfMDGvyzPwMAilucLyuDciSBRivZrfTwXjaCH4sm7D2KgPb7QqFktUpHXKnxnSwNLGlQM3-ko/w640-h332/Ominous%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPStuWIF-X7aBzxVyDEycTpRp4X5y_a9gMya07PFhRppccYfMPf0qrRDjSVq2uOkxV5CezJR-3Jz-_aIJ5xlrDLd9ZaIVR8SJJXfjTRQbMTlB_XkucMYz7Pjnm9hGsgMWHo4m6QpfDRVUwv-p9K0NsNycExKmtjv1W_xaxJpCYrBMoBRJ4D49qSws6xRQ/s1024/Snow%20field%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPStuWIF-X7aBzxVyDEycTpRp4X5y_a9gMya07PFhRppccYfMPf0qrRDjSVq2uOkxV5CezJR-3Jz-_aIJ5xlrDLd9ZaIVR8SJJXfjTRQbMTlB_XkucMYz7Pjnm9hGsgMWHo4m6QpfDRVUwv-p9K0NsNycExKmtjv1W_xaxJpCYrBMoBRJ4D49qSws6xRQ/w640-h468/Snow%20field%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt9c-Yz-ERnWITsPWTuYUXkE2PjBGWMw5CKpw18ygd-PunIncLlcYlWdj1s6TjHFA89eiKf9ksvj6IEKcG6hB8U_rpPbYkGM5xiTZplkobpfQrZanhiWAFX4wY1wGFI_-CpsvZST_WQ6pm8zABQUJ_hy56D1IBKpaZt-FibY3yx7crp-e4zEFxvCCZzI/s1024/Snow%20moving%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="1024" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgt9c-Yz-ERnWITsPWTuYUXkE2PjBGWMw5CKpw18ygd-PunIncLlcYlWdj1s6TjHFA89eiKf9ksvj6IEKcG6hB8U_rpPbYkGM5xiTZplkobpfQrZanhiWAFX4wY1wGFI_-CpsvZST_WQ6pm8zABQUJ_hy56D1IBKpaZt-FibY3yx7crp-e4zEFxvCCZzI/w640-h302/Snow%20moving%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAaabnbCMmna3CY3qc7qrgWp8BBBdKV7x017vhsJF3L3P5WZItGJqolrVcFlIydat05EnqJj7F1LowKWzIjRh2FRt_VN9vbXuTURLw3-7rNVolzWPaumxdd6A0X0ijROtKGniKFUY4Mu5iEj4FE6jfOQquzCx0zEWJO1epT20VOqk2tHETK7STwsTcRg/s1024/View%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAaabnbCMmna3CY3qc7qrgWp8BBBdKV7x017vhsJF3L3P5WZItGJqolrVcFlIydat05EnqJj7F1LowKWzIjRh2FRt_VN9vbXuTURLw3-7rNVolzWPaumxdd6A0X0ijROtKGniKFUY4Mu5iEj4FE6jfOQquzCx0zEWJO1epT20VOqk2tHETK7STwsTcRg/w640-h480/View%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow views from nearby.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS0Jnz2q7YFZHw8iTvYtstGR3dyd2dPIaZYTuG-lEY6WB3mgrIjyRztHMA9Rnmre33nyaO90-UhJ7E0M83q0roK877rj73t_-t8HrCW20KUW1G8gq78powQfpix3tj8PJRT8N5eEmY29m0T_AmEtTveAptmP6yAPLIK-KvbBCUkIm-8O4mD1C7bm1VoY/s1024/Hare%20trail%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="726" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPS0Jnz2q7YFZHw8iTvYtstGR3dyd2dPIaZYTuG-lEY6WB3mgrIjyRztHMA9Rnmre33nyaO90-UhJ7E0M83q0roK877rj73t_-t8HrCW20KUW1G8gq78powQfpix3tj8PJRT8N5eEmY29m0T_AmEtTveAptmP6yAPLIK-KvbBCUkIm-8O4mD1C7bm1VoY/w454-h640/Hare%20trail%20lo.JPG" width="454" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Hare trail.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gEujZ9jL5oRcYRX13aKuwS-Q2vqPEtKlDciLXU3PU32Tnx0HRhsavw47SfzVhn_ed7aVJqAHCjzNkhX81ihDjM_vvLMuaENT9Xef3J048wpTAXqNAYD9i9JWtTpvGAefgQG5K5hYRhCNvRxSUwUHV_4fZrZh-yuvypdx1ypq4wjssf3JMAyg-W0uC3M/s1024/Harray%20kirk%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="1024" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gEujZ9jL5oRcYRX13aKuwS-Q2vqPEtKlDciLXU3PU32Tnx0HRhsavw47SfzVhn_ed7aVJqAHCjzNkhX81ihDjM_vvLMuaENT9Xef3J048wpTAXqNAYD9i9JWtTpvGAefgQG5K5hYRhCNvRxSUwUHV_4fZrZh-yuvypdx1ypq4wjssf3JMAyg-W0uC3M/w640-h336/Harray%20kirk%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harray kirk.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MP3my_nKFuspmaM9Bzm_VnbA66Cx3sLU1dtC8_DMGMM2upOFUpPE-YJ2SXgHZNY_NfrFTFkopB75FCrBCd55Y-5V7ZVUJCAmNXH9MIfVPysyrNi2brT9WlsNkgwiRowrGRRTbttbkO7qdhWzwCyBFHIYHohpt0fkY9mIC5Yl1r71l1i6pbutVPesNzE/s1024/Jack%20Snipe%20remains%202%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7MP3my_nKFuspmaM9Bzm_VnbA66Cx3sLU1dtC8_DMGMM2upOFUpPE-YJ2SXgHZNY_NfrFTFkopB75FCrBCd55Y-5V7ZVUJCAmNXH9MIfVPysyrNi2brT9WlsNkgwiRowrGRRTbttbkO7qdhWzwCyBFHIYHohpt0fkY9mIC5Yl1r71l1i6pbutVPesNzE/w640-h480/Jack%20Snipe%20remains%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack Snipe remains, I think.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>As we walked down the hill to our Wee Wood we flushed a Sparrowhawk. On the way back the hound was sniffing in the wood and I found these remains, Jack Snipe I think. A ringer's measurement would make the wing 110mm which is outside the range for Snipe.</p><p> The walk also produced, Merlin, Grey Heron, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. <br /></p><p>Before the snow came I've been searching for moth larvae again. Beating some Gorse I again found <i>Cydia ulicelana</i>, but also quite a few very small beetles. I groaned when they turned out to belong to the <i>Cryptophagidae</i>, fungus beetles, as I've found these very hard to ID in the past. Fortunately, Mike Hackston's keys to the rescue, and with a bit of careful examination they came out to <i>Micrambe </i>and pretty swiftly to <i>Micrambe ulicis</i> which lives in Gorse. (Thanks to CW for confirming the ID.)<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9Zol6VSBaLVNukGJv5T1cO2J4O1s5Wp7DHhT1fJmXoxMAiZYcRNNQym7a37tJ_uhayV8Ey0LS_2dRELmyIIr8bOJpYB1sEtH96MBSN3FF42jpFUW4oCTS3ugE6GZ3x3dA519oxhRO0_W23aOoxEGg9PyF_y6lIHA_Nrb2MyI8HnXEPEdHlKEt_3kFE/s1395/Micrambe%20ulicis%20dorsal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1395" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE9Zol6VSBaLVNukGJv5T1cO2J4O1s5Wp7DHhT1fJmXoxMAiZYcRNNQym7a37tJ_uhayV8Ey0LS_2dRELmyIIr8bOJpYB1sEtH96MBSN3FF42jpFUW4oCTS3ugE6GZ3x3dA519oxhRO0_W23aOoxEGg9PyF_y6lIHA_Nrb2MyI8HnXEPEdHlKEt_3kFE/w640-h450/Micrambe%20ulicis%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKHjv3_sQdVSF3DlOY9p7w-CGffvPZ_gUGvQ_hsyEICvL-mGJ4T7iguguGhmHvrzOELFMyeP10mWYcB9t7k4XTC-RNu51JSuIpksNKCcoTRPf1q4R0obR3gfECcurXtGq84Z8yaeAmqgqfqT-nzdvg4haZpwgVHh4FHsUnrS6FKRBwFal3qq6zwYeFoA/s1024/Micrambe%20ulicis%20ventral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieKHjv3_sQdVSF3DlOY9p7w-CGffvPZ_gUGvQ_hsyEICvL-mGJ4T7iguguGhmHvrzOELFMyeP10mWYcB9t7k4XTC-RNu51JSuIpksNKCcoTRPf1q4R0obR3gfECcurXtGq84Z8yaeAmqgqfqT-nzdvg4haZpwgVHh4FHsUnrS6FKRBwFal3qq6zwYeFoA/w640-h512/Micrambe%20ulicis%20ventral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Micrambe ulicis</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIgNa7PZz45YirtFaK-Oj2YleTKX99-QBheDpvN5nLGG9jFZuTkuzhdLhzc61H7f_AVEFdNp-Ewyqo53vmM75z1MeVc553SctK_zrVXGC8wdvN0maHhipzA1_5jD7WZu6dckb5HbYzQhoznr1thyphenhyphenVuA7tloZdhAU1Z8sBdPbzUSAvlxVa1S_JP2jb7BY/s1024/Cydia%20ulicelana%20pod%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1024" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIgNa7PZz45YirtFaK-Oj2YleTKX99-QBheDpvN5nLGG9jFZuTkuzhdLhzc61H7f_AVEFdNp-Ewyqo53vmM75z1MeVc553SctK_zrVXGC8wdvN0maHhipzA1_5jD7WZu6dckb5HbYzQhoznr1thyphenhyphenVuA7tloZdhAU1Z8sBdPbzUSAvlxVa1S_JP2jb7BY/w640-h508/Cydia%20ulicelana%20pod%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cydia ulicelana</i>, cat and a load of frass.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The caterpillar is now in a rearing jar with at least one pupa.</p><p>We'd also visited Hobbister before the snow. Mostly because we needed to drop off the lawn mower at the repair shop. The mower being in a very sad state. No cetaceans this time but a bit of delving around found a nice Pseudo-scorpion or two and a <i>Lithobius </i>caterpillar which I will need to find time to key out.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpq1KRUgQOuFwzkDzwE9FAogsK5BPFqzuYNkAdXfdTTiBm23cvVrabkm7GAlb8n5YpB7FGMgwLBWA9fPIGP86ubSazK6aOadXiFSGg7t-GqZEqk4eR5e9ILtmB6EXIJGLxie8K1K_6Z_NOXimrfJyosIA3JZDOal3DisWBrnqOPpDNHoRPP5Y0EU3Nt4/s1024/Lithobius%20sp%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1024" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpq1KRUgQOuFwzkDzwE9FAogsK5BPFqzuYNkAdXfdTTiBm23cvVrabkm7GAlb8n5YpB7FGMgwLBWA9fPIGP86ubSazK6aOadXiFSGg7t-GqZEqk4eR5e9ILtmB6EXIJGLxie8K1K_6Z_NOXimrfJyosIA3JZDOal3DisWBrnqOPpDNHoRPP5Y0EU3Nt4/w640-h438/Lithobius%20sp%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lithobius sp</i>, I need to key this out, a bit unfortunate that the antennae are both broken as I think segment number is an identification factor.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkKj908VuWWeFGSbHDn-eZ41K5i97dMXFqkQ8nRIvaOHDpTjshTmRYlat-qSiR5eZBn4IPler_Qww26vvwfIox4eIBKFZu26oJkDhayLss1GK5kteiVR6Dt7rs75IBJPZLw4oy-OZ78lvFHsvkJ06dfzKc8f60MmI54iIhNMyhoh-lNS3rDBMxS0eSF4/s1024/Neobisium%20carcinoides%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="1024" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIkKj908VuWWeFGSbHDn-eZ41K5i97dMXFqkQ8nRIvaOHDpTjshTmRYlat-qSiR5eZBn4IPler_Qww26vvwfIox4eIBKFZu26oJkDhayLss1GK5kteiVR6Dt7rs75IBJPZLw4oy-OZ78lvFHsvkJ06dfzKc8f60MmI54iIhNMyhoh-lNS3rDBMxS0eSF4/w640-h438/Neobisium%20carcinoides%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Neobisium carcinoides</i>, a pseudo-scorpion.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>If <i>Neobisium carcinoides</i> was a large beastie it would be terrifying, fortunately it is a small thing of a few millimetres.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">A bit of moth hunting before the snow produced a very nice Mottled Umber female in the Wee Wood, I think this is a new species for the square.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMhdhfi2ZCMeQyBMiJCvu6uIc6B6QEkFQtGzuLdupwNe-QmE0w6lBo5tjs2uWJgiFNhG68FwFpTIZB2yGbNkoF_5CD92mZO9k2E3dbwTxsx1UdM8V9xOwTKifvYE1YatoM_rZxe0uN0DMR8WD5yQLbhINV-xKBGSkB8Rpe_VSvxk2BynSlZrQ6q2dBWY/s1380/Mottled%20Umber%20f%20lateral%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMhdhfi2ZCMeQyBMiJCvu6uIc6B6QEkFQtGzuLdupwNe-QmE0w6lBo5tjs2uWJgiFNhG68FwFpTIZB2yGbNkoF_5CD92mZO9k2E3dbwTxsx1UdM8V9xOwTKifvYE1YatoM_rZxe0uN0DMR8WD5yQLbhINV-xKBGSkB8Rpe_VSvxk2BynSlZrQ6q2dBWY/w474-h640/Mottled%20Umber%20f%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="474" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umber, female.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The following nite there were ten Winter Moths around the garden, including four pairs in-cop, the most females I've ever seen in one night I think.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGH4EG8IgnDKOQqKEHcIJ9eQkU0kSTWk9Pqtxj94W_XyziWvjUQfrxQVx-ktT3s7xvFIO8ynJSv_i2-L-bCT792DCjob1Oz_Q_1WPpdIyz6LZ3j6_5Gv0294OrAv0gAeMZjgqlC9kLX-ZtHZGbRnkcS98VDs1oR2ySIUCB3Po9UJfXBvR2I7cGhBTnwg/s1304/Winter%20Moth%20cop%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsGH4EG8IgnDKOQqKEHcIJ9eQkU0kSTWk9Pqtxj94W_XyziWvjUQfrxQVx-ktT3s7xvFIO8ynJSv_i2-L-bCT792DCjob1Oz_Q_1WPpdIyz6LZ3j6_5Gv0294OrAv0gAeMZjgqlC9kLX-ZtHZGbRnkcS98VDs1oR2ySIUCB3Po9UJfXBvR2I7cGhBTnwg/w502-h640/Winter%20Moth%20cop%20lo.JPG" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Moths, in-cop.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Finally, a couple of armchair ticks. BH spotted that one of my micro-moths on iRecord was misidentified, a good job someone is on the ball! I'd been too hasty with my ID and the moth from June in Finstown was actually <i>Falseuncaria ruficiliana</i>, not <i>Eupoecilia angustana, </i>thank you BH. I need to correct this ID in this blog I think.<br /></p><p>The other armchair tick was <i>Scrobipalpa acuminatella</i> which I'd got right , but entered on iRecord as "Likely" (so not tickable). But SP from the Graciliidae Scheme verified my record from my photos, good result!</p><p>So a couple of ticks for the PSL list. The site looks fab', now it has been incorporated into Bubo Listing, good job folks. But I'm still a long way off getting my list up-to-date.</p><p>Lastly a petition to sign. Coul Links is again under threat from a potential golf course development which would destroy it. We've enough fucking golf courses, there's only one Coul Links! Please sign it's a fabulous place. Highland Council want to approve the planning application despite objections from numerous bodies and its own planning officers. We need the Scottish Government to step in and stop this act of vandalism. Thanks.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD3d7iBGTYncSF5lx66t5xycMQtOno4akTvTLKr1ty-W_YPGTmwb94qbzILbCimsjJCJT4srWs-9Qk5xaJ6lhXhozJ7-k7dT9yIc4H61nTV6dyKuAWQcgTFlMfIWpVPn5QsYAS9zwbgv75Xk5Z4cYBtZvzu_JvHswZlYfvNCTNiepBrYFGXOzOwXhtgE/s1200/Coul%20Links%20page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrD3d7iBGTYncSF5lx66t5xycMQtOno4akTvTLKr1ty-W_YPGTmwb94qbzILbCimsjJCJT4srWs-9Qk5xaJ6lhXhozJ7-k7dT9yIc4H61nTV6dyKuAWQcgTFlMfIWpVPn5QsYAS9zwbgv75Xk5Z4cYBtZvzu_JvHswZlYfvNCTNiepBrYFGXOzOwXhtgE/w400-h210/Coul%20Links%20page.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://greens.scot/SaveCoulLinks">https://greens.scot/SaveCoulLinks </a><br /><p></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-18214335411629290742024-01-08T18:47:00.004+00:002024-01-08T23:20:21.086+00:00Rain, wind, more rain... calm<p>Not great weather, it must be said. Indoors and continuing to sort through the Orkney moth list, progress, but slow.</p><p>Out in the field I did collect some more Knapweed <i>Centurea sp</i> seed heads. I'm not sure which species of Knapweed this is, it is in a birdcrop field and was sown about five years or so ago. A few weeks back I found some tiny orange larvae in a seed head when I dissected it. There are a range of species which may be found in the seed heads. These looked like Diptera larvae but they were very tiny. Anyway, I dissected these ones and found the bright orange larvae again. They are very tiny, 1.2mm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj377i8vtqS6FTWRGiAY-Ee9Z1EtcSaMeN5BxIvHVRBT-Ec_6IUP998hj38WX_UFYcItZ2qCPaRIZT-MhyB2Q5yGBOdsekBG9eRM8fS545vSN56ak6_NpbbVLxW-VZJ_wiFD0hyphenhyphenXzQ17qdxhVfVwG-5fOEHCgA2AIX6KQIUzfpvQIsVjjewds2b4fNO5Ac/s1024/Diptera%20larva%20earlier%20b%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj377i8vtqS6FTWRGiAY-Ee9Z1EtcSaMeN5BxIvHVRBT-Ec_6IUP998hj38WX_UFYcItZ2qCPaRIZT-MhyB2Q5yGBOdsekBG9eRM8fS545vSN56ak6_NpbbVLxW-VZJ_wiFD0hyphenhyphenXzQ17qdxhVfVwG-5fOEHCgA2AIX6KQIUzfpvQIsVjjewds2b4fNO5Ac/w640-h476/Diptera%20larva%20earlier%20b%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NEbuxvsHPhyphenhyphensLdwnk6t5SZ17PcCGrdrsWNFSMT5IzKBo1t_oPBbB4WFPRoY1yAp4Bl55zhmf-qlJQyL7sHJoOfTJbmpyHZIRxTMnaiEzx3KJTJiF2js7EnC9F2YwkHPF1cdwg5vcqFc0QszumNXCTeTY3_sKL6aHYmr4rmXoXRRth0sM5jBLYbMGpcs/s1024/Larva%20Knapweed%20head%20lateral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1024" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NEbuxvsHPhyphenhyphensLdwnk6t5SZ17PcCGrdrsWNFSMT5IzKBo1t_oPBbB4WFPRoY1yAp4Bl55zhmf-qlJQyL7sHJoOfTJbmpyHZIRxTMnaiEzx3KJTJiF2js7EnC9F2YwkHPF1cdwg5vcqFc0QszumNXCTeTY3_sKL6aHYmr4rmXoXRRth0sM5jBLYbMGpcs/w640-h506/Larva%20Knapweed%20head%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcueK4MjhqHcFqHYajOymzBmn8olazA9lEs3G84qzL1pQsWu7ekBOHhhyuNQ4ky2momAOKJWuZySgPgoZvvX36ns80ID19d49lQhpZnvn32VZdan3Dd0VaJu8EiEORe8XL4Mo9fX1QzD-ZsJxa-BxvQ1aY47EgkBwwsYEB_sW8fSL10USthe3Qucl8-yU/s1024/Larva%20Knapweed%20head%20raised%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1024" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcueK4MjhqHcFqHYajOymzBmn8olazA9lEs3G84qzL1pQsWu7ekBOHhhyuNQ4ky2momAOKJWuZySgPgoZvvX36ns80ID19d49lQhpZnvn32VZdan3Dd0VaJu8EiEORe8XL4Mo9fX1QzD-ZsJxa-BxvQ1aY47EgkBwwsYEB_sW8fSL10USthe3Qucl8-yU/w640-h506/Larva%20Knapweed%20head%20raised%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwB37oqm8xeud2IBgowtHXaYZJrXHrrDoiVgAbg3p39VqyePZBF-SDzgiiClJS-AJmXioYqvLzqhL0SmCg846m_etHcEZHC5BtYsfSPsZIMVgrr1j6SeeIygTGuis5Uti_y9W4ymjRtigvgMAQDrVdXFOIRiAiu19eqrmPETXBNajSuAqbwcH4xtNouk/s1450/Orange%20dip%20larva.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1450" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwB37oqm8xeud2IBgowtHXaYZJrXHrrDoiVgAbg3p39VqyePZBF-SDzgiiClJS-AJmXioYqvLzqhL0SmCg846m_etHcEZHC5BtYsfSPsZIMVgrr1j6SeeIygTGuis5Uti_y9W4ymjRtigvgMAQDrVdXFOIRiAiu19eqrmPETXBNajSuAqbwcH4xtNouk/w640-h500/Orange%20dip%20larva.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably a <span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x1xmvt09 x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u" dir="auto" lang="en"><i>Cecidomyiidae </i>larva. These are predatory, so in the seed head, hunting.<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was suggested that this could be <i>Aphidoletes</i>, an aphid hunter (thanks LJ). Anyway, I have two rearing jars with these in now, with luck something will emerge that is identifiable.</p><p>Here's some video of it in the seed head.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="401" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qSPDBfKXqy0" width="483" youtube-src-id="qSPDBfKXqy0"></iframe></div> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">On New Year's Day I picked up a beetle that I'd offered to identify.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA7iZNqNU92UKpQpD_Vg1-f7E_f5xnCkToAGem0OGlBF_bAjg1EbMt3ZFCK8ZxivzeWsBAAss_bKQkq1ef7leSCLks_aLJcZQTnE2L-wJFjFT3Ruw_xl4c6uDjYtR0dzrWQ2q-miKXmFaSOhlEZ4RnYLrPwpU5DIca4hs6gqw1_1PTvjiFlyqnzn0ReI/s1024/Leiodes%20obesa%20dorsal%20b%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJA7iZNqNU92UKpQpD_Vg1-f7E_f5xnCkToAGem0OGlBF_bAjg1EbMt3ZFCK8ZxivzeWsBAAss_bKQkq1ef7leSCLks_aLJcZQTnE2L-wJFjFT3Ruw_xl4c6uDjYtR0dzrWQ2q-miKXmFaSOhlEZ4RnYLrPwpU5DIca4hs6gqw1_1PTvjiFlyqnzn0ReI/w640-h500/Leiodes%20obesa%20dorsal%20b%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj1qtpNatENdtT40MIzEtS0DhcuM8n6ZkP7kyp6NStHzVATj_e51Vk8Hhi_YDb5HztbM1wEliJE7brcHd4WRNHU6_cXrFxMr7-ISksvpaFbeVXe8TmA459zDbYDe6xAUOcrZsqJdNu_cgTNIOKQrmdnq9hBv7SN_koLVihzmKFBXmm1ec6DljJZLn4KM/s1024/Leiodes%20obesa%20ventral%20b%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj1qtpNatENdtT40MIzEtS0DhcuM8n6ZkP7kyp6NStHzVATj_e51Vk8Hhi_YDb5HztbM1wEliJE7brcHd4WRNHU6_cXrFxMr7-ISksvpaFbeVXe8TmA459zDbYDe6xAUOcrZsqJdNu_cgTNIOKQrmdnq9hBv7SN_koLVihzmKFBXmm1ec6DljJZLn4KM/w640-h500/Leiodes%20obesa%20ventral%20b%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure this is <i>Leiodes obesa</i>, if so 2nd Orkney record.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Quite a small thing and this genus isn't especially easy, but there are three common species, of which this is one, and it fits pretty well. Hind tibia and antenna are important for ID.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIJVERdbpkq9dy2ExfOWLqqaaSCTmBsLfSVUYXgIUiZGS8as0-ZglXxU_5Fmo2EK7oAA-OtpXqbqPUykIf3pCQb8ErO4wFhvEPw7hS915eB7oNkSjSiUylNtcaBf8Oh-fekyZUjVc1LfoDC4LW77KTBw55ya0OAWJMTRYVZPNYouuN8D7roUpSWKCbPE/s1024/L%20obesa%20tibia%20tooth.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIJVERdbpkq9dy2ExfOWLqqaaSCTmBsLfSVUYXgIUiZGS8as0-ZglXxU_5Fmo2EK7oAA-OtpXqbqPUykIf3pCQb8ErO4wFhvEPw7hS915eB7oNkSjSiUylNtcaBf8Oh-fekyZUjVc1LfoDC4LW77KTBw55ya0OAWJMTRYVZPNYouuN8D7roUpSWKCbPE/w640-h500/L%20obesa%20tibia%20tooth.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big, blunt tooth apically on the hind tibia, this side of the long spur, not easy to see.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoOlws8yUzpE-wTrw_YOaHAl7xPbY1fX1ffycuCe7FBEI1Me7zmkzj8fVMaHXcUIPh4rUDIyfRcYj2SMIe8EcHuoMTYhCFz7KhdFwqS7oC7Waj2MANI_UeHFo7fzW76DPJQGnD1vJSQf_AfcuYcfC4XRO2U4I6RW3SrfWRuk8plt2mJk7HLSOQwd0YA/s1634/Leiodes%20obesa%20antenna.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1634" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuoOlws8yUzpE-wTrw_YOaHAl7xPbY1fX1ffycuCe7FBEI1Me7zmkzj8fVMaHXcUIPh4rUDIyfRcYj2SMIe8EcHuoMTYhCFz7KhdFwqS7oC7Waj2MANI_UeHFo7fzW76DPJQGnD1vJSQf_AfcuYcfC4XRO2U4I6RW3SrfWRuk8plt2mJk7HLSOQwd0YA/w640-h482/Leiodes%20obesa%20antenna.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">11th antennal segment at least as wide as 9th and 10th.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Today was a very beautiful day. Here's what it looked like at dawn from the garden.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYEa8gwS9OwlCfjSEoaEsGUoNC0DO5cu7aQ8C_hpPTWRfIUoIWG-qTg3ejNQ-AVZX5n797-HAuH6M9fAE7cNdrrr8dKyIQMQX0wmXzCEDuhEeKAXm1H8CWIPtPLWDe_oNuayTrrPcMDkIAHaUX-KxamSlkMAJ_JVitFOa08vrCa3ptye85WPhyg-ivPs/s1024/Moon%20kirk%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1024" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYEa8gwS9OwlCfjSEoaEsGUoNC0DO5cu7aQ8C_hpPTWRfIUoIWG-qTg3ejNQ-AVZX5n797-HAuH6M9fAE7cNdrrr8dKyIQMQX0wmXzCEDuhEeKAXm1H8CWIPtPLWDe_oNuayTrrPcMDkIAHaUX-KxamSlkMAJ_JVitFOa08vrCa3ptye85WPhyg-ivPs/w640-h438/Moon%20kirk%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">A relief after all the wind and rain we've had of late.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We went for a walk and on the way back, having my white umbrella and a mallet handle with me I beat a Gorse <i>Ulex europaeus</i> bush to an inch of its life....</p><p style="text-align: left;">And it kindly surrendered some denizens of its spikey interior.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVvlNQRPil0vP61nVQdk68aFRewR4Tul0hnHvNQCgVdGGYYqNyRe9UMAC3dDwg0oN0-1701lM585nBC2UyBLYwZnlnotTtH32qJmRbBAFkFll8bN5X-0trr6YiR-7Xmnnhpsemo-sXngjiPFiHHQEm3XVTuD8Uyn2XA1yTofSX1Mtwli_NDn7wbNGwE/s1024/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%20pupa%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oVvlNQRPil0vP61nVQdk68aFRewR4Tul0hnHvNQCgVdGGYYqNyRe9UMAC3dDwg0oN0-1701lM585nBC2UyBLYwZnlnotTtH32qJmRbBAFkFll8bN5X-0trr6YiR-7Xmnnhpsemo-sXngjiPFiHHQEm3XVTuD8Uyn2XA1yTofSX1Mtwli_NDn7wbNGwE/w640-h478/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%20pupa%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pupa.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFptsSB5D94bg2xicHjuWf1_hHDYPTzWvZpTXGn41ul1iQAk-NDGxJOxfzFACulqms68Xls5osheNcACtiPqSx2AvSbVgDSgg8lOgxqbrNUDcnrVoLummGvyspf4gbpLE6B8qICRW35uVF1endFaXwpMzEogY6WoOQK7Xj7hvFFsXdBCDmhR5dJs0Onbk/s1024/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFptsSB5D94bg2xicHjuWf1_hHDYPTzWvZpTXGn41ul1iQAk-NDGxJOxfzFACulqms68Xls5osheNcACtiPqSx2AvSbVgDSgg8lOgxqbrNUDcnrVoLummGvyspf4gbpLE6B8qICRW35uVF1endFaXwpMzEogY6WoOQK7Xj7hvFFsXdBCDmhR5dJs0Onbk/w640-h476/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnG68MT-QBWOfPza1zxp3xRdbvFzh27nXWNA9xDLR8TBN4Rzw3HR-JPDFHdXduzcIz721KQY5I-Df185Tfi9bLGB4tCi-3PywLVN7z5WL8ckuLRCVlgjwbab81tC78aZBl_116EzonDNtLdeCXklmmbErVOxaIKaiAEX-RY1QOtwRPzeoO7RH8RS4HLM/s1024/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="839" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnG68MT-QBWOfPza1zxp3xRdbvFzh27nXWNA9xDLR8TBN4Rzw3HR-JPDFHdXduzcIz721KQY5I-Df185Tfi9bLGB4tCi-3PywLVN7z5WL8ckuLRCVlgjwbab81tC78aZBl_116EzonDNtLdeCXklmmbErVOxaIKaiAEX-RY1QOtwRPzeoO7RH8RS4HLM/w524-h640/Cydia%20ulicetana%20maybe%202%20lo.JPG" width="524" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cydia ulicetana</i> maybe.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I suspect the pupa and larva are from <i>Cydia ulicetana</i>, a moth I've never trapped, despite it perhaps being common. Anyway, the pupae and the one cat' are in a rearing pot now. I have another rearing pot, potentially of this species from a larva I collected in a seed pod at the end of last year.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> There were a couple of beetles in there as well, I suspect they will be hard to identify but I'll give them a go. Oh, and a crab spider, but it was most likely the common one, I cannot remember its name. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The mallet handle is handy to carry to go with the umbrella beating tray. The mallet was, I think, my dad's which I inherited. It shattered into many pieces the other day when I was mending the For Sale sign at the end of our road. It must have been fifty years old, maybe older. Anyway, the handle lives on as a useful implement. <br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The evening was beautiful too so I headed down to Loch of Harray on a photographic mission.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJp6gHr8kS5b4KgWW2-c6mGmgSLZUphybxyrc4ylBqBaQQ_vz3yS2rbhx_cwNcmNs31J3AYyIDZ8ZV2-KFERD6AUWJ0XjtFdWntJAxCnIDGcdXsknKMqEmasZ9MlZ82wWUMRhcr7Mq41i5oMs6u_uEYlIl-OU7e4e4cGtVJ7fMRulMi7zqHr5SLsdYNM/s1024/Loch%20Harray%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJp6gHr8kS5b4KgWW2-c6mGmgSLZUphybxyrc4ylBqBaQQ_vz3yS2rbhx_cwNcmNs31J3AYyIDZ8ZV2-KFERD6AUWJ0XjtFdWntJAxCnIDGcdXsknKMqEmasZ9MlZ82wWUMRhcr7Mq41i5oMs6u_uEYlIl-OU7e4e4cGtVJ7fMRulMi7zqHr5SLsdYNM/w640-h476/Loch%20Harray%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZudrPGG40ZvDkGwXvFq-a4r5OPdWdLrLowJd42EcAPQsYVaT2ySEYqKfjcRExw-sEKtpKfM5W6wJfcjjXRn0QFzY-YnMGGpgSH2vQWypzBFgxGT-boPDX97rY5D9gvczUeT7V62davECBg3ci4z1Kc_XU4ZMXHE8TPPjnbLgCu2k47zK5POGilV4-mw/s1024/Loch%20Harray%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZudrPGG40ZvDkGwXvFq-a4r5OPdWdLrLowJd42EcAPQsYVaT2ySEYqKfjcRExw-sEKtpKfM5W6wJfcjjXRn0QFzY-YnMGGpgSH2vQWypzBFgxGT-boPDX97rY5D9gvczUeT7V62davECBg3ci4z1Kc_XU4ZMXHE8TPPjnbLgCu2k47zK5POGilV4-mw/w640-h472/Loch%20Harray%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch of Harray.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Photos taken and various birds noted I headed back to the car. Quite a few year ticks, Long-tailed Duck, Slavonian Grebe and something calling that I didn't immediately recognise, but probably Whooper Swans. A lot of Pink-feet yapping away. Put the kit safe in the car, seatbelt on, looked up, set off, something caught my eye, and standing in the burn a few metres from me was a Great White Egret. I managed to stick the iso on max and fired a few shots off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE_SLoDo1xYsCFvBxiuIGZoGW5uc5wy2KGMGobrztMWxD_s9NxhW3zEFTo5lFkbQscuZuETk0_-QQkOkBIhoMAh_2kBvIRsRcNM9oV4IYPf784v0OJbSSAZQh-J2pgHKJ9ZazkKq0Jro7bo8uOt2ZEZbou9mVPfFv1G5CCYHc6Ml7haw93tTdJd_aNRY/s1024/GWE%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE_SLoDo1xYsCFvBxiuIGZoGW5uc5wy2KGMGobrztMWxD_s9NxhW3zEFTo5lFkbQscuZuETk0_-QQkOkBIhoMAh_2kBvIRsRcNM9oV4IYPf784v0OJbSSAZQh-J2pgHKJ9ZazkKq0Jro7bo8uOt2ZEZbou9mVPfFv1G5CCYHc6Ml7haw93tTdJd_aNRY/w640-h486/GWE%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBEwbQagrBLVUVPh3AzVejTCAXXunLR5cjWbaJDNJ0rqkOZylO7e6FhSiApiMePj3dBI1gGFecnEx5p3o046tn3ajV5B13jbR1lI8z4lCql3f-VTruJjxVnQxbaaY24IxK8UPsAeR0Nhjd-GBYPvW-bMLjCkkR3VrpDesSKhBKXaHXc_f_5dVYtMNjEY/s1024/GWE%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBEwbQagrBLVUVPh3AzVejTCAXXunLR5cjWbaJDNJ0rqkOZylO7e6FhSiApiMePj3dBI1gGFecnEx5p3o046tn3ajV5B13jbR1lI8z4lCql3f-VTruJjxVnQxbaaY24IxK8UPsAeR0Nhjd-GBYPvW-bMLjCkkR3VrpDesSKhBKXaHXc_f_5dVYtMNjEY/w640-h486/GWE%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great White Egret, not quite in the dark.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A car in my rear view so I had to move, this being single track. A nice end to the day.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-61231088879609664262024-01-02T18:10:00.006+00:002024-01-02T18:15:45.053+00:00New Year's Day<p> Yesterday (31/12/2023) and the Great White Egret was present briefly on The Shunan. But not seen today.</p><p>However I shouldn't complain. I'd booked to go on the Field Club ramble, or amble, around Stromness. I'd managed to get my act together enough to get up early, walk the hound and then scoot to Finstown first. I debated between The Slip for white-wingers or Heddle Rd for passerines, I didn't have time for both. Heddle Road it was and it was a good choice. I don't think many folk will have ever have had Treecreeper in their first twenty species of the year in Orkney.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9GmXXeT9cC3ZqVma1TWel8rWz7esuUtg8gz0x2rFoIAzPzEKjO7RziZUG_g_EQR8KZAhaZh-Z5PZFxAygbx4_fmUfFnHMfDxasE6-C5l_2hp4XT-TbiLMeXz66RASlpW6hqZbgy0R5gTBjYgDog60FgIM73XOWxjPhWoZTzXBu789NzxONbVKKWyl2U/s1495/Treeper%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1173" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ9GmXXeT9cC3ZqVma1TWel8rWz7esuUtg8gz0x2rFoIAzPzEKjO7RziZUG_g_EQR8KZAhaZh-Z5PZFxAygbx4_fmUfFnHMfDxasE6-C5l_2hp4XT-TbiLMeXz66RASlpW6hqZbgy0R5gTBjYgDog60FgIM73XOWxjPhWoZTzXBu789NzxONbVKKWyl2U/w502-h640/Treeper%202.JPG" width="502" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGtN1kydJ5wZD8BPU5-J-_-4FwJsdb2Nlila1RAEJzqOo-Zhy29uMJTcpEnOX_0wSPL-2BbSXQW0NPpQXgsYE-uNVCdavhic8Rw_1ylIw2S4QBk0VfSMVu_WKocGE8Rd3MgEEzWbQl8-cUe0fuEJQD-ujds70zNFuvFMH4EmNGAWGCQDSkeweCcp1ISI/s1283/Treeper.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGtN1kydJ5wZD8BPU5-J-_-4FwJsdb2Nlila1RAEJzqOo-Zhy29uMJTcpEnOX_0wSPL-2BbSXQW0NPpQXgsYE-uNVCdavhic8Rw_1ylIw2S4QBk0VfSMVu_WKocGE8Rd3MgEEzWbQl8-cUe0fuEJQD-ujds70zNFuvFMH4EmNGAWGCQDSkeweCcp1ISI/w498-h640/Treeper.JPG" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treecreeper. The ring is locally applied, ringer's garden across the road from where I was watching.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I glimpsed Coal Tit a few times as well before finally getting a decent view of one of the sneeky wee beasts. No photo opportunity though.</p><p>Then off to Stromness and a meet up with the Field Club. It was a lovely day and we wandered past Stromness Loons, to the Reservoir and then round. Highlights were four Short-eared Owls, three Kestrels and two hen Harriers. There was a quite old Blackthorn hedge which I was unaware of, and I found a larval case of <i>Coleophora alticolella</i>, which folk found interesting.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4eabFeM1zxXhDWnXRjdche_KFMbJ3F7jXkN87l8kjb0DcsSQTIEdZTsIEbK6mfssgBPr5t4ycaeEvAr-uIIiMU91GHSKeY5mhhN36S_l1pcYRRkjPF4xp0MVteJW7mg5zeoI51LO1kPjApV-IOsbJpheksH3SboM1Qse8x6QJ6i-z8R5uUOTowAJseM/s1024/Coleophora%20alticolella%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4eabFeM1zxXhDWnXRjdche_KFMbJ3F7jXkN87l8kjb0DcsSQTIEdZTsIEbK6mfssgBPr5t4ycaeEvAr-uIIiMU91GHSKeY5mhhN36S_l1pcYRRkjPF4xp0MVteJW7mg5zeoI51LO1kPjApV-IOsbJpheksH3SboM1Qse8x6QJ6i-z8R5uUOTowAJseM/w640-h464/Coleophora%20alticolella%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larval case, <i>Coleophora alticolella.</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Having looked carefully at the case I think it may still be occupied so I've labelled it up and put it in a rearing pot, I've never seen the adult moth. <br /></p><p>At lunch time I managed to find a moss and a lichen of interest. However, I think they were both species I've recorded previously.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbRuXdlk8HJjedQRxUdK7V0woQ8Idxf4-haT9I5Ebzqgysl9nuodNKPV83NJ24JNx6aAG2OxAoNFijEWybFHXdlKyd0R9byYeMsvJwd0NI5EiatCkw6HXSIfSIzcfrVmojOxOnVFEz2e5dgdyl78GjpZ9_IwFcXNQnasnM4dPEcmZkWAxrW3NWS_2AT8/s1024/Peltigera%20membranacea%20upper%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbRuXdlk8HJjedQRxUdK7V0woQ8Idxf4-haT9I5Ebzqgysl9nuodNKPV83NJ24JNx6aAG2OxAoNFijEWybFHXdlKyd0R9byYeMsvJwd0NI5EiatCkw6HXSIfSIzcfrVmojOxOnVFEz2e5dgdyl78GjpZ9_IwFcXNQnasnM4dPEcmZkWAxrW3NWS_2AT8/w640-h476/Peltigera%20membranacea%20upper%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8gI29Yb-905TctQCndZV6VCYBE01Ef8SMM2FomrtzG5hEu6B1kGbhdR44R7abAspneB7Ine7Q_BAt-1RNc0mbMEt_aGpyXIJ51MBW6ACyR5234tebX-SbITlBW6ul01w95Fyfa1sG5sEG-4zNQs4CIkjKxKZkEAzo9RkPKdr7i4T7YyESnN4lMOndRk/s1024/Peltigera%20membranacea%20lower2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="786" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8gI29Yb-905TctQCndZV6VCYBE01Ef8SMM2FomrtzG5hEu6B1kGbhdR44R7abAspneB7Ine7Q_BAt-1RNc0mbMEt_aGpyXIJ51MBW6ACyR5234tebX-SbITlBW6ul01w95Fyfa1sG5sEG-4zNQs4CIkjKxKZkEAzo9RkPKdr7i4T7YyESnN4lMOndRk/w492-h640/Peltigera%20membranacea%20lower2%20lo.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUnj2Oov5w_VA6yOk4vU4rhegJ3gG2CveJyd1OLQSp8ZQY07h_PACy6tCHLOVBTWNna5-phfN4RGY3mGONUQnOFTM8g7xP_znl-23UQ9EjHzj_IOBT6Be4Kq4QI9ikCgP1l_rkA2jWt0c4_RY1ssI72Jghyphenhyphen2rSraj8cGCWvfSEADMTxCnT0vpuH3iBPc/s1202/Peltigera%20membranacea%20lower.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1202" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUnj2Oov5w_VA6yOk4vU4rhegJ3gG2CveJyd1OLQSp8ZQY07h_PACy6tCHLOVBTWNna5-phfN4RGY3mGONUQnOFTM8g7xP_znl-23UQ9EjHzj_IOBT6Be4Kq4QI9ikCgP1l_rkA2jWt0c4_RY1ssI72Jghyphenhyphen2rSraj8cGCWvfSEADMTxCnT0vpuH3iBPc/w640-h472/Peltigera%20membranacea%20lower.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Peltigera membranacea</i>, a dog lichen.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyskFu5_6bSfXArkS_aUo50bG4h1g8TbH0VBhBNkpi9B0vlWmKwvWuHLGeM5vCYh4QJC4whA_D_LGQMYB789AWfL1fpCgYjP0WhF2Q6DLT8kFeIgrEJ4sCfTpfbmBEr3z_xE4RIdP7mLvw0srwDXs_TQNxO1Hml4LfaQgyWL_oVc4RQJ0umFvelwKd9SU/s1024/Hylocomium%20splendens%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyskFu5_6bSfXArkS_aUo50bG4h1g8TbH0VBhBNkpi9B0vlWmKwvWuHLGeM5vCYh4QJC4whA_D_LGQMYB789AWfL1fpCgYjP0WhF2Q6DLT8kFeIgrEJ4sCfTpfbmBEr3z_xE4RIdP7mLvw0srwDXs_TQNxO1Hml4LfaQgyWL_oVc4RQJ0umFvelwKd9SU/w640-h476/Hylocomium%20splendens%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hylocomium splendens</i>, a moss, rather a common one.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>After lunch we tried to find a couple of prostrate Junipers, one of which is purportedly huge, 8m. However, other folk were looking at the sea and although we were very distant the Orcas in Hoy Sound were pretty obvious. There was a male and about seven others, presumably the 65s. We watched the Orcas for a good while, in the end they seemed to just head out west. And somehow I missed the Juniper, I will go back.<br /></p><p>Tea and stolen were enjoyed, thank you MT and GW. There had been a fair bit of useful discussion about moths during the day which I've followed up on today. The moth stuff is a lot of work, kind of like a job!</p><p>On the way home I stopped at some Otters.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="416" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bh5o17jhAlI" width="500" youtube-src-id="Bh5o17jhAlI"></iframe></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-21789284484148012502023-12-21T23:12:00.002+00:002023-12-27T15:20:11.362+00:00The festive season<p> Typically, today it has blown a hooley. </p><p>As a result one of our
sheds is now looking very unwell. In truth this is the shed that
collapsed a few years ago and I patched up. Yesterday, checking around
prior to the wind coming I noticed something was awry. Further
investigation revealed a timber supporting the roof had pretty much
rotted away. So we shoved the trailer and backed the horsebox right up
to the remains and hoped for the best.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDs-6X9qEY8F89Uazf0_XjNCYF4H5SqhZI8D1ClzeBwdwpr2ysOSJbf9x_Gt_feQS0EH374ekkqMOkaZt1-j9FhGogWTxxJ9ZkgMwCnW_Tpks_4cCBI4LAvET8_gyPazqq-NanI1Glu0BQAk23kEaUjFqIetsgkSnIWNq0BuJ3an1uUBu29EULejjcmTc/s1024/Shed%20dead.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDs-6X9qEY8F89Uazf0_XjNCYF4H5SqhZI8D1ClzeBwdwpr2ysOSJbf9x_Gt_feQS0EH374ekkqMOkaZt1-j9FhGogWTxxJ9ZkgMwCnW_Tpks_4cCBI4LAvET8_gyPazqq-NanI1Glu0BQAk23kEaUjFqIetsgkSnIWNq0BuJ3an1uUBu29EULejjcmTc/w640-h480/Shed%20dead.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the night the roof began peeling off, plank by plank.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I will be demolishing this shed come the next calm day.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvtdbaAATZKl0HhzJnXcg9jYrKy2QPONR6Fv-dInIZdkVgX_JUf_ekQI7cyjX9dmjpEr9Jxq198vlVQ7uikLvUAIjP5xHYX9zxLstpdZ1CStRxqsFdjNXnvajakDyRdcHbLn0F9_Pfj1eEMlie_bPLGOif15YIoiZWEATpTF5jLTwRgv540GymQNHx2c/s1024/Bad%20weather%20day.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvtdbaAATZKl0HhzJnXcg9jYrKy2QPONR6Fv-dInIZdkVgX_JUf_ekQI7cyjX9dmjpEr9Jxq198vlVQ7uikLvUAIjP5xHYX9zxLstpdZ1CStRxqsFdjNXnvajakDyRdcHbLn0F9_Pfj1eEMlie_bPLGOif15YIoiZWEATpTF5jLTwRgv540GymQNHx2c/w640-h468/Bad%20weather%20day.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad tempered sky = bad tempered weather.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I've
doing a fair bit of moth stuff. That's additional to trying to put my
records for the year into iRecord. I had a look at the Lorimer
collection held in Stromness Museum. A lot of interesting things:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY3yYQtYsJn13p2aimYGpXSibfRrduAsVycRWLfoKRNpykI9puKsex59noOgnDTe7G9YhEcweLIWcXvY1jlljNWHDvP4yHzSREus0dkWgP7Y6gvb3VyTr6ZXJJ5KcwbmdkE-sdKiE5HFhVlzs5Hs1shbQubVdEW0WHpP9olx-G9MHLduJuNNsVFSxEDI/s1024/Pale%20Mottled%20Willow%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="853" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIY3yYQtYsJn13p2aimYGpXSibfRrduAsVycRWLfoKRNpykI9puKsex59noOgnDTe7G9YhEcweLIWcXvY1jlljNWHDvP4yHzSREus0dkWgP7Y6gvb3VyTr6ZXJJ5KcwbmdkE-sdKiE5HFhVlzs5Hs1shbQubVdEW0WHpP9olx-G9MHLduJuNNsVFSxEDI/w534-h640/Pale%20Mottled%20Willow%20lo.JPG" width="534" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A species which was common in Orkney but isn't these days. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">I
suspect changes in farming practice have caused a significant decline
of this species. These days it is usually silage that is made, not hay,
and the silage is stored in plastic wrapped large bales stored outside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx8OM3CjIUeEoJl-hfyQpg-iY2Kd15iMN6Ss6cW5Twz0k-CQSRk1RS8d5wYYNiiG4X7fj0TPg77HLvWyOliCrWnJpPF9mIeCW4AJJnOUJszyEbugNGdfMptYPHD2iarHZhhA2c12RvMWfdZlXPnZl_Sh6WczR9tHej8gtxB51IrhT5gJu0H28AN-M7Oo/s1024/Ash%20Pug%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1024" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHx8OM3CjIUeEoJl-hfyQpg-iY2Kd15iMN6Ss6cW5Twz0k-CQSRk1RS8d5wYYNiiG4X7fj0TPg77HLvWyOliCrWnJpPF9mIeCW4AJJnOUJszyEbugNGdfMptYPHD2iarHZhhA2c12RvMWfdZlXPnZl_Sh6WczR9tHej8gtxB51IrhT5gJu0H28AN-M7Oo/w640-h442/Ash%20Pug%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTPToy9Uk822ECci0-x4iYV-fHrit9FAQXgQFhBB92Sn6eruC1KR60vIrw1R4usBFo3mO4_dg_D1aENPvtTAI8Raw0o6FnANW-PxaADLsi7k5_pdWlhL989-lWg6kLjONqnr7yhfqxgl7YhImNJR8ae6NJqZWfFluOG8lXmKQho7am4th0hJuJ3pK8M0/s1024/Juniper%20Pug%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1024" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTPToy9Uk822ECci0-x4iYV-fHrit9FAQXgQFhBB92Sn6eruC1KR60vIrw1R4usBFo3mO4_dg_D1aENPvtTAI8Raw0o6FnANW-PxaADLsi7k5_pdWlhL989-lWg6kLjONqnr7yhfqxgl7YhImNJR8ae6NJqZWfFluOG8lXmKQho7am4th0hJuJ3pK8M0/w640-h442/Juniper%20Pug%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">I've
not seen either of these two species. We have old Ash trees very nearby
but the Ash Pug hasn't made it the few miles from the Ash at Binscarth.
Equally, Juniper Pug doesn't seem to have found the few Junipers in
next door's garden. Hoy is a good bit further away mind.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lastly a bit of a puzzle.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NyKJjPNML-sl2dFYvbVfemcGRMRaFSKFCImHOjgF_kpBce5Ld-oVPlrnWLoD5S_wet-9luXkdBXqsAljKuhqpu2tyuyjaFR7OBcp_O1eEcce9t3LibvMpltMviN5VjUyLJXcE_wr48WInMhX1S1wH03O_rQZU3GYVYcbp-i_6NwfFFIqMaHsPXveLEE/s1024/Fen%20SS%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NyKJjPNML-sl2dFYvbVfemcGRMRaFSKFCImHOjgF_kpBce5Ld-oVPlrnWLoD5S_wet-9luXkdBXqsAljKuhqpu2tyuyjaFR7OBcp_O1eEcce9t3LibvMpltMviN5VjUyLJXcE_wr48WInMhX1S1wH03O_rQZU3GYVYcbp-i_6NwfFFIqMaHsPXveLEE/w640-h480/Fen%20SS%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fen Square-spot. A bit of a taxonomic and identification nightmare.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Looking at NBN the distribution of this species is disjointed. The Orkney population is out on a limb. In the south of UK. <i>D. florida</i> has a flight period between the two generations of <i>D. rubi</i>.
However, in the north - Orkney - the generations are concurrent. The
genitalia of the two species are very, very similar and the species are
not seperable by gendet. The theory is that <i>D. florida</i> is in the process of evolutionary separation from <i>D. rubi</i>. So are the Orkney records good? To my eye the specimens in the cabinet draw look to be the same size as those of <i>D.rubi</i>, the two moths below. I need to go back and take a closer look and do a lot more research. Ideas welcomed.</p><p>There is more of the Lorimer collection in Kirkwall Archive, a visit will be on the agenda for the New Year.</p><p>I've
also been going through the micro-moth list for the county. I've
written a draft recommendation for what could be added and what could be
removed. But, further research is required for a good few species.</p><p>Actual moth field work has involved searching by torch light. There are still a few Mottled Umber around.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKlBDRkvJbM2bGfg7-RDdUsE0WXQDuGzRuDph48HA287eBSI6srV92zflaG-SNva-k5u-TQilImGhDaTCCL4_jlD4YSwJIYrMek-7nnmz0gF7uu-vklRY4Jqiz8vOFcsUL_wiIFVHQMUZUmViPM5mGJXl90c4ARjIZMXkYSFaGzdRgZ6Ec-JsxQD_8b4/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%20dorsal%204%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKlBDRkvJbM2bGfg7-RDdUsE0WXQDuGzRuDph48HA287eBSI6srV92zflaG-SNva-k5u-TQilImGhDaTCCL4_jlD4YSwJIYrMek-7nnmz0gF7uu-vklRY4Jqiz8vOFcsUL_wiIFVHQMUZUmViPM5mGJXl90c4ARjIZMXkYSFaGzdRgZ6Ec-JsxQD_8b4/w640-h478/Mottled%20Umber%20dorsal%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDyifHAKVVVOzmAAs65gOzABoWncbrZu066VFlfBrFxzwA8YDPu1JgO3n2ZnRBe9ywILtW3uhhyphenhyphenM-u-myOgG2o6asPXtc6vPAz0tK1DKxixFNCBkmRF8_tB3SayRUJSjZWgUaJz5etsU-zbhQHPC_BmuuCVfp8e_W23Y9zbzGAsL7nu4NCLxjj79CpZk/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%20under%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDyifHAKVVVOzmAAs65gOzABoWncbrZu066VFlfBrFxzwA8YDPu1JgO3n2ZnRBe9ywILtW3uhhyphenhyphenM-u-myOgG2o6asPXtc6vPAz0tK1DKxixFNCBkmRF8_tB3SayRUJSjZWgUaJz5etsU-zbhQHPC_BmuuCVfp8e_W23Y9zbzGAsL7nu4NCLxjj79CpZk/w640-h466/Mottled%20Umber%20under%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umber, upper and lower.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Unusually
this one appeared on the kitchen window. That evening there were 51
Winter Moths in the garden, including three pairs in cop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWBEN94VCfNDHFpkDk2Wukz2UjdziBWRAtc-3sKBnNx6DZwS2dW5EMU2etIqtLRRQsZpMbzyEjyhjutz4neAZMaPvPUQrt_2_G-_B7Eoj1QgM0cde0L9z_8tRtMaMxo6LCMlLSQKE8e6YafhjWS086CawiAbshxQRtrlLbccBmGt0cJWPN2VIRh1aJSs/s1024/Winter%20Moth%20m&f%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="806" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWBEN94VCfNDHFpkDk2Wukz2UjdziBWRAtc-3sKBnNx6DZwS2dW5EMU2etIqtLRRQsZpMbzyEjyhjutz4neAZMaPvPUQrt_2_G-_B7Eoj1QgM0cde0L9z_8tRtMaMxo6LCMlLSQKE8e6YafhjWS086CawiAbshxQRtrlLbccBmGt0cJWPN2VIRh1aJSs/w504-h640/Winter%20Moth%20m&f%20lo.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Moth, male (fully winged) and female.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaTYpMm7ftKzC23rW7MTKJACiFOp7wjxfyAeyPex_hHePAkiN_WWsy7FurrVkPP6Zlg4eIfE_6wFRLBIaotI7Id1y5XUNZSQTIpK_xS3eZ19ija2Myd7LjKEvfjolgcjzOqzHMXSCPX6DWZVfOP4RBJQJflU3QFbRrH7BCKaEEZ7cBwCeHCiHQIuCW3c/s1024/Winter%20Moth%20underwing%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaTYpMm7ftKzC23rW7MTKJACiFOp7wjxfyAeyPex_hHePAkiN_WWsy7FurrVkPP6Zlg4eIfE_6wFRLBIaotI7Id1y5XUNZSQTIpK_xS3eZ19ija2Myd7LjKEvfjolgcjzOqzHMXSCPX6DWZVfOP4RBJQJflU3QFbRrH7BCKaEEZ7cBwCeHCiHQIuCW3c/w498-h640/Winter%20Moth%20underwing%20lo.JPG" width="498" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Moth.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Last night there were 13 before the storm, including one pair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98VFSvRnzViXK1ReSy1n0EcAgXA-zJ7qT4oGKdjuwNzOiJ7J9-_TtLaKMbjZ2h8JVSUyLgLyCfcF2TVy0MaAXJuZWYQqaSaEE696EjP9AKyA7BhB4hfL0QnjuuJV_Po4y071dj_1-QhVm0q0F9hDVxwGkw0XomhWGrzr4zTFYMxCgS4wLDpMmJNNMVjo/s1024/Winter%20Moth%20m%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98VFSvRnzViXK1ReSy1n0EcAgXA-zJ7qT4oGKdjuwNzOiJ7J9-_TtLaKMbjZ2h8JVSUyLgLyCfcF2TVy0MaAXJuZWYQqaSaEE696EjP9AKyA7BhB4hfL0QnjuuJV_Po4y071dj_1-QhVm0q0F9hDVxwGkw0XomhWGrzr4zTFYMxCgS4wLDpMmJNNMVjo/w640-h464/Winter%20Moth%20m%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIY3lE2ZTNRzJ-vPuOrwnd4jKZU50rZ3HdVp1DqPt4FMY4N3BVFNQaAhL1ZnfKbzrrI0ouHROk3stY6Xjpn-B8u3IEHziGJHq2xRQEoyeQLVvNqkBc0wAzrgmA7BKXPvxV_Mmzv8dQk9_vJrsCZZ0u7R1tLrGMsnu5s9P0TYZcHKF9YRds64PvefQYwc/s1024/Winter%20Moth%20pr%20incop%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIY3lE2ZTNRzJ-vPuOrwnd4jKZU50rZ3HdVp1DqPt4FMY4N3BVFNQaAhL1ZnfKbzrrI0ouHROk3stY6Xjpn-B8u3IEHziGJHq2xRQEoyeQLVvNqkBc0wAzrgmA7BKXPvxV_Mmzv8dQk9_vJrsCZZ0u7R1tLrGMsnu5s9P0TYZcHKF9YRds64PvefQYwc/w640-h464/Winter%20Moth%20pr%20incop%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Moths.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">Quiet
on the bird front, although the Great White Egret is present on Parro
Shun for an hour or so most days. Highlight was most likely the c450
Jackdaws that flew over the house in the dusk yesterday evening on their
way to roost. This was a record number, the previous high count being
somewhere in the low 300s I think.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qkarGGdilI2HBAeHcFSM60c59MqzT6ArLdDGMZDIciEPy3raMAfjxmo53X-oOPHNZRkXyhLhVKEZ2wUc5XBPEIUB5YP5Fpho61Owo3GdC7qV9hpq8SO8ntog5G4njsSYjnmtFjQ3XtsUgRey42UXfisRUKUdtnjPfgauBPgHr5jjSzVmQ_zJKocLyeg/s1024/Fieldfare%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qkarGGdilI2HBAeHcFSM60c59MqzT6ArLdDGMZDIciEPy3raMAfjxmo53X-oOPHNZRkXyhLhVKEZ2wUc5XBPEIUB5YP5Fpho61Owo3GdC7qV9hpq8SO8ntog5G4njsSYjnmtFjQ3XtsUgRey42UXfisRUKUdtnjPfgauBPgHr5jjSzVmQ_zJKocLyeg/w640-h472/Fieldfare%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY3vWqJ6QiEHx8xqW58aOUOjpizJWVqJPZk__1S5cbrXxeeJXZlQ4PvSzdBmBYtVlKlBO0N6NDmYRYpCBW3JtYhY7zlVQOCUTdIF5brMTT2mG1HAFCjPS-xolwveRQJoUXQx-i-E3AxH6ZHqIuFlQwX1DIiauakgiRBLKQjbLg19URVMUrMBaJauVcQk/s1380/Fieldfare%204%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1380" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLY3vWqJ6QiEHx8xqW58aOUOjpizJWVqJPZk__1S5cbrXxeeJXZlQ4PvSzdBmBYtVlKlBO0N6NDmYRYpCBW3JtYhY7zlVQOCUTdIF5brMTT2mG1HAFCjPS-xolwveRQJoUXQx-i-E3AxH6ZHqIuFlQwX1DIiauakgiRBLKQjbLg19URVMUrMBaJauVcQk/w640-h464/Fieldfare%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiedfare.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqRO2MMv_xWQru-9tBH3bFodnTkmoN4DcLlJ4HCxFUXTNK8K0MshOhDURO_TIugYauM12LxSUPQUhBW_Y19vWbAtMetgD8fEXMM25XLrzppA2H6ijnN2IlQgsacEA3W_tMPSSIjFb1PPf2MJcq3rEYSfkyHDRcGepA6GfR74kkk3yQKWPDd3Dtp_MtMk/s1024/lapwing%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGqRO2MMv_xWQru-9tBH3bFodnTkmoN4DcLlJ4HCxFUXTNK8K0MshOhDURO_TIugYauM12LxSUPQUhBW_Y19vWbAtMetgD8fEXMM25XLrzppA2H6ijnN2IlQgsacEA3W_tMPSSIjFb1PPf2MJcq3rEYSfkyHDRcGepA6GfR74kkk3yQKWPDd3Dtp_MtMk/w640-h458/lapwing%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapwing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4vAYUOML4zUrKhdqS99M2cEqguptW8ZBE-yQHphKGX2gemYDoiBuhFCtE3y_yyzSsQTbLRTNofJf8SAhtf1l9Pp7QdVHO4nhgf87YzP5cfCenmyEWnH6rkP76BVLc5zZqhBD8Iwz7tLvjmPi8ZmB2XnQs3QnPPfA76tm4rLF-087Jx0qZgfXQUUJors/s1024/Plovers%20sheep%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="775" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4vAYUOML4zUrKhdqS99M2cEqguptW8ZBE-yQHphKGX2gemYDoiBuhFCtE3y_yyzSsQTbLRTNofJf8SAhtf1l9Pp7QdVHO4nhgf87YzP5cfCenmyEWnH6rkP76BVLc5zZqhBD8Iwz7tLvjmPi8ZmB2XnQs3QnPPfA76tm4rLF-087Jx0qZgfXQUUJors/w484-h640/Plovers%20sheep%20lo.JPG" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lapwings, Golden Plover and sheep.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dPg-dolWhatYeHtSN3G9NaRkbmecB0VgqW17OuFHwFWntGAR8yk-wM05sEL4lnhi-sUCntc-ryjOOJHcrn9XITkPPCG3RE6KP1blUhE-sZ45aiL0wnYXV6x1cZOmBFV8zn1jrgQdpoDSSyerz2zS1QIi8uMAkewg7BZtQNUPaZt01TKKd04sF8JkNbc/s1024/Eve%20sky%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5dPg-dolWhatYeHtSN3G9NaRkbmecB0VgqW17OuFHwFWntGAR8yk-wM05sEL4lnhi-sUCntc-ryjOOJHcrn9XITkPPCG3RE6KP1blUhE-sZ45aiL0wnYXV6x1cZOmBFV8zn1jrgQdpoDSSyerz2zS1QIi8uMAkewg7BZtQNUPaZt01TKKd04sF8JkNbc/w640-h480/Eve%20sky%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua9SVj-K4djEHnoKi_z5X4MEOPrSPvNiAYSqlkbErm-QBvS2Y0JstWuCsF3zjiKg3cPiNfnQ1RIsbf1oiRb7dSP2gydRiEqWRM1nJUwei7wtnxwILvnTimZ3Lea0qXlmmHTorizfsERNn9grI_lmOkFWZ6zd4ENKcazCT2Qjpc1D-lt58p82IIT7TmOY/s1024/The%20Shunan%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhua9SVj-K4djEHnoKi_z5X4MEOPrSPvNiAYSqlkbErm-QBvS2Y0JstWuCsF3zjiKg3cPiNfnQ1RIsbf1oiRb7dSP2gydRiEqWRM1nJUwei7wtnxwILvnTimZ3Lea0qXlmmHTorizfsERNn9grI_lmOkFWZ6zd4ENKcazCT2Qjpc1D-lt58p82IIT7TmOY/w640-h480/The%20Shunan%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shunan from the garden the other evening.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Season's Greetings to all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhj_6ARqVmBkqxRntss2qFrAFyuzDqf71cwzT3TFRqLAwbEbMydQl4oG5fqyibLfuaDZUMr4txPPq65N_S90VVNy4K1omwYYQhWWvzdQSzQ1eq4jM8n2J9ZvS1J2f8H08de3nk2Lur__O3oEUcw0KRt8RoljW1QzuqqTineKsLprZXLRmCe23aIgX7sw/s1833/Robin%20Xmas%20card%20version%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1833" data-original-width="1384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhj_6ARqVmBkqxRntss2qFrAFyuzDqf71cwzT3TFRqLAwbEbMydQl4oG5fqyibLfuaDZUMr4txPPq65N_S90VVNy4K1omwYYQhWWvzdQSzQ1eq4jM8n2J9ZvS1J2f8H08de3nk2Lur__O3oEUcw0KRt8RoljW1QzuqqTineKsLprZXLRmCe23aIgX7sw/w484-h640/Robin%20Xmas%20card%20version%202.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-73577123834793438492023-12-11T23:27:00.001+00:002023-12-11T23:36:09.036+00:00Strandings<p>Two huge strandings of Atlantic Saury, <i>Scomberesox saurus</i>, (iRecord calls these fish Skipper) have occurred here. The first at Shapinsay on 10th Decmber and then here on West Mainland the next day. There are thousands of fish on the shore between Finstown and Kirkwall. I went to Finstown yesterday and took the photos below.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01pgYD50Vwjsff7nmB0P2PwU_HipN48wwr5gElpz-R4e8Gqu4oMzAMlIEIDSeWBkdXD60iMiwhl0dSQuUqnRXlk1uIw1oN4Or-Jc1C8-5Wi_MvkRsvyHKCyAysp1yTcJ4PHbOeIVxkt6brPtEb_ZRuP0EslzQCkP9oireGVbCGdwp6fwiFhclKvwjWNQ/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%20stranding%203%20lo%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="1024" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01pgYD50Vwjsff7nmB0P2PwU_HipN48wwr5gElpz-R4e8Gqu4oMzAMlIEIDSeWBkdXD60iMiwhl0dSQuUqnRXlk1uIw1oN4Or-Jc1C8-5Wi_MvkRsvyHKCyAysp1yTcJ4PHbOeIVxkt6brPtEb_ZRuP0EslzQCkP9oireGVbCGdwp6fwiFhclKvwjWNQ/w640-h194/Atlantic%20Saury%20stranding%203%20lo%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPvya9a88iny52E98JKlFmCcWHhBpbjS43IRc92HmSLQU7XAYGZjScVKcCsvOEtRrqwI8DCmFVE2oucpMRxHZiY6lmSfzJxehllJKIsQCeP36UM0u7LjEHLLoFmm4JUBGFP5Fr-zMOwOGQxfkVOlF6iQ27PPMigZy2XbXmBo4Lc-GEvd1F3LU4kJ23_c/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%20stranding%20above%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPvya9a88iny52E98JKlFmCcWHhBpbjS43IRc92HmSLQU7XAYGZjScVKcCsvOEtRrqwI8DCmFVE2oucpMRxHZiY6lmSfzJxehllJKIsQCeP36UM0u7LjEHLLoFmm4JUBGFP5Fr-zMOwOGQxfkVOlF6iQ27PPMigZy2XbXmBo4Lc-GEvd1F3LU4kJ23_c/w640-h468/Atlantic%20Saury%20stranding%20above%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivElsZ_VAjCPpzHjAh0YOCFfM_yuk47MhuvNJj8M9wO1vRokllvrmMSqSwY0WfjkXZZT4mQAMPcr4-XLOkauuGLWP2Hr_nRlJsDm_MhJJ9KV2LbEFX3Ta3qpA7bBkrqYJHxDOfiNR8AjM3bkxySk1ZyxMZ9Hcc2kTU7X2QHECJdmXPijT1MLEgdVZB6-g/s1024/Saury%20stranding1%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1024" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivElsZ_VAjCPpzHjAh0YOCFfM_yuk47MhuvNJj8M9wO1vRokllvrmMSqSwY0WfjkXZZT4mQAMPcr4-XLOkauuGLWP2Hr_nRlJsDm_MhJJ9KV2LbEFX3Ta3qpA7bBkrqYJHxDOfiNR8AjM3bkxySk1ZyxMZ9Hcc2kTU7X2QHECJdmXPijT1MLEgdVZB6-g/w640-h412/Saury%20stranding1%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">These are not dead fish washed ashore, but fish deliberately swimming on to the shore. I put a few of the living back in the water, but mostly they just swam back again.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="393" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BUxsI7kH0nw" width="472" youtube-src-id="BUxsI7kH0nw"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="392" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1CZ59dD3LFU" width="472" youtube-src-id="1CZ59dD3LFU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is quite a rare fish here, there were a few caught by Sea Trout fishermen at the end of October, also at Finstown.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dTx9UqCmUOZElpywFXH-t5_LZ17F-cQZXEKx-TbOVnYo9iEy_ugJoWUnsu4GWTIE1_ycxuFPEe_mA4wkTq4J1VfUgBHcxraWQWehzl_BJV9LxVS5CxCIMMluou2KhC7NmbLOB__lcCDVQ0thjytmE-n2tJlucabtQ19URBEhEyRt6JKvI5hpKXtC-d0/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="1024" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dTx9UqCmUOZElpywFXH-t5_LZ17F-cQZXEKx-TbOVnYo9iEy_ugJoWUnsu4GWTIE1_ycxuFPEe_mA4wkTq4J1VfUgBHcxraWQWehzl_BJV9LxVS5CxCIMMluou2KhC7NmbLOB__lcCDVQ0thjytmE-n2tJlucabtQ19URBEhEyRt6JKvI5hpKXtC-d0/w640-h282/Atlantic%20Saury%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmiPs5yeDWH55Y3Zz6Y9Y69Qq5ht6bnAaQYmoEtsIogHcX8FOHTvv-Yeeu8_38VIO_Im95OEX4_E30bNelBMVH2Sf9uFu2RI0u7N2_P1X7KLGtaitRGqEmeklpIkWJza_5z0Q0C0xo1U-vM87Nlogms_4q4uR8jr3ze6HCl4y1k3CHRjFWbbFuydlNPs/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%20head%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmiPs5yeDWH55Y3Zz6Y9Y69Qq5ht6bnAaQYmoEtsIogHcX8FOHTvv-Yeeu8_38VIO_Im95OEX4_E30bNelBMVH2Sf9uFu2RI0u7N2_P1X7KLGtaitRGqEmeklpIkWJza_5z0Q0C0xo1U-vM87Nlogms_4q4uR8jr3ze6HCl4y1k3CHRjFWbbFuydlNPs/w640-h466/Atlantic%20Saury%20head%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAje0VTCvPFQ5q0iK9zQQ_nrfvJjHnOFlcNTzMlzrKesFJYjz7V06cuBtmCmfHEtaliUB5j2BEhnbUSL2REqWSYJg_zHb9rNjSU1npRB21GdrayphEzcsZLmR7sOKLSmDIWybrI-yx2yFyQxax0LmqCcTinFbPDta3zV7J_A-9oFy2SXP1StSb2FLDTA/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%20size%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifAje0VTCvPFQ5q0iK9zQQ_nrfvJjHnOFlcNTzMlzrKesFJYjz7V06cuBtmCmfHEtaliUB5j2BEhnbUSL2REqWSYJg_zHb9rNjSU1npRB21GdrayphEzcsZLmR7sOKLSmDIWybrI-yx2yFyQxax0LmqCcTinFbPDta3zV7J_A-9oFy2SXP1StSb2FLDTA/w640-h454/Atlantic%20Saury%20size%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Against my boot for size, c300mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTLgtUylTGyq5-3oojIFp5Dix8r3o7rNguyqG3uQ2nU_cJRIEVlpjzGeg2_I6lbSbU0P94s6xGWW0FIYJTvsfWVYf_ENpClY6mPC8LlafMxJR3kIEwGFCULuMJZg9rc5medM84d7BC2dRWYHJvg5rhip90oupwsepPy6B6g0klRV1LtzxsfvoEYAOxPk/s1024/Atlantic%20Saury%20tail%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1024" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTLgtUylTGyq5-3oojIFp5Dix8r3o7rNguyqG3uQ2nU_cJRIEVlpjzGeg2_I6lbSbU0P94s6xGWW0FIYJTvsfWVYf_ENpClY6mPC8LlafMxJR3kIEwGFCULuMJZg9rc5medM84d7BC2dRWYHJvg5rhip90oupwsepPy6B6g0klRV1LtzxsfvoEYAOxPk/w640-h342/Atlantic%20Saury%20tail%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Identification feature, the arrangement of the small fins along the rear of the body, ventrally.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p> Why did this occur? For me the most likely theory is to do with the amount of freshwater running into the shallow area of sea where the fish have been in the last few days. The burns are putting millions (?) of litres of freshwater into the sea, could this have disorientated the shoal? It has been suggested that a lack of food might cause this behaviour, but I can't really see why that would lead to the fish swimming on to the shore. I have wondered about a parasitic infection, parasites can cause their hosts to behave differently for the host's benefit. These events have occurred elsewhere in the world previously with this species of fish.</p><p style="text-align: left;">A Great White Egret was back on Parro Shun yesterday. And again viewable from our kitchen. Parro Shun is the small water between The Shunan and the main road. At the moment with all the rain that has fallen it is all one water body.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LTlk_Pfocg7xvLgpmKpZQXT0SLLidTWzI4438UqomhaqBHOzpEySkVjltM-bb4HuOMPj6qZ9akIoLtHzstMGX7zAJMEZ8yZJoNIsu3HTJHbZvWbScVKVANpPgRbFNSdFwoYkJBgNRmZm_RX8NlOyD0K2QKGYHIn3OPsKKqoQdxUKz-hpNPVsMeJfZi4/s1607/GWE%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1607" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LTlk_Pfocg7xvLgpmKpZQXT0SLLidTWzI4438UqomhaqBHOzpEySkVjltM-bb4HuOMPj6qZ9akIoLtHzstMGX7zAJMEZ8yZJoNIsu3HTJHbZvWbScVKVANpPgRbFNSdFwoYkJBgNRmZm_RX8NlOyD0K2QKGYHIn3OPsKKqoQdxUKz-hpNPVsMeJfZi4/w640-h474/GWE%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWE on The Shunan a couple of weeks back.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Once the freeze warmed away I've had a couple of walks around the garden with a torch and a camera fitted with a flash and very simple diffuser, see previous post. The first Winter Moth was yesterday, but finding a female Mottled Umber was the highlight. Tonight there were just two Winter Moths, but it is very cold tonight. Some milder weather would help. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSITIglUmlQb-AQ4l2rmyELECuvDFgTiWCBEfHB7WVcHsjR2TkoYSii4IgxcUkS3-KhnOQzCiSuJGsneiwfq6z43sFTjFMfkqGv8Uu8HBlDvggpNyhsaVF9_fMI9Av0YfYO4sy7bBsZs-Mq4APbjP6Af_3bZTndfC_-CqlEjECR95074qeYZMiXi9ytKg/s1024/Winter%20Moth%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="785" data-original-width="1024" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSITIglUmlQb-AQ4l2rmyELECuvDFgTiWCBEfHB7WVcHsjR2TkoYSii4IgxcUkS3-KhnOQzCiSuJGsneiwfq6z43sFTjFMfkqGv8Uu8HBlDvggpNyhsaVF9_fMI9Av0YfYO4sy7bBsZs-Mq4APbjP6Af_3bZTndfC_-CqlEjECR95074qeYZMiXi9ytKg/w640-h490/Winter%20Moth%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Moth, male.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKS3LuWFFnSjGTd3q-wk9QAnLzksA_wF1-Ez2ouXvfEZQseceJDadc9ot4KFF-TB7sv6LBhqTJnaI9SZv6SRIozOPyKRUJO5T68k1ySUe4q95K3YNQPNKzXs6NmP4uE2C2XOTHH9d9RcwdL7_F6rUdLVL6xf8MIFlXZZ69Ny8_k7LoWt0RjjPVbfi6Yw/s1024/Large%20White%20Pupa%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKS3LuWFFnSjGTd3q-wk9QAnLzksA_wF1-Ez2ouXvfEZQseceJDadc9ot4KFF-TB7sv6LBhqTJnaI9SZv6SRIozOPyKRUJO5T68k1ySUe4q95K3YNQPNKzXs6NmP4uE2C2XOTHH9d9RcwdL7_F6rUdLVL6xf8MIFlXZZ69Ny8_k7LoWt0RjjPVbfi6Yw/w490-h640/Large%20White%20Pupa%20lo.JPG" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pupa of Large White Butterfly, which I came across during nocturnal meanderings.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01W3zHQNejLl0LY4t9oL4t3DQ95f0F4cEq3lWGS6PilAup1E5WVWpCB9pAsGRL3klfDNwQqcrc5X22xN858SLvnVoqdGGBC6Vh-2GE04is48P5H9EI-dRwv7JhRzjJuOBNjrl6YonTUwo8bYP6sZuVSfGXz_zg304bKomEXedrDg770au65uO8wTCVTU/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%20f%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="784" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01W3zHQNejLl0LY4t9oL4t3DQ95f0F4cEq3lWGS6PilAup1E5WVWpCB9pAsGRL3klfDNwQqcrc5X22xN858SLvnVoqdGGBC6Vh-2GE04is48P5H9EI-dRwv7JhRzjJuOBNjrl6YonTUwo8bYP6sZuVSfGXz_zg304bKomEXedrDg770au65uO8wTCVTU/w490-h640/Mottled%20Umber%20f%20lo.JPG" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Mottled Umber, not something I've come across many times before.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-45097524144817601552023-12-09T17:24:00.003+00:002023-12-09T17:25:46.086+00:00Frosty<p>It was as frosty as I've known it here earlier this week and the end
of last. Even when the weather broke the ground was still frozen below. </p><p>On
Friday we walked up the Kame of Corrigall, the low hill behind our
house. It was a beautiful day and from the top we could see the weather
slowly advancing from the north-west.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMMe42FVNg_JT4OPiB4PzvW7ILJ3d9t2tPGCzXXtcyGymp3DSxiAhbPUOh6LbiZ0PEapda314VXtvzdm67gIOnNaPe0i9f00a6kNLxBAd-GVOnI68ex3r3GWZmGp57hU2oTTfi57So007aCr3hmoddHy4j_zwKeEGqI2NH71b1FTKMQZBtNMo/s1024/Kame%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMMe42FVNg_JT4OPiB4PzvW7ILJ3d9t2tPGCzXXtcyGymp3DSxiAhbPUOh6LbiZ0PEapda314VXtvzdm67gIOnNaPe0i9f00a6kNLxBAd-GVOnI68ex3r3GWZmGp57hU2oTTfi57So007aCr3hmoddHy4j_zwKeEGqI2NH71b1FTKMQZBtNMo/w640-h480/Kame%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kame is the hill to the left.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIQd2yEkHDEOgxxLtZ_Px6B8Ef-WZ-A5kJpXaj77INRZMQNgfyFUEPSGtx5iIntD7zt0HaJEg8z813HYxT73w4qUCXhbxk5aLEK82u_j14EZA4Mjh9eIvNTGdsSENuqx-NHkv7Nk8W0H0UmPXF7XqqE2_qigw9UAk9TOqMvD45z4gMa5lOXHM/s1024/Into%20cloud%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIQd2yEkHDEOgxxLtZ_Px6B8Ef-WZ-A5kJpXaj77INRZMQNgfyFUEPSGtx5iIntD7zt0HaJEg8z813HYxT73w4qUCXhbxk5aLEK82u_j14EZA4Mjh9eIvNTGdsSENuqx-NHkv7Nk8W0H0UmPXF7XqqE2_qigw9UAk9TOqMvD45z4gMa5lOXHM/w640-h480/Into%20cloud%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The weather is coming.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymnALVfHr-TBxrz3_3KrVcnrT8L9gpE4xoDSEA3d8sVIkh18IrXRjKMHCHecAFvNe_8qfKiMRApmJXdmAmE5fEyXTT2pDmj1flCPliLlFA2fBgKOI9wArSUOpjsCcld1Vv3GKbckG60o6Hnn8CP3GTlnNZ0UAzTJLj5fy9pPW3ijJB7AcWLLR/s1024/Weather%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1024" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymnALVfHr-TBxrz3_3KrVcnrT8L9gpE4xoDSEA3d8sVIkh18IrXRjKMHCHecAFvNe_8qfKiMRApmJXdmAmE5fEyXTT2pDmj1flCPliLlFA2fBgKOI9wArSUOpjsCcld1Vv3GKbckG60o6Hnn8CP3GTlnNZ0UAzTJLj5fy9pPW3ijJB7AcWLLR/w640-h308/Weather%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the top.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obY2AnU8jg3303UCpeNgQd-oRGj343gJwvRamI_DvGfbnwkIFtWPazUGEbZQPb2NrqQ1BdnhUqj2pnkUtRilANWhDAQoAVYPqAA9h72VdAZv-4BGv1gE8I_cmGQuJblugCCxYXPAhjse2B4bGvgbzEAJEWLe5msQsvWy6oQC9pMWy6B0mn2G/s1024/Road%20home%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="747" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obY2AnU8jg3303UCpeNgQd-oRGj343gJwvRamI_DvGfbnwkIFtWPazUGEbZQPb2NrqQ1BdnhUqj2pnkUtRilANWhDAQoAVYPqAA9h72VdAZv-4BGv1gE8I_cmGQuJblugCCxYXPAhjse2B4bGvgbzEAJEWLe5msQsvWy6oQC9pMWy6B0mn2G/w466-h640/Road%20home%20lo.JPG" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road home.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>We went to The Ring of Brodgar the next day, where it was even colder, and the light was spectacular.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeXy1GXM-OS9Bdb-Gzg6nkimOCe3A0azbT9Vn_7Omrk3gRfMoLLA2n9b6lpIe67iHlrz1XaCXdav6Qzkw2r3z_jflrbLsr5KqdfWlpHiul-t97sdezkHiJJvqNoxFJgmLOLHy57vWYldZdecgLPBQHihTUKJQPd7vpAX1ttw9uEfwb2P8rECc/s1024/The%20Ring%20Frost%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="1024" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeXy1GXM-OS9Bdb-Gzg6nkimOCe3A0azbT9Vn_7Omrk3gRfMoLLA2n9b6lpIe67iHlrz1XaCXdav6Qzkw2r3z_jflrbLsr5KqdfWlpHiul-t97sdezkHiJJvqNoxFJgmLOLHy57vWYldZdecgLPBQHihTUKJQPd7vpAX1ttw9uEfwb2P8rECc/w640-h314/The%20Ring%20Frost%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9D9sndUoNWHmqdkE-shmYbxeDMo0Y2iG846mMJjnNCw8idltuOC5MAtlrCJxHr4Jzw2Zqnj1w-VEo-PH9uzAFsENEBLp_PySZkhIEOdTJiLPT7ecwKW3voAjgTkoEkJPM_wDLEXhXDJL-zMYrnFNTUF7yEKb1xnoSTCM9poPs8PfhqNshGwn/s1024/Frozen%20grass%20stones%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1024" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9D9sndUoNWHmqdkE-shmYbxeDMo0Y2iG846mMJjnNCw8idltuOC5MAtlrCJxHr4Jzw2Zqnj1w-VEo-PH9uzAFsENEBLp_PySZkhIEOdTJiLPT7ecwKW3voAjgTkoEkJPM_wDLEXhXDJL-zMYrnFNTUF7yEKb1xnoSTCM9poPs8PfhqNshGwn/w640-h452/Frozen%20grass%20stones%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aY6Z0BPI_fSSSkPU3U92Iqlv0gJaXbZfYSrzrFdpKEFOamvgbgRGcUa4lZtIwTNoT-rMmJ9T2Q5rkz7R5WQxmZbwhYT49Vsx6xvqF-JHHoYW7xPHkvN_0hG8e6PVAHpPM3uulfgkVwA23SWplsTbMwEExmX2MbOvoQzXo2nPW8JffllWZrpH/s1024/Frozen%20plant%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aY6Z0BPI_fSSSkPU3U92Iqlv0gJaXbZfYSrzrFdpKEFOamvgbgRGcUa4lZtIwTNoT-rMmJ9T2Q5rkz7R5WQxmZbwhYT49Vsx6xvqF-JHHoYW7xPHkvN_0hG8e6PVAHpPM3uulfgkVwA23SWplsTbMwEExmX2MbOvoQzXo2nPW8JffllWZrpH/w468-h640/Frozen%20plant%20lo.JPG" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrTJ3sSWrcOGzcqp_EzGGmxdYgDzuviUdbwVljRWlhIvEqbKlKzy5gzvYDbAUJVnghXgeApe9diLyKX2kgtn-Y2b35A-W3e-rfr9sGPWY-JfZzOZFxuMgkdxM5chc7OxtGFUo8FpeXQYBI_iaGMT9O62IanhMt7-LqocDJrECccCxMD2pLSqO/s1024/Ice%20grass%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrTJ3sSWrcOGzcqp_EzGGmxdYgDzuviUdbwVljRWlhIvEqbKlKzy5gzvYDbAUJVnghXgeApe9diLyKX2kgtn-Y2b35A-W3e-rfr9sGPWY-JfZzOZFxuMgkdxM5chc7OxtGFUo8FpeXQYBI_iaGMT9O62IanhMt7-LqocDJrECccCxMD2pLSqO/w640-h458/Ice%20grass%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBHcRlo3ksza-YGBJBBi6VA-GrTxP_gy2GbhArT-JOKGJIkcc9Z6bstPE1aItkAbYStyOpM8CXP-I4YHrlfE691Hy1V1y7_k8IfSbej1YT9s58HWpmL5OxAXDyFn3lArIXx_EQbMQ1NoWnwNw2HjtDMdKOomnVIcFjck5rAKiJOKQFZXjVUIu/s980/Wild%20Angelica%20melt%20close.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="980" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBHcRlo3ksza-YGBJBBi6VA-GrTxP_gy2GbhArT-JOKGJIkcc9Z6bstPE1aItkAbYStyOpM8CXP-I4YHrlfE691Hy1V1y7_k8IfSbej1YT9s58HWpmL5OxAXDyFn3lArIXx_EQbMQ1NoWnwNw2HjtDMdKOomnVIcFjck5rAKiJOKQFZXjVUIu/w640-h528/Wild%20Angelica%20melt%20close.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtVfoh_GfZO4vrwfm_uAQZH_rT74xea-Tw7gjg-2dD9AUxoqirc0eEKgDQXJ9DAEoZWT4dI9w7Fvot7kPg-GSEq1HEbh6HBUZABKSWh9VmqsWdWLccSXa9J3Q3wYngGvTY3u_nyNKKFRx1ZXt1TavTqqmCHji6UNbm1EhYGP5UtKSzUI7IA_M/s1024/Wild%20Angelica%20stone%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="803" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtVfoh_GfZO4vrwfm_uAQZH_rT74xea-Tw7gjg-2dD9AUxoqirc0eEKgDQXJ9DAEoZWT4dI9w7Fvot7kPg-GSEq1HEbh6HBUZABKSWh9VmqsWdWLccSXa9J3Q3wYngGvTY3u_nyNKKFRx1ZXt1TavTqqmCHji6UNbm1EhYGP5UtKSzUI7IA_M/w502-h640/Wild%20Angelica%20stone%201%20lo.JPG" width="502" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRm9lfSZqkxez-hdHzN-Dl_citrurF95Cw1ZRLX6rkrqqvrdrNTp7FWuVyRfJUqak9azBhdP2Jm_6p16D3kIJmNDtjuiJ61NbI4ViWIfIMQNfRk-aXoNYz1ld7F6g8wy8IDJQshjPSc_02qi1bDzTkNEsEnRsIlkoWeyNsFjPkAAnHApF44Zk/s1024/Frozen%20shore%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRm9lfSZqkxez-hdHzN-Dl_citrurF95Cw1ZRLX6rkrqqvrdrNTp7FWuVyRfJUqak9azBhdP2Jm_6p16D3kIJmNDtjuiJ61NbI4ViWIfIMQNfRk-aXoNYz1ld7F6g8wy8IDJQshjPSc_02qi1bDzTkNEsEnRsIlkoWeyNsFjPkAAnHApF44Zk/w640-h480/Frozen%20shore%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z8tpH-shEivoiAAgjmyiDGzIpR1pfpCsV0uJkRmc4Aj_Z0YRQlINFR4n41fksdKsUpjEnJEEToKDVLURxzw5nvc6iaFzHf97hxQ-6M_zEOUZJ19jamSNa_bCJaLWYjmxGWmjiQRUsYTMFDT3JPuOR2dE7Aedwo_PG8hUAax-iicn-RkfcT94/s1024/Shore%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z8tpH-shEivoiAAgjmyiDGzIpR1pfpCsV0uJkRmc4Aj_Z0YRQlINFR4n41fksdKsUpjEnJEEToKDVLURxzw5nvc6iaFzHf97hxQ-6M_zEOUZJ19jamSNa_bCJaLWYjmxGWmjiQRUsYTMFDT3JPuOR2dE7Aedwo_PG8hUAax-iicn-RkfcT94/w640-h480/Shore%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch of Stenness shore.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8jCjT5UcX4HrUDcDmw2ZYsxs8xj473B1FrYTRRXkqpDUMW7ILGuhvhfTUow0hmmkeTvHLZyUBNEdu7LdbPyID4nnfs0RvekXydGs7uVhSQkQ7npHLD4z-9m33ofv2kyXxWWKxu3dAoc1FhClXFWe4CzQsBahokAUfOrlSW_SPMqIhm_i8tOl/s1024/Stenness%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8jCjT5UcX4HrUDcDmw2ZYsxs8xj473B1FrYTRRXkqpDUMW7ILGuhvhfTUow0hmmkeTvHLZyUBNEdu7LdbPyID4nnfs0RvekXydGs7uVhSQkQ7npHLD4z-9m33ofv2kyXxWWKxu3dAoc1FhClXFWe4CzQsBahokAUfOrlSW_SPMqIhm_i8tOl/w640-h462/Stenness%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch of Stenness shore and Hoy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH5nK3bo_msP5zXd7WkIYm9XZgNDtaD32Se8n7-qu7GNGf9naJLUGI94THx8cJl9rJkAAux6k9aTSDlLkgKIhykcHFsIz_UOYjNtbTpAclYf0ITFC5oikCdQip4NKqC0WmUUhNXC8RJxzYgxvS-fswSbtF79qmT6jBajtm7WWMYhbCjW6A0QO/s1024/Stenness%20Reed%20Canary%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEH5nK3bo_msP5zXd7WkIYm9XZgNDtaD32Se8n7-qu7GNGf9naJLUGI94THx8cJl9rJkAAux6k9aTSDlLkgKIhykcHFsIz_UOYjNtbTpAclYf0ITFC5oikCdQip4NKqC0WmUUhNXC8RJxzYgxvS-fswSbtF79qmT6jBajtm7WWMYhbCjW6A0QO/w640-h480/Stenness%20Reed%20Canary%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Canary Grass at Loch of Stenness.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJAnsOdmJIQl9CNo5tlEL0pTuub06IO8JM4UTf3MB6QsS75R_cCCU4psi2WHlzCfgIXhzzeVKdvzzUX273ZP4L1rRmeEP0wlyr0hZ9Pqt8IAYGF5uuDE-XbLUA3tNbmak7lwYIST_yMbnE1fAuzkUwcth81lb8UXtnU7aW8PH5tfPHguiOKLb/s1024/Bosquoy%20shore%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJAnsOdmJIQl9CNo5tlEL0pTuub06IO8JM4UTf3MB6QsS75R_cCCU4psi2WHlzCfgIXhzzeVKdvzzUX273ZP4L1rRmeEP0wlyr0hZ9Pqt8IAYGF5uuDE-XbLUA3tNbmak7lwYIST_yMbnE1fAuzkUwcth81lb8UXtnU7aW8PH5tfPHguiOKLb/w640-h480/Bosquoy%20shore%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A late afternoon amble to the Loch of Bosquoy.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There were some birds, Whoopers and Mutes in the ice free pools and Lapwings and Golden Plover roosting on the ice.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OIP6mZPlJfC9bU-7SJXjqdQcisOzxM1_OE0GFRa8NT5gp9xTje_K6LlBedjCk7DfgHzBZx2TtFLUKI0xWczsB2wqZlp5eZoK8ZhR-xDE86Dp-Fh3TA95iCZq36Fy3PvhwrvtWaoN8x9FfgEvHfvWRtCjcsPWQdu8uXnICvehmy-WKc8R8f-a/s1024/Mutes%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="1024" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OIP6mZPlJfC9bU-7SJXjqdQcisOzxM1_OE0GFRa8NT5gp9xTje_K6LlBedjCk7DfgHzBZx2TtFLUKI0xWczsB2wqZlp5eZoK8ZhR-xDE86Dp-Fh3TA95iCZq36Fy3PvhwrvtWaoN8x9FfgEvHfvWRtCjcsPWQdu8uXnICvehmy-WKc8R8f-a/w640-h408/Mutes%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mute Swans, Loch of Bosquoy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1530jlHn8v85tgoa3_bHEubj4HRvH9pi-4NPO2cevSp8-lBElnTb9p6oYAIaeHshlLCEgSXhYrkmstF9qHfXsnlrSXOCXWBAJg-GKzFgFHXD6k8hVyBJduwt90JmoOsk944Nl-3PjFZ3XpRextwCsiIwgnlAnjVi3hG9Yzr3th-kX2up5tUyl/s1024/Plovers%20Ice%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="303" data-original-width="1024" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1530jlHn8v85tgoa3_bHEubj4HRvH9pi-4NPO2cevSp8-lBElnTb9p6oYAIaeHshlLCEgSXhYrkmstF9qHfXsnlrSXOCXWBAJg-GKzFgFHXD6k8hVyBJduwt90JmoOsk944Nl-3PjFZ3XpRextwCsiIwgnlAnjVi3hG9Yzr3th-kX2up5tUyl/w640-h190/Plovers%20Ice%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plovers roosting on the ice.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The cold weather disappeared the Great White Egrets, Grey Herons and depleted duck numbers significantly.</p><p>There were still visitors to the feeders in the garden but the hoped for Coal Tits and Bullfinches have yet to appear.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVR8vK7goYAPHgPUNSL2220Cnh_eja-QVjx1SZnFWMPUPom6c5ilnyfkcP67M6AKhK1-RCdJIuT_muNwxakqn4kUXMrTuqQokg0NmG2mfNqc9nWqP2NRgc4X9lIF8Pehlr5ssT37MRL-yyUdaM-lhHmW5xkZXypssRqP3u5ghfzCDIwU4oJzL/s1024/House%20Sparrow%20m%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVR8vK7goYAPHgPUNSL2220Cnh_eja-QVjx1SZnFWMPUPom6c5ilnyfkcP67M6AKhK1-RCdJIuT_muNwxakqn4kUXMrTuqQokg0NmG2mfNqc9nWqP2NRgc4X9lIF8Pehlr5ssT37MRL-yyUdaM-lhHmW5xkZXypssRqP3u5ghfzCDIwU4oJzL/w640-h454/House%20Sparrow%20m%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Sparrow, male.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtV8m_K-frYpdDE_bFEKj06G4xXuukAH0YoiV4Yiu5mlqCjBQrGajbhP-c2ocWzbuTZ0nVzI0VkpTiRrtsLfcFfk4Di7v36iPS5AwTw3JetxwWR6je4QO1Vus1YedkB4C72ihyULX86PKAX8rLkDrrdjwnQTJiGfHd9Am8qNN4nzLjKUD7MBD/s1024/Robin%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtV8m_K-frYpdDE_bFEKj06G4xXuukAH0YoiV4Yiu5mlqCjBQrGajbhP-c2ocWzbuTZ0nVzI0VkpTiRrtsLfcFfk4Di7v36iPS5AwTw3JetxwWR6je4QO1Vus1YedkB4C72ihyULX86PKAX8rLkDrrdjwnQTJiGfHd9Am8qNN4nzLjKUD7MBD/w640-h470/Robin%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5oQBndzyVyN9xhYckEFotjegV-jsPR5JPRQdia9sEjFe26N3S8C567Zn7FcRXVkIQiClw3j7tqwv7ys3Xf_qATxzRQmHvbMWiHYU-s1pOJ3IgA0qroch-MXGdgze8_SF_Ep1rPdnFcR42lCKwoJsM76lfyofrDtn1t0yUAEdD2B_1mcHFbdM/s1024/Starling%20apple%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5oQBndzyVyN9xhYckEFotjegV-jsPR5JPRQdia9sEjFe26N3S8C567Zn7FcRXVkIQiClw3j7tqwv7ys3Xf_qATxzRQmHvbMWiHYU-s1pOJ3IgA0qroch-MXGdgze8_SF_Ep1rPdnFcR42lCKwoJsM76lfyofrDtn1t0yUAEdD2B_1mcHFbdM/w640-h454/Starling%20apple%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starlings.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Compensation
came in the shape of Merlin through the garden, Kestrel and just the
second Peregrine of the year by The Shunan, Hen Harriers regularly
through the garden or nearby and Short-eared Owls hunting nearby.</p><p>Cold plants....</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r5TMtO90lZcQ8hz-C7Sp-thenJ65B-ik2yvkENjfoAo4FqJc8C_-P8FToIVPcChG0NMGAJqHn8kHskuhVEBbIK2iTv4RN__J7fkPvZMxIUfH3FLBMA3Srj4uumy7La0DP840pd8fJPKYWu4mgX1D5mpuY03LDa6B8wjp5AIE7xL5CGS3O-4y/s1024/Meadowsweet%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_r5TMtO90lZcQ8hz-C7Sp-thenJ65B-ik2yvkENjfoAo4FqJc8C_-P8FToIVPcChG0NMGAJqHn8kHskuhVEBbIK2iTv4RN__J7fkPvZMxIUfH3FLBMA3Srj4uumy7La0DP840pd8fJPKYWu4mgX1D5mpuY03LDa6B8wjp5AIE7xL5CGS3O-4y/w480-h640/Meadowsweet%20lo.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadowsweet.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z4vYZ1STjU-f4HvuEhamuOtFbqU1sl_Dw19abxscoJ_L5jirxCM-swoA-Bu9KIKKS1M-5kBFjApvB30QdSYZlg-cgeAtUOlBv-i5SK0rIVs5XFHK1m_8M9qT-F_k0S8JboNA50ab-eLowYpBpF5rh4sILlmD1Eu529rroOf6gO97B-Q2sCql/s1024/Self%20Heal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z4vYZ1STjU-f4HvuEhamuOtFbqU1sl_Dw19abxscoJ_L5jirxCM-swoA-Bu9KIKKS1M-5kBFjApvB30QdSYZlg-cgeAtUOlBv-i5SK0rIVs5XFHK1m_8M9qT-F_k0S8JboNA50ab-eLowYpBpF5rh4sILlmD1Eu529rroOf6gO97B-Q2sCql/w640-h466/Self%20Heal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfheal.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsdji4rs28SEZ4FyA0Khjbxlwdc69D6be-56sUc0P3_ZQPFc1H8QFsFl5CBksvsMGkUfag8ymK-GIzLeDPhXHpq0TJeHSLl-6Dlm-ULLM5gUZD9Pov_pdeIoLJx3XEXD09gnMGdliAD3O2wu5AI3tcfAuc06cXHBuKm-NsBBuZn1zG_NbYaHg/s1024/Spear%20Thistle%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsdji4rs28SEZ4FyA0Khjbxlwdc69D6be-56sUc0P3_ZQPFc1H8QFsFl5CBksvsMGkUfag8ymK-GIzLeDPhXHpq0TJeHSLl-6Dlm-ULLM5gUZD9Pov_pdeIoLJx3XEXD09gnMGdliAD3O2wu5AI3tcfAuc06cXHBuKm-NsBBuZn1zG_NbYaHg/w472-h640/Spear%20Thistle%20lo.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spear Thistle.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7qZTU9W5T_yvVGB_rx60GVHF8HXv85EQvFRQL0X9wHIAEw9ihIKqcZ8B_2OD-R8wEsaYL94c7jrr3_LCRf-EiPsmx9NIWhTkzz1scFTAk98f6uQQBEWuiat3KMlS7ovoDkDPzCWs_khPPNppVcUNFUvKF0B6V7QrfhVb3cOrAaOKSgF4CFdn/s1024/Wild%20Angelica%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="874" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP7qZTU9W5T_yvVGB_rx60GVHF8HXv85EQvFRQL0X9wHIAEw9ihIKqcZ8B_2OD-R8wEsaYL94c7jrr3_LCRf-EiPsmx9NIWhTkzz1scFTAk98f6uQQBEWuiat3KMlS7ovoDkDPzCWs_khPPNppVcUNFUvKF0B6V7QrfhVb3cOrAaOKSgF4CFdn/w546-h640/Wild%20Angelica%203%20lo.JPG" width="546" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Angelica.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>And then the rain came.<p> </p><br />Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-72129685962064196802023-12-01T18:02:00.006+00:002023-12-01T18:16:27.995+00:00Orcas (but dipped the Humpies)<p>There's been a bit of cetacean activity in The Flow recently and I've kept an eye on the local group news channels. Things looked interesting this morning with Humpback Whales seen yesterday and Orcas reported this morning. When I saw the message that the Orcas had headed across from Hoy into Bring Deeps I gambled that they might head east towards Hobbister. These guesses often don't pay off, Orcas are not the most predictable of beasts.</p><p>After a drive and a tramp with the hound I got myself perched on an appropriate cliff top and started scanning. It didn't take long to find distant Orcas.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbqwUOHVlklycOm7uiF2FyUt9ZqYAE4eZ0Ba7gU5gU0rFt8Ympd-HpuQMQBkOmv_hErvTSYt11gT3OzExKR7BaDl6Ou2TJ957-D08rLOxmGyycONsxyV8yBspfKQY2ekvPRlXP9cUaLpF5jPHVTbdkkdqfxKGItGhFs09E304Up1IuyYwei2w7CPuMTY/s1024/Orcas%20distant%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="1024" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbqwUOHVlklycOm7uiF2FyUt9ZqYAE4eZ0Ba7gU5gU0rFt8Ympd-HpuQMQBkOmv_hErvTSYt11gT3OzExKR7BaDl6Ou2TJ957-D08rLOxmGyycONsxyV8yBspfKQY2ekvPRlXP9cUaLpF5jPHVTbdkkdqfxKGItGhFs09E304Up1IuyYwei2w7CPuMTY/w640-h436/Orcas%20distant%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Orcas heading towards Scapa.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I was tracking these two and also looking for the Humpback Whales which had been reported from a little further east but at a similar range. Also distracted by weird Grey Seal behaviour, noisily occurring directly below me.</p><p>Of a sudden I heard a familiar sound very close, the females and young of the Orca pod had coasted east and were immediately below me. Darn! I'd a good view to the west and had completely missed them arriving. Grabbed a few very hasty shots and rubbish video as they rapidly disappeared.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8c5hpHpCrayXkE-mMU8m9T9ohEMhHCmL3N3i5KDXJ7BLqGMlw0bN2lJKIBUj5RyS_WZiUfJsLjQUUdM7tb6Tdp1efnRdJC3S3OR9tHuzpW2sPIGrtBc9iIEBHqKjQiGhQslxpjY0ul1t-SmOlhI8YQbYXsJb_McjBEZntkAvwRs6_Weuhgmxh5cH5RU/s1024/Orca%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="1024" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8c5hpHpCrayXkE-mMU8m9T9ohEMhHCmL3N3i5KDXJ7BLqGMlw0bN2lJKIBUj5RyS_WZiUfJsLjQUUdM7tb6Tdp1efnRdJC3S3OR9tHuzpW2sPIGrtBc9iIEBHqKjQiGhQslxpjY0ul1t-SmOlhI8YQbYXsJb_McjBEZntkAvwRs6_Weuhgmxh5cH5RU/w640-h396/Orca%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBK_RSfl-9cVwNbKlxCWrzBklTgRfJVEWccyHoHDsNeJpO7YJdcbK6f5bcr13_1AkT87uyiTyK8TJGfeYqrA9cHmiEY7gmj8jeqCzKCnm42is5szfdd9g-lP4wPZkWRi7SlB562f2UNWkkgPRAKmMZazNduY0WBHgKfuJt71LtjxzaO298de4izsJl7I/s1024/Orca%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1024" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBK_RSfl-9cVwNbKlxCWrzBklTgRfJVEWccyHoHDsNeJpO7YJdcbK6f5bcr13_1AkT87uyiTyK8TJGfeYqrA9cHmiEY7gmj8jeqCzKCnm42is5szfdd9g-lP4wPZkWRi7SlB562f2UNWkkgPRAKmMZazNduY0WBHgKfuJt71LtjxzaO298de4izsJl7I/w640-h358/Orca%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxZoJPAQjQGlxUkqGg9OUI6ZdMwwlWYi4lmD2Wssn633Px21rLjgKgjs_4x6I28zcyOwmZG1Ya7RBEwBzgKyC0cAYeTfUOFirQ-G6wIqSQBDm1qLBd_Sb-cc7I3DNGZ_h37R5011qYkBuUI_1PfhdaCYMTss4mUYXwsOpwm3SeVIQmzvIeDBjQVBFjsI/s1024/Orca%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="1024" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxZoJPAQjQGlxUkqGg9OUI6ZdMwwlWYi4lmD2Wssn633Px21rLjgKgjs_4x6I28zcyOwmZG1Ya7RBEwBzgKyC0cAYeTfUOFirQ-G6wIqSQBDm1qLBd_Sb-cc7I3DNGZ_h37R5011qYkBuUI_1PfhdaCYMTss4mUYXwsOpwm3SeVIQmzvIeDBjQVBFjsI/w640-h496/Orca%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrglY1l0Fiy90wu5LB4SOe8B1mlWn_1HcKjf_g8zQAftaaSj0iEfqmE-xjjAcRkcUzSL5V7O24HvTGmho6MjIwoIs2x8eomt4P-WwNH-DBSbMO8kpU-KD7q-RChhpRMupBn9tc_n2nM5-K4i3y_4OjBPK6ssJweWPHSW_0ufKOATFjhPwE5b7JqOnL8Q/s1024/Orca%204%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="797" data-original-width="1024" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPrglY1l0Fiy90wu5LB4SOe8B1mlWn_1HcKjf_g8zQAftaaSj0iEfqmE-xjjAcRkcUzSL5V7O24HvTGmho6MjIwoIs2x8eomt4P-WwNH-DBSbMO8kpU-KD7q-RChhpRMupBn9tc_n2nM5-K4i3y_4OjBPK6ssJweWPHSW_0ufKOATFjhPwE5b7JqOnL8Q/w640-h498/Orca%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is possibly 27 herself, she's the boss of the 27s and had a calf about a year or so ago.</td></tr></tbody></table><p> ...and all too soon they were gone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4FMq7-BmOKM" width="480" youtube-src-id="4FMq7-BmOKM"></iframe></div><p></p><p>Not very good video of the pod disappearing into the distance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/17Jm1fozTZY" width="492" youtube-src-id="17Jm1fozTZY"></iframe></div><p></p><p>An explanation of this behaviour would be of interest. Every time the swimming seal approached the one on the rocks blew more bubbles. Is this aggression or courtship? Or something else entirely?<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Yesterday evening I had a scout around with a torch and camera looking for moths. Winter Moth was the target species, with vague hope of Scarce Umber. It was a bit cold, but I did find two Mottled Umber.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7ixaN9eDzXUzuyNdNjSa7L5NeAD0YgSTH4s99tmsO9xLkuLx5RMnQAssp4JZiYZAuyMA9OdcvlDFnNqSDF_4Jjs3SQDcdZB9A55RTFdtkm5ZbvMncTGw4Nwv30hm1pyqMUGafyISDNMWZzbD5FYi_6MbOObw2AbZ5bEQhYACMY0Fr3-jzvigBKeYqJo/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7ixaN9eDzXUzuyNdNjSa7L5NeAD0YgSTH4s99tmsO9xLkuLx5RMnQAssp4JZiYZAuyMA9OdcvlDFnNqSDF_4Jjs3SQDcdZB9A55RTFdtkm5ZbvMncTGw4Nwv30hm1pyqMUGafyISDNMWZzbD5FYi_6MbOObw2AbZ5bEQhYACMY0Fr3-jzvigBKeYqJo/w640-h478/Mottled%20Umber%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaHD8zupUE3t-6aGD1TQ4N8O9P6pyND_jKISYKdGXxybIZpBA29UK-eNE4u1ChLpcnp0w8UcJNxgLCVSIhAuI6LiyiQfbUiOQPBSomern0B73Eu3Q1kJHyj4T6TxDYkBsBWG_wcCoeKYTKnDTUmHfE-eK6qPFEff06Hz1FhneFnnHYwSwbscRRFx_IVU/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaHD8zupUE3t-6aGD1TQ4N8O9P6pyND_jKISYKdGXxybIZpBA29UK-eNE4u1ChLpcnp0w8UcJNxgLCVSIhAuI6LiyiQfbUiOQPBSomern0B73Eu3Q1kJHyj4T6TxDYkBsBWG_wcCoeKYTKnDTUmHfE-eK6qPFEff06Hz1FhneFnnHYwSwbscRRFx_IVU/w640-h460/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umber.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_xByEfoyclWcJPQnOnwr_jfAxA619wbHpgG19KjEjTniOuTVZqfiSZLWzvaWJheP4JhZmDuDKBZyHmNxo-PMPKCDDTjIbBdXSi8P7v4zGLNz6-e3oMxMBMYh4X1jji9IVKK3ZVXj_oqDeubxzNJOEwn19jzXNCOoQ3lbNNCpeeOp-Zp1SoopoChQ2oc/s1024/Flash%20diffuser.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1024" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_xByEfoyclWcJPQnOnwr_jfAxA619wbHpgG19KjEjTniOuTVZqfiSZLWzvaWJheP4JhZmDuDKBZyHmNxo-PMPKCDDTjIbBdXSi8P7v4zGLNz6-e3oMxMBMYh4X1jji9IVKK3ZVXj_oqDeubxzNJOEwn19jzXNCOoQ3lbNNCpeeOp-Zp1SoopoChQ2oc/w400-h315/Flash%20diffuser.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top notch flash diffuser I used for these moth shots, baking paper roughly folded, masking tape. Hi-tech.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">One of my E-M5 Mk11 camera bodies played up a bit recently. Subsequently it's been ok but I'd resolved at that point to upgrade. One of the issues with the E-M5 Mk11 is the tracking of birds in flight. Whilst better than the various Canon compact cameras I've owned previously, including the M series, it is still not the best. I've been on the hunt for an Olympus E-M1 Mk11, still old technology but reputed to be the best "bang for the buck" going. I finally found one I liked the look of on MPB, and when it arrived it looked brand new and the mechanical shutter had been fired fewer than 800 times. I'm still getting used to it as there are significant differences from the E-M5 Mk11s but getting there. The Orcas above were taken with the new camera. Here are a few other early efforts.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99aR-dFIhABwTFrolAWS61LbORAmnrCnLnccM5eXLUmZy0Ics2NW2hgbqlS2SykfXo1_fVCWvn7n1coJgipwNFLSz2aSCct_CVwVFg3ZF_EF46sFFqj_EUzo4Chi0ssgdOnmYil3T_OzsNzDh0vXvsy7r42JK2crSroVdmApJk8s8s8UCs0f3nSeNkYA/s1024/Golden%20Plover%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99aR-dFIhABwTFrolAWS61LbORAmnrCnLnccM5eXLUmZy0Ics2NW2hgbqlS2SykfXo1_fVCWvn7n1coJgipwNFLSz2aSCct_CVwVFg3ZF_EF46sFFqj_EUzo4Chi0ssgdOnmYil3T_OzsNzDh0vXvsy7r42JK2crSroVdmApJk8s8s8UCs0f3nSeNkYA/w640-h488/Golden%20Plover%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Plovers in flight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5HcxfEWFuKf6HCBlWM7JnY9D2L2NGE6HAdx3KTo3bkK0ltHdXvGV5Xzc2qSsgRIjcIfbxfwyNrjHhg5RqOUkZDwBh_0YT3dreRvVsN5YhLgHh7Mi0oUCzz_jjY-q1RwWDDXOFdQ_FW0M3tcsOu8ZdJLs1dcFmPx2J8lGV2w6ih4mXR980aQkAQiE3bo/s1024/Harbour%20Seal%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5HcxfEWFuKf6HCBlWM7JnY9D2L2NGE6HAdx3KTo3bkK0ltHdXvGV5Xzc2qSsgRIjcIfbxfwyNrjHhg5RqOUkZDwBh_0YT3dreRvVsN5YhLgHh7Mi0oUCzz_jjY-q1RwWDDXOFdQ_FW0M3tcsOu8ZdJLs1dcFmPx2J8lGV2w6ih4mXR980aQkAQiE3bo/w640-h464/Harbour%20Seal%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8x1N-WDUQlM2IsrBxCvle3EeIqPTGLdkYqHyvCJwfLLkxxWHxBwgRvm12fi-zSk4NvNUNqqI1J-3m3DZkv7eI5SIOLNnuBValebGNBfsv1LoxGccn0pZr0TsAReIEpdUPAFT7Q2z-mfvLTwnaq3Olkg2F1Q7onMdWXwXhqHZhHiLLWxrhsCSAnm647k/s1024/Harbour%20Seal%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8x1N-WDUQlM2IsrBxCvle3EeIqPTGLdkYqHyvCJwfLLkxxWHxBwgRvm12fi-zSk4NvNUNqqI1J-3m3DZkv7eI5SIOLNnuBValebGNBfsv1LoxGccn0pZr0TsAReIEpdUPAFT7Q2z-mfvLTwnaq3Olkg2F1Q7onMdWXwXhqHZhHiLLWxrhsCSAnm647k/w640-h464/Harbour%20Seal%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbour Seal.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The Great White Egret was absent today, but so were the ducks as The Shunan is frozen. I suspect it is stalking around in a burn somewhere.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="392" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KfphKHpbAN8" width="471" youtube-src-id="KfphKHpbAN8"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I came across this bracket fungi today, I need to try to find out what it is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS5QmHN880h6jarQk2NZ8Y8ZuC1LYBrpFec-_qplTWI7v8PSGp3OUxN7iCAHQECVVtBlPZWB1_o_yKoePn4OpsYTOPd2gaNuR9kOOVvtoaaAoebRUhEW5uLaRkV-qr22j1M50lNkmBv_R-u-TpWTadgh8O_1eoryopTDU46kQ33WYDIpHz4KJg-OLoCM/s1024/Bracket%20fungi%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHS5QmHN880h6jarQk2NZ8Y8ZuC1LYBrpFec-_qplTWI7v8PSGp3OUxN7iCAHQECVVtBlPZWB1_o_yKoePn4OpsYTOPd2gaNuR9kOOVvtoaaAoebRUhEW5uLaRkV-qr22j1M50lNkmBv_R-u-TpWTadgh8O_1eoryopTDU46kQ33WYDIpHz4KJg-OLoCM/w640-h488/Bracket%20fungi%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIPCFq27WnZ2p_NbsJEu-1M457lr0azGc3cHTMotEn6cGtNO2xhlSX9KrisT6cBQrhbutNNaCwWxGEg8u4Ro2MvDAxOZ7TL5-2Pd4Gec4AacIH9-lzCOH-8wDfA6lrbB-iCFJ4MeRaB3xPQa7bLIM4EQGbMBzJzwc2FPmPY4DAMtPKIRCnB2tpjfAjXk/s1024/Bracket%20fungi%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1024" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitIPCFq27WnZ2p_NbsJEu-1M457lr0azGc3cHTMotEn6cGtNO2xhlSX9KrisT6cBQrhbutNNaCwWxGEg8u4Ro2MvDAxOZ7TL5-2Pd4Gec4AacIH9-lzCOH-8wDfA6lrbB-iCFJ4MeRaB3xPQa7bLIM4EQGbMBzJzwc2FPmPY4DAMtPKIRCnB2tpjfAjXk/w640-h478/Bracket%20fungi%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to head to the Danish fungi picture ID site (see side panel).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT6uA2o04fRAZTULceN0i5nizYPq6w-nJ2iaJMK9HrhhSpSyGayi0aDSmTSfq5jzTDNgnR2jMKRXPKUShCaxQ8KBMZUx3IpHJnUdy3g7eypdITEcUjz0RP2oYOaHNnpkwfK3xgTYpVa3qqK4ZeOFubAWzn0f6r_SUPuKbYHpCjKbB7HVO6osRMZ_4yy4/s1024/Cora%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqT6uA2o04fRAZTULceN0i5nizYPq6w-nJ2iaJMK9HrhhSpSyGayi0aDSmTSfq5jzTDNgnR2jMKRXPKUShCaxQ8KBMZUx3IpHJnUdy3g7eypdITEcUjz0RP2oYOaHNnpkwfK3xgTYpVa3qqK4ZeOFubAWzn0f6r_SUPuKbYHpCjKbB7HVO6osRMZ_4yy4/w640-h480/Cora%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hound, not so interested in Orcas and Grey Seals, much more interested in Woodcock and Red Grouse, which we also saw today.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-24841909209358923782023-11-27T22:51:00.004+00:002023-11-29T12:21:38.620+00:00Confusing critters.<p> Some identification issues this week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OiNJRlLGoNQNgiPZUTayGSeBmKKImkPTjWgayHcg2Hr0BpS6dvdcXN6b914SH77VW3mOCYeqhF6E4Ff-afMyp3izF-Jm4CYeMHTA14rHnbgzZYGI4vOvom08ueclas4GHA0BapXAYE5SFbzXw0FNWNZ9UCE9SYtL7kpc0zaTQeZIXlT49OMhNc-FJBU/s1383/LBbG%202%20hi.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1026" data-original-width="1383" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6OiNJRlLGoNQNgiPZUTayGSeBmKKImkPTjWgayHcg2Hr0BpS6dvdcXN6b914SH77VW3mOCYeqhF6E4Ff-afMyp3izF-Jm4CYeMHTA14rHnbgzZYGI4vOvom08ueclas4GHA0BapXAYE5SFbzXw0FNWNZ9UCE9SYtL7kpc0zaTQeZIXlT49OMhNc-FJBU/w640-h474/LBbG%202%20hi.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strike>Lesser Black-backed Gull</strike>, re-identified as a Herring Gull, 1cy; thanks to folk on Western Palearctic Gulls FB Group for helping me come to the correct conclusion in the end.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Leebs are uncommon here in Orkney in winter. When I do see them they are usually young birds, looking a bit odd or unwell. But until I found I had a 90 degree on image and could assess the length of the primaries I was struggling a tad with this. I did wonder if I had found a Yellow-legged Gull, a real rarity here; very much a rarity, there are no records. Anyway, I did work this out in the end (some folk think this is a Herring Gull). The oddly shaped bill is because there is a water droplet on the bill tip.<br /></p><p>Back in June I photographed a pug, one that doesn't yap or bark, a moth, on Hoy. Here it is.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizy9AazQJyqrmvkHLZCdNtvPFZHRmslDWKUz0jL8xXRP0jg3sgs7dANwktuLHko7Xw5NuA0L2eZdq2ImQe6fvsJYgYPYuIBzu1w7g1cBv8mgypZKF80jCKzw4qmQoF411ACoBD7-Q7c7lISuZCh2D68gc4ivRqHTzSzvxnkzKxbBtO-z0AERZYLvlG54/s1886/Satyr%20Pug%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="1886" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizy9AazQJyqrmvkHLZCdNtvPFZHRmslDWKUz0jL8xXRP0jg3sgs7dANwktuLHko7Xw5NuA0L2eZdq2ImQe6fvsJYgYPYuIBzu1w7g1cBv8mgypZKF80jCKzw4qmQoF411ACoBD7-Q7c7lISuZCh2D68gc4ivRqHTzSzvxnkzKxbBtO-z0AERZYLvlG54/w640-h454/Satyr%20Pug%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Satyr Pug, <i>Eupithecia satyrata </i>(Thanks to RL for the identification.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I'd proposed Foxglove Pug. It had then been identified as Edinburgh/Freyer's Pug (<i>Eupithecia intricata</i>). However, as this would have been a county first I needed to get it checked. Re-identified as Satyr Pug, it lacks the dark band across the base of the abdomen that is diagnostic for Freyer's Pug. I had a good look through the images on both British Lepidoptera and on Lepiforum, and although the band can sometimes be hard to see it is usually obvious. Freyer's Pug is a species that is likely here in Orkney, one to look out for.</p><p>In recent days I've also been shown images of another mystery pug. The trapper thought it was a good one, so I sent the images off for identification and verification. It has come back as Golden-rod Pug, new for the county, an excellent outcome.</p><p>The Great White Egret, or indeed two of them, are still about. Mostly, like today, I see one, but two were here yesterday. If I take the binoculars upstairs I can often see one whilst sitting in bed with a cup of tea.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lKqXQXHnpp9QGcVSTG3-Z7rHzCe737CYWUV-iDJ0QGfu0Q26H91L6vYAOqLzowLPXey3HqOelFVsBdIDrQ10By_jv3OgNB0VvnfzrI4T5mMnAMKUs8NElvcZla3_iDVvlEe__CIom7uIA1AkbFzkgTsXSgVQtTlXjyJ2vuXHAhkGI6U4WfYBWBro0Uc/s1080/GWE%20Dounby2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1080" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lKqXQXHnpp9QGcVSTG3-Z7rHzCe737CYWUV-iDJ0QGfu0Q26H91L6vYAOqLzowLPXey3HqOelFVsBdIDrQ10By_jv3OgNB0VvnfzrI4T5mMnAMKUs8NElvcZla3_iDVvlEe__CIom7uIA1AkbFzkgTsXSgVQtTlXjyJ2vuXHAhkGI6U4WfYBWBro0Uc/w640-h494/GWE%20Dounby2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was photographed nearby, in Dounby.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The tick of the week was a small cranefly, <i>Trichocera major</i>. I must capture another to photograph a bit better, but I had two in the light trap a week ago. I had thought that I had a new fly for Orkney but had again been pipped at the post by BH who had caught and identified this species a few years back.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH7PszRXrp9_YixkCW-YJNlYFV03tghQIt0JJFTHUhIc8Y_b44ufRxO7z-moVXsrmpnF82uMO6mtg1yGUTfuupcnB6n5KTSkcyPn7_XKeTPvu0p-C4e_1UVfZLzgeINgjbEvm-F24MGxmzeZBf_NJAo2ixKekY60AT-ZETXpUoeaiu_U2rQBIBxjip4g/s1024/Tmajor%20dorsal2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH7PszRXrp9_YixkCW-YJNlYFV03tghQIt0JJFTHUhIc8Y_b44ufRxO7z-moVXsrmpnF82uMO6mtg1yGUTfuupcnB6n5KTSkcyPn7_XKeTPvu0p-C4e_1UVfZLzgeINgjbEvm-F24MGxmzeZBf_NJAo2ixKekY60AT-ZETXpUoeaiu_U2rQBIBxjip4g/w640-h444/Tmajor%20dorsal2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trichocera major</i>, not the best image.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1VbS4A7fjfFdb6tshWTGFuVQ81yZRR7H73IfJqCl_wAGQgLf41sdWbt4e4wUvRTgmCrnkXY5wTOIAYfrouUDEHAEKtAqnJdVRdVIDkXlLHLZHcJR73DjEUso279_1DWg9of7WEd88UD4ZO37948LopSjMxwBmh4RGev4SuvBxucCamwZa19dZWZiYwM/s1024/T%20major%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1024" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1VbS4A7fjfFdb6tshWTGFuVQ81yZRR7H73IfJqCl_wAGQgLf41sdWbt4e4wUvRTgmCrnkXY5wTOIAYfrouUDEHAEKtAqnJdVRdVIDkXlLHLZHcJR73DjEUso279_1DWg9of7WEd88UD4ZO37948LopSjMxwBmh4RGev4SuvBxucCamwZa19dZWZiYwM/w640-h488/T%20major%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEK98EmL4pqVHFdT2r0OqbABcGffwIca-bM9gFeKG05Vhr3L-TO-0GXZmV8pm2qZ_VQGNlnDagtl1EBEdQB0tsRDAiF84LsWjnU9Cqfiy4hcE79yRVxidrVBc4YxtSCB-D16dS7OoZHAph4-RFNbMmZCN0sRFg3Onk7NaEpWKtNkizYeIy2EHF80ASWo/s1024/Tmajor%202%20wing%20ab%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEK98EmL4pqVHFdT2r0OqbABcGffwIca-bM9gFeKG05Vhr3L-TO-0GXZmV8pm2qZ_VQGNlnDagtl1EBEdQB0tsRDAiF84LsWjnU9Cqfiy4hcE79yRVxidrVBc4YxtSCB-D16dS7OoZHAph4-RFNbMmZCN0sRFg3Onk7NaEpWKtNkizYeIy2EHF80ASWo/w640-h464/Tmajor%202%20wing%20ab%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trichocera major</i>, thanks to BH for confirming my ID.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There were just four moths, none in the trap, all on the wall or on the trap. Three Mottled Umber and an Angleshades.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLQ8pDn1aNbdS1AilN0ZGGkbKj9B0Md0x2jK2RuB9y3oRrjNuwfFmqiaaw9-qza01GNTN584LJFa8cFag_w64Pj27PKTIoJDDdWH-gGfgMohjIMpphPL4NsKvCm5nniTL-RMnW6HUG5GUXuCULLefmFIfISf7hCzAUqAGSZBoAXYw4y8hOh6EqAZwNBw/s1024/Angleshades%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLQ8pDn1aNbdS1AilN0ZGGkbKj9B0Md0x2jK2RuB9y3oRrjNuwfFmqiaaw9-qza01GNTN584LJFa8cFag_w64Pj27PKTIoJDDdWH-gGfgMohjIMpphPL4NsKvCm5nniTL-RMnW6HUG5GUXuCULLefmFIfISf7hCzAUqAGSZBoAXYw4y8hOh6EqAZwNBw/w640-h472/Angleshades%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angleshades.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdSyU6AvpyIk6Y9XfyNSiBoDKWKomBHvaj3cKPEP4acgkIMzkm5Pk7Lgwpbu4zX60VY7E7QAAf71qS8U2uGuDT7CIN-jfg0sE2qqDdBf_TKV6gMjRv5LIGGUugfOxnZK2ttBYsZ05Ml6oPBNHJ3KWl7_SlyS7O9nK2rPwdmlvNeBc4cgb3MV1_R8AyN8/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdSyU6AvpyIk6Y9XfyNSiBoDKWKomBHvaj3cKPEP4acgkIMzkm5Pk7Lgwpbu4zX60VY7E7QAAf71qS8U2uGuDT7CIN-jfg0sE2qqDdBf_TKV6gMjRv5LIGGUugfOxnZK2ttBYsZ05Ml6oPBNHJ3KWl7_SlyS7O9nK2rPwdmlvNeBc4cgb3MV1_R8AyN8/w640-h472/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLCVESKILrUuCxhjGXX9YBU4Thzx49IBN6vxwUxRLOCqz-RzdEbL0H_yler9reTRbtPzbNUpvIi1omAcOT8uWIvj3b5Z4xAUjOESpWGrpGOqZ5bbyhGEnE8SHCDv5xxJr36GzoxuVX2Iq2IPEsK4Huz35jwbe5u7tKIvZYfz8Lai3bS5mCm3YXpg8ncE/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLCVESKILrUuCxhjGXX9YBU4Thzx49IBN6vxwUxRLOCqz-RzdEbL0H_yler9reTRbtPzbNUpvIi1omAcOT8uWIvj3b5Z4xAUjOESpWGrpGOqZ5bbyhGEnE8SHCDv5xxJr36GzoxuVX2Iq2IPEsK4Huz35jwbe5u7tKIvZYfz8Lai3bS5mCm3YXpg8ncE/w640-h472/Mottled%20Umber%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umber, a dark one and a pale one.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1C5pxqPeswq-EfTIu2zC0ki_iBpPIXm4OjXSDZYM4GrvWHqh0Jw5K8woYkRZ0PxLmi-vymZ0l_vPgciQG39cDdUhktTsulMkzCZvnP89Rb80BTEUEeApzKaSkfn7wa4GD4XQQcSzRcvfYGTAa_xNG6xfepMBYVdJ2OpnvBWgMO6LoL0rz42seVaFAY4/s1024/Harray%20Kirk2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc1C5pxqPeswq-EfTIu2zC0ki_iBpPIXm4OjXSDZYM4GrvWHqh0Jw5K8woYkRZ0PxLmi-vymZ0l_vPgciQG39cDdUhktTsulMkzCZvnP89Rb80BTEUEeApzKaSkfn7wa4GD4XQQcSzRcvfYGTAa_xNG6xfepMBYVdJ2OpnvBWgMO6LoL0rz42seVaFAY4/w640-h480/Harray%20Kirk2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6TP-qu5otLoS2-hEdECxwCfkgJsyg_G3vDWHi6ZZ3SalHqvIGsVI1Ho9IiVNcXkVoHdWDdVXGTQv81WBNoSfWfUgPk13aae4PnOUzwK-n_6NX3QEzFUB1o23QjAzAslTg6qJ-1wGJJAaWK5KjHpqHI1VdocwUbgKf6VkBvxCWIIB2lA6VBxxepjVrmI/s1024/Harray%20Kirk%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="1024" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6TP-qu5otLoS2-hEdECxwCfkgJsyg_G3vDWHi6ZZ3SalHqvIGsVI1Ho9IiVNcXkVoHdWDdVXGTQv81WBNoSfWfUgPk13aae4PnOUzwK-n_6NX3QEzFUB1o23QjAzAslTg6qJ-1wGJJAaWK5KjHpqHI1VdocwUbgKf6VkBvxCWIIB2lA6VBxxepjVrmI/w640-h282/Harray%20Kirk%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harray Kirk, photos from the garden today.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-44457126433315721382023-11-15T22:59:00.004+00:002023-11-15T22:59:39.240+00:00New garden bird - GWE (close anyway).<p>Pretty sure one of today's Great White Egrets entered "air-space" above the garden. I was too busy trying to get photos, but on flight path I'd guess it made it. A beautiful day, and my usual morning stroll down to The Shunan to count the ducks and waders was enhanced by not just one, but two Great White Egrets. This species first graced the patch list in August last year, indeed it got on the "from the garden" and "from the house" lists too. At the time it was a first for my "self-found" list. I know that south this species is these days pretty much two a penny, but here it is still a quite scarce bird, so chuffed.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_F-GNf50RJ8aCT1V_isWdnbSof450M4d8RjwdHHtu8LqykmkCyxcB8ZmXA_KkeXyErL19hjJeMynZV8tB7EJE8vYD6ypJBNFSu0A6njPpiwJAWlUAaN3N36Bj6aRbhtkDI-9C2bFdjwFFh2iSSbrV1uTPHvPUy8d0EnE8a7nhm3bhSGlDxnw2iHMxfbA/s1607/GWE%20two.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="1607" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_F-GNf50RJ8aCT1V_isWdnbSof450M4d8RjwdHHtu8LqykmkCyxcB8ZmXA_KkeXyErL19hjJeMynZV8tB7EJE8vYD6ypJBNFSu0A6njPpiwJAWlUAaN3N36Bj6aRbhtkDI-9C2bFdjwFFh2iSSbrV1uTPHvPUy8d0EnE8a7nhm3bhSGlDxnw2iHMxfbA/w640-h474/GWE%20two.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWE x 2 at The Shunan.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>One bird was bullying the other, presumably this is a survival strategy to keep a feeding place for itself. The dominant bird seemed to be tucking in to sticklebacks and didn't waste too much energy chasing the other bird which shortly left to the east, and in the process seemed to get itself directly over the garden, close, anyway.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvGYRVPrvtVBT1PszuJpic7uWUO49aOmvrKxobnlhCyolN-SCg4vCtxqrKqS3ZFUkLPACHcYzYfAkiFveGXSYftaejCrGGWqfcC_5HsJ6Xjw8lDnsYwgILf6kyf6YIYggAeQa1Vm6wdD-ct2Ml-gMafoJERqjAAp86BVnRGaw1pXcoNd-RhPwXDUSjA/s1024/GWE%20garden.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1024" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrvGYRVPrvtVBT1PszuJpic7uWUO49aOmvrKxobnlhCyolN-SCg4vCtxqrKqS3ZFUkLPACHcYzYfAkiFveGXSYftaejCrGGWqfcC_5HsJ6Xjw8lDnsYwgILf6kyf6YIYggAeQa1Vm6wdD-ct2Ml-gMafoJERqjAAp86BVnRGaw1pXcoNd-RhPwXDUSjA/w640-h426/GWE%20garden.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GWE leaving air-space.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn4RPiRewX-uYWCh6t2viQslm3Gfoap8F8KNHoMdAKLyANLi3EUgqa5eJIa02gA4twAnTq02QgHE8-BNIT_YG3CIxsDPPdjuSG0bIfpRwud8_XK7W1_4OYj1ciI2WmfNBrvJwnMBp4GxBaoAlF4plAcVAkUjPdsRIvoYJA4zvkvVUJ6Q3mk84_zwqeO4/s1085/GWE%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1085" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn4RPiRewX-uYWCh6t2viQslm3Gfoap8F8KNHoMdAKLyANLi3EUgqa5eJIa02gA4twAnTq02QgHE8-BNIT_YG3CIxsDPPdjuSG0bIfpRwud8_XK7W1_4OYj1ciI2WmfNBrvJwnMBp4GxBaoAlF4plAcVAkUjPdsRIvoYJA4zvkvVUJ6Q3mk84_zwqeO4/w640-h522/GWE%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaMK9Fn0DolKMB2zMUZPfsFJtSSGrqus5SOHUBKVg5f6FCslvi9V9o-9E-HSck8Ts_AOM2CJNWcyPCqLHn0-cABiN2tuRTYO1xsNWb0Fa8_WXt8G5JySGz9UZ-8uEJgSstHJkJHZX7Wq-Dac8Zdj7sDP9A5zial66fJVOFVorqiv64IPRMWQ05Cbied0/s1085/GWE%203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1085" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZaMK9Fn0DolKMB2zMUZPfsFJtSSGrqus5SOHUBKVg5f6FCslvi9V9o-9E-HSck8Ts_AOM2CJNWcyPCqLHn0-cABiN2tuRTYO1xsNWb0Fa8_WXt8G5JySGz9UZ-8uEJgSstHJkJHZX7Wq-Dac8Zdj7sDP9A5zial66fJVOFVorqiv64IPRMWQ05Cbied0/w640-h522/GWE%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we headed out to do the recycling the dominant bird was conveniently on the road side of The Shunan.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I watch Blackbirds scrapping over apples in the back garden. It occurs very regularly, even when there's plenty of apple for all. And Robins are not at all keen on Blackcap feeding on apple, although the Robins themselves are not all that interested in the fruit and only take the occasional piece. There would have been plenty of feeding space and plenty of sticklebacks and probably Eel for both birds.</p><p>Sadly the Nikon 50mm Fieldscope was a right-off. Not repairable. Fortunately I'd pre-empted this eventuality and having spotted what looked like a brand new body on eBay acquired it for a very good price. When it arrived I was very, very pleased to find it was pretty much brand new and unused. Using it I've now realised that my old one had been pretty knackered for some time. Nikon have been good enough to give me a 20% discount voucher as they've recycled my old one. Nikon service for optics has in my experience been spot on. No carriage or administration fees (Leica) and dealing with Nikon direct, not a third party agent (Kowa). I suspect my next bins will be Nikons. Having said this we've just replaced Louise's Opticrons with a pair of Zeiss Terra 8x25s, they are fabulously sharp. A bit bulkier than pocket bins, but easily stowable for traveling. </p><p>The last few days have been spent looking back at photos from our 2021 Arran trip and trying to sort all the identifications. I've been motivated to do this by the Bubo Pan-species Lists being put online, what a great project! This has generated guilt at never entering much of my Arran data into iRecord. However, to tackle that omission has proven easier said than done as there are a lot of identifications that I need to review. So far I've found five new species for my PSL and corrected one significant ID blunder. Earlier trips to Arran also require review.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8DzTw5shEh_N1mL4T7TfwQZb2tWAgMadzGjsCettXC4_m7coRhpNsXdxv9Wcae-lICLAQE9kUSud9ZlepB50tnc8XValjqZjECIvK29IzGi4RaSfGdLkjD4D235woTt2iTeF4lblKZeMJ6UjN1VeCO8ZdTHEFoSSOuYpKyArD5Hd436P9ClNMEibtc/s1499/Athalia%20sp%20dorsal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1247" data-original-width="1499" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWz8DzTw5shEh_N1mL4T7TfwQZb2tWAgMadzGjsCettXC4_m7coRhpNsXdxv9Wcae-lICLAQE9kUSud9ZlepB50tnc8XValjqZjECIvK29IzGi4RaSfGdLkjD4D235woTt2iTeF4lblKZeMJ6UjN1VeCO8ZdTHEFoSSOuYpKyArD5Hd436P9ClNMEibtc/w640-h532/Athalia%20sp%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vDJ6qEsAdo8j-B2pkYD0GK7HqWYmifEfhscf19VbknRFdkwSTJlfE179iw8VryQdW72NJjqMfrlq69ah7i7wrVyczzsSrtcwBkpLzaL0S3dflKL0mwHANdeCnXijqIHidFjvXyLgQ_rLxOvtI9xSHtf2iRcxM8KD4iBVeCWzKk_Ddogy_RNOCGlBdmw/s1024/Athalia%20sp%20lateral.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5vDJ6qEsAdo8j-B2pkYD0GK7HqWYmifEfhscf19VbknRFdkwSTJlfE179iw8VryQdW72NJjqMfrlq69ah7i7wrVyczzsSrtcwBkpLzaL0S3dflKL0mwHANdeCnXijqIHidFjvXyLgQ_rLxOvtI9xSHtf2iRcxM8KD4iBVeCWzKk_Ddogy_RNOCGlBdmw/w640-h456/Athalia%20sp%20lateral.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a3oImC6fPL1EzDR4vfQRRbyZwaLJRM6ygKtmXNCp5kt3Dz96mtrmBMYUi8wvIZgBeBa0CnXXNpdwUaNr2GVuKYa01GI3u6v3w4thAxPOcGHWjHQBHE7K-4BIRKUIDZPo8DbLV7zV7NiB8iWD-lK7RqLJ9QIKiO7Ef4ZUuzE0OPCd87pgE__EOQRoMP0/s1024/Athalia%20sp%20ventral.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4a3oImC6fPL1EzDR4vfQRRbyZwaLJRM6ygKtmXNCp5kt3Dz96mtrmBMYUi8wvIZgBeBa0CnXXNpdwUaNr2GVuKYa01GI3u6v3w4thAxPOcGHWjHQBHE7K-4BIRKUIDZPo8DbLV7zV7NiB8iWD-lK7RqLJ9QIKiO7Ef4ZUuzE0OPCd87pgE__EOQRoMP0/w640-h456/Athalia%20sp%20ventral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Athalia cordata</i> (Bugle Sawfly) from Arran, July 2021 (thanks to AR for help and confirmation of the ID).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I'm sure there will be a few more (not exactly armchair) ticks. Each requires a fair bit of messing with photos and then research to get to a species identification. In one case I'd kept a moth specimen, it had been in the freezer for two years, and I've finally got to the correct identification. However, there are some others that require some help and consultation.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBhwKG-8qlP3EVQetEgN7h4ELR6gh7kEvfaWcqrm5BkcQw4QaFJNonvt9LafKe39ssPhx-VEOTHrqDTpmjjSRnE7eimLgX5WlUgTlHD90NND3Zh60rFu4bJFj4Od9_IQz3Pe1KevQ5MpGwLsxb68N0tCjc-YvBjohhYS6jV3UTBPVtAbjnIApqaGOP6w/s4608/PB130532.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkBhwKG-8qlP3EVQetEgN7h4ELR6gh7kEvfaWcqrm5BkcQw4QaFJNonvt9LafKe39ssPhx-VEOTHrqDTpmjjSRnE7eimLgX5WlUgTlHD90NND3Zh60rFu4bJFj4Od9_IQz3Pe1KevQ5MpGwLsxb68N0tCjc-YvBjohhYS6jV3UTBPVtAbjnIApqaGOP6w/w640-h480/PB130532.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Tinea semifulvella</i>, I'd previously thought this was a <i>Batia </i>species.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Our trip to the tip involved a stop at Warbeth for a walk, where there were a lot of Ringed Plovers, about 140 and a single Grey Plover.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="406" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6CNna1tpTdE" width="489" youtube-src-id="6CNna1tpTdE"></iframe></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7UHRYbAfXMyYYZgUbIXhCC7S0cJGsvZ7prkJSBdbBXFUzvJoeZWblLjFyxTwpkHzgZmERG0rG3Htnxmn_wqwFcUJN_-ztRxK4rAqqPgWbLDK51e3D8JI_LUlQAtr8bx9gIXtnqWSPOM8Yo7qHxP0nqyOSBPkH6xVbq9mDBLxVOCt_gdfSWt84mT6Spc/s1024/GreyP%20&%20Ringed%20Ps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1024" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7UHRYbAfXMyYYZgUbIXhCC7S0cJGsvZ7prkJSBdbBXFUzvJoeZWblLjFyxTwpkHzgZmERG0rG3Htnxmn_wqwFcUJN_-ztRxK4rAqqPgWbLDK51e3D8JI_LUlQAtr8bx9gIXtnqWSPOM8Yo7qHxP0nqyOSBPkH6xVbq9mDBLxVOCt_gdfSWt84mT6Spc/w640-h434/GreyP%20&%20Ringed%20Ps.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the 140 or so Ringed Plovers with one Grey Plover.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0u6hXP2CwR6gw2lX4GaMElHY47t8WxFRgh3eHSnkYvBypL1tpUEKWFYnpqde2JO94lo7xVBHLacifvIu7AfqIe2Q8EsOh9nobxF0FlKSSA3gntybAO93m6Zq6SI3H0JJrgauYPcgOdZTPCoJFCFO0dYwlsuWcfV0OVecUbroslUhux5tkS95g1KMgh8/s1024/Rain%20over%20Hoy%204%20crop%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="1024" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0u6hXP2CwR6gw2lX4GaMElHY47t8WxFRgh3eHSnkYvBypL1tpUEKWFYnpqde2JO94lo7xVBHLacifvIu7AfqIe2Q8EsOh9nobxF0FlKSSA3gntybAO93m6Zq6SI3H0JJrgauYPcgOdZTPCoJFCFO0dYwlsuWcfV0OVecUbroslUhux5tkS95g1KMgh8/w640-h288/Rain%20over%20Hoy%204%20crop%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSukEcK2Jf7SBWnb-jUlcM3sZ5Zw_XboMET7IUbT2Rg0ttxeeIggV1c4QykdFPmdJ25KmxD1WSwPTvz7-yVZ5iNQvg8kWh86xENd9wxEPmUK6SC1K6dKugQBDkPuMckcTMHrPdfigF3cUkSnJ-sI3GOeVKvYE1L_Mc5q39DLGIUlic952kGNjmIQW8b4o/s1024/Rain%20over%20Hoy%205%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="1024" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSukEcK2Jf7SBWnb-jUlcM3sZ5Zw_XboMET7IUbT2Rg0ttxeeIggV1c4QykdFPmdJ25KmxD1WSwPTvz7-yVZ5iNQvg8kWh86xENd9wxEPmUK6SC1K6dKugQBDkPuMckcTMHrPdfigF3cUkSnJ-sI3GOeVKvYE1L_Mc5q39DLGIUlic952kGNjmIQW8b4o/w640-h328/Rain%20over%20Hoy%205%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrd4Z8xNgBJbWTnTLhJD1Td668dTDUt77KPPfOzjfzbppxzlSMA0k1Q0fhhJteRagZKC02lzKmkl_88zLV1KEwL0GqkIiuoZV5ZUkNo-N_tvUfsYSIKXdlv4k6bSjZfMvp49U8dunWHyv_5iO174UB8VTlxhjVu9b20cLn9CBHa-uJ8qXCUoNrTLJQWI/s1024/Rain%20over%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYrd4Z8xNgBJbWTnTLhJD1Td668dTDUt77KPPfOzjfzbppxzlSMA0k1Q0fhhJteRagZKC02lzKmkl_88zLV1KEwL0GqkIiuoZV5ZUkNo-N_tvUfsYSIKXdlv4k6bSjZfMvp49U8dunWHyv_5iO174UB8VTlxhjVu9b20cLn9CBHa-uJ8qXCUoNrTLJQWI/w640-h480/Rain%20over%20Hoy%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain Over Hoy.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-89245033861099860722023-11-09T11:14:00.001+00:002023-11-09T11:14:21.779+00:00Weather - spaced out!<p> Nice aurora on the evening of 4th November. I pottered out and took a few pix after younger daughter, who lives south, had alerted us to the lights.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXDGWnukLh621il5ANuYfG2a8z-1N_FKYLARXI3YkfLY69NwpXrmEHIdWUEPYQ25NMyfkf8pA3OSNsr55WKKLNvcv1Jm1tupqS8AKHc33NRLHilqRgVP500AsWyBR6vPM1ChGNb8aH3gVdJpjunB5wZBo9lGha-6RToQp9VFgebzbK1kkWw1W3HIYpIY/s1024/Aurora%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXDGWnukLh621il5ANuYfG2a8z-1N_FKYLARXI3YkfLY69NwpXrmEHIdWUEPYQ25NMyfkf8pA3OSNsr55WKKLNvcv1Jm1tupqS8AKHc33NRLHilqRgVP500AsWyBR6vPM1ChGNb8aH3gVdJpjunB5wZBo9lGha-6RToQp9VFgebzbK1kkWw1W3HIYpIY/w640-h480/Aurora%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX2jTiVjZcasOWoEEJ6TuzIhlYOdH7tB5JVldB_YWnHneVQlaijfbe8pceat5cYfnNg5_E0J8vUTSl5TE7FSHM8vVGOvwMukRyyF92w8lL_oijIl4Z0vgWW_PCZHfJu0fesY2wO1aw50sv2dPDL4hRHU1ZJdfArT48zeMuT-tC40JwIWyktVY3fzRNTk/s1024/Aurora%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDX2jTiVjZcasOWoEEJ6TuzIhlYOdH7tB5JVldB_YWnHneVQlaijfbe8pceat5cYfnNg5_E0J8vUTSl5TE7FSHM8vVGOvwMukRyyF92w8lL_oijIl4Z0vgWW_PCZHfJu0fesY2wO1aw50sv2dPDL4hRHU1ZJdfArT48zeMuT-tC40JwIWyktVY3fzRNTk/w640-h480/Aurora%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house with the aurora behind.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8rkrS7132Df9SXVXK-PiJXfkW9J-qtmd6E3AKa37yPOEYy0nB_gLNb1oMrggYfm2K1hBZMQJGnu5EEQtnFMaL7y69FNNHAUhkjE2h5T7KBdJfh7s_ja2z8DykxEfKxnbsD6nQyEt_7Knt40w_W8xN2rTcL6sbx0RJEpZra8__dS-bkIpONUpR2zB14c/s1024/Aurora%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1024" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8rkrS7132Df9SXVXK-PiJXfkW9J-qtmd6E3AKa37yPOEYy0nB_gLNb1oMrggYfm2K1hBZMQJGnu5EEQtnFMaL7y69FNNHAUhkjE2h5T7KBdJfh7s_ja2z8DykxEfKxnbsD6nQyEt_7Knt40w_W8xN2rTcL6sbx0RJEpZra8__dS-bkIpONUpR2zB14c/w640-h450/Aurora%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And again...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NZEVjEuAhZFr9pfYRig-rKk0TlhI3q86cV7u_SDEIcHFVo2xYRcwIe1j6eLKP3y2KWBZUfoTnMbiZb_3SK4Wvr-tKAtBh7zPsvgf6E7HTAI6UycUY4xFDlbAlJ_D7a5U6VKu3Ghpi21TbPaclMC4vxaZ0Rx0rCzIltgnm0BitApyWs_B8yRZ4pzJEUo/s1024/Aurora%204%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NZEVjEuAhZFr9pfYRig-rKk0TlhI3q86cV7u_SDEIcHFVo2xYRcwIe1j6eLKP3y2KWBZUfoTnMbiZb_3SK4Wvr-tKAtBh7zPsvgf6E7HTAI6UycUY4xFDlbAlJ_D7a5U6VKu3Ghpi21TbPaclMC4vxaZ0Rx0rCzIltgnm0BitApyWs_B8yRZ4pzJEUo/w640-h480/Aurora%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora and shooting star.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There is a bit of an issue with dust on the camera sensor with night photography; irritating, the images take a lot of cleaning with my software (Photoscape X, free). And i do clean the sensors, but it's tricky.<br /></p><p>These images are not much meddled with in the software though, other than a bit of cleaning, and some cropping. I like to try and keep them as much as possible as they came out of the camera. The aurora doesn't really look that green to the eye, the camera exaggerates the colour. The aurora just looks as if it isn't as dark as it ought to be for the time of night, and then the brightness moves about. </p><p>The next night things went a bit bonkers. The Weatherman mentioned more aurora in his report, we checked the app and yes it was a red alert.</p><p>This is probably the second brightest aurora I've seen since we've lived here, it was all around us, not just to the north, and it was very active at times, flashing and moving. Some colours we certainly visible to the eye. Again, with the photos I've tried only to clean and manage the images a little, not go for massive effect.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiwc-J4oI9wJbVf8LNLnceBFioMQTLTXlWpf13DF0qS4XhSkdsz3OjFiSwlj7Fh2mry8-HD4eXC6ZS9G_K7z3fdIWpFSCHbhNombVTgju_p0UgDXLQkRbzXxtm8RsCVtiQcZ9NImARvk8FKd_d5GrOrzN15NP1UE4-Ais5MsSkSbUUAytLGG3hbteVJE/s1024/Aurora%20Dounby%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBiwc-J4oI9wJbVf8LNLnceBFioMQTLTXlWpf13DF0qS4XhSkdsz3OjFiSwlj7Fh2mry8-HD4eXC6ZS9G_K7z3fdIWpFSCHbhNombVTgju_p0UgDXLQkRbzXxtm8RsCVtiQcZ9NImARvk8FKd_d5GrOrzN15NP1UE4-Ais5MsSkSbUUAytLGG3hbteVJE/w640-h480/Aurora%20Dounby%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora over Dounby.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg423S053HWlGSUYcwcQE8niRl0iNc5STnxmhCVXxW4mdU3Bdka8NcVYNxQUXCCRjTbAU0OfeM6SbSqAHVDFMKSsIGeSAAFa7essyII2xqVYTkshw8cOdKOJq0HitnH1BEGz9tGLoZZs_gIoneXU8_J15aiMQW-lqiC-MfS3DchamtH2dY0Stp_N8OZWNk/s1024/Aurora%20house%205%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg423S053HWlGSUYcwcQE8niRl0iNc5STnxmhCVXxW4mdU3Bdka8NcVYNxQUXCCRjTbAU0OfeM6SbSqAHVDFMKSsIGeSAAFa7essyII2xqVYTkshw8cOdKOJq0HitnH1BEGz9tGLoZZs_gIoneXU8_J15aiMQW-lqiC-MfS3DchamtH2dY0Stp_N8OZWNk/w640-h480/Aurora%20house%205%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our house with aurora to the north.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPOmT_AQ7ccwwxVBcD9ho2vhQ0HT0LFyRA1xcd_KhMDMhEV8YXl7cZLfB3g71GWJvKvUh80l2Q4aXKR945wXezHHIs0VUaEedRI5I5dOtZvP6XSnCVwP32Vnezftkj21Dw_3HwOJYA_aPABZ8ZNPzebiQVEoSk79w_Kv7E921YAjCrhx1j57vFNaM7E0/s1024/Aurora%20Mait%201lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPOmT_AQ7ccwwxVBcD9ho2vhQ0HT0LFyRA1xcd_KhMDMhEV8YXl7cZLfB3g71GWJvKvUh80l2Q4aXKR945wXezHHIs0VUaEedRI5I5dOtZvP6XSnCVwP32Vnezftkj21Dw_3HwOJYA_aPABZ8ZNPzebiQVEoSk79w_Kv7E921YAjCrhx1j57vFNaM7E0/w640-h480/Aurora%20Mait%201lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora to the east, our neighbour's trees, the rookery.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkidnxwD9SPxv7lSh3zznkq0KqSbJBxfj-W5GwCy7nOfqIHcZI7QrzcjO7cyROFaGbiyQyqOwBa7yViYGWu4QJeOP2TIxNRjlrvXZTWRkOu3QX56DWYW_s9O9g-niozfIA2bqAbeAFQN25g7TVLG5Qo778WlLO2LzM8Rg9GsDgNmMubcxvW4hXk0Bcdbc/s1024/Aurora%20Mait%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkidnxwD9SPxv7lSh3zznkq0KqSbJBxfj-W5GwCy7nOfqIHcZI7QrzcjO7cyROFaGbiyQyqOwBa7yViYGWu4QJeOP2TIxNRjlrvXZTWRkOu3QX56DWYW_s9O9g-niozfIA2bqAbeAFQN25g7TVLG5Qo778WlLO2LzM8Rg9GsDgNmMubcxvW4hXk0Bcdbc/w640-h480/Aurora%20Mait%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And again...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iVcqWZo0xtFMLB4dh-aKTKabuqt2wRTTBmBBf2HRhZQMlVkbKxiI0X24_w2y-ocCu8eWk5-0EGG2ZJNLaDthVtEPXs_ksFgGV3M2-ddukGrcuYDljtefKM0JS0KWMgZUTpgRNzaHM9sNifffySpF5c55hQS6ouiD6-HBGzWji2INgj5Q9sVG4VPZxpE/s1024/Tree%20aurora%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iVcqWZo0xtFMLB4dh-aKTKabuqt2wRTTBmBBf2HRhZQMlVkbKxiI0X24_w2y-ocCu8eWk5-0EGG2ZJNLaDthVtEPXs_ksFgGV3M2-ddukGrcuYDljtefKM0JS0KWMgZUTpgRNzaHM9sNifffySpF5c55hQS6ouiD6-HBGzWji2INgj5Q9sVG4VPZxpE/w640-h480/Tree%20aurora%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aurora to the west.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">The weather itself has been pretty odd, no wind, just still for days. Today was the first day for ages with any kind of breeze, and that died away for the afternoon.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Still water and lots of reflections led to a few attempts at photographing the landscape.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYJmBSEH8wcopPii4iRsIgHIYCpoTXd2JeuKvf6QW6qeitc9pvb2uVLDpWMiJrm176CsTmK4py63_tYwZQhktG7GmiMx_jd66QKWI6GyZFTtvBRIx0qn9JL7o1w-eDWONeja-VXoFy4d6ia-2sXTbw2aCgHDcTOlnG7x1ekDxN9OXMtI1UDdKVwPiMLE/s1024/Costa%20Hoy%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYJmBSEH8wcopPii4iRsIgHIYCpoTXd2JeuKvf6QW6qeitc9pvb2uVLDpWMiJrm176CsTmK4py63_tYwZQhktG7GmiMx_jd66QKWI6GyZFTtvBRIx0qn9JL7o1w-eDWONeja-VXoFy4d6ia-2sXTbw2aCgHDcTOlnG7x1ekDxN9OXMtI1UDdKVwPiMLE/w640-h480/Costa%20Hoy%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A moorland pool, Swannay Loch and the Hoy Hills.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8VxIeqnRJ7aIkFmPJlh1iFz_vD_l6UBkxd_nY8-COxJqzB0_elFekh9yv6mby7FYx4qYfrIFJSqmscXs6Ckh_ASvBX42XoR7K6_TI3A7mbsHCgrW0ne42NJu685F_dtRNYebnbECBu4euXaNHBNybpkQ1UFtLZGGiFn2VIXWEqQjr01rIvJXJJlPY7w/s1024/Costa%20Loch%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8VxIeqnRJ7aIkFmPJlh1iFz_vD_l6UBkxd_nY8-COxJqzB0_elFekh9yv6mby7FYx4qYfrIFJSqmscXs6Ckh_ASvBX42XoR7K6_TI3A7mbsHCgrW0ne42NJu685F_dtRNYebnbECBu4euXaNHBNybpkQ1UFtLZGGiFn2VIXWEqQjr01rIvJXJJlPY7w/w640-h480/Costa%20Loch%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swannay Loch.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d1JPoluiYPQ_Eb8sZVMAemZNmqDpPUdxDUs8VIAvu4hXpsev6DQqQVis-IimZTXxfDLNe5h1M0J3NwduTY1yw5lAQBjbkwd_LiiVpx_Hk5Vb9_VxcXLhD_nySxbNPfkgINaHyUBiH_ZQiGC5ZtUYuacMGr63kfcIXbiRYw71jigBn-RP0m2BCeLdDIc/s1024/Costa%20Rousay%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d1JPoluiYPQ_Eb8sZVMAemZNmqDpPUdxDUs8VIAvu4hXpsev6DQqQVis-IimZTXxfDLNe5h1M0J3NwduTY1yw5lAQBjbkwd_LiiVpx_Hk5Vb9_VxcXLhD_nySxbNPfkgINaHyUBiH_ZQiGC5ZtUYuacMGr63kfcIXbiRYw71jigBn-RP0m2BCeLdDIc/w640-h480/Costa%20Rousay%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view north towards Eynehallow and Evie.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs_bhWYupyGVW259z8V8v9TD8waFUAPGuZ-jTQ-w90rXPeerzgh_NCFiHDBuTnC-kCweRk6ASv8sKGT0wdVb16ESWhnnodnyp-4pR9Oh3g7B8Yx5nqbvPIGCfPvXXmgRjIiLKhI4Tcynga925307Z2sE1qmICLH60dMmE_-O0asd_guRzwBtRyAIg4XQ/s1024/Costa%20Westray1%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs_bhWYupyGVW259z8V8v9TD8waFUAPGuZ-jTQ-w90rXPeerzgh_NCFiHDBuTnC-kCweRk6ASv8sKGT0wdVb16ESWhnnodnyp-4pR9Oh3g7B8Yx5nqbvPIGCfPvXXmgRjIiLKhI4Tcynga925307Z2sE1qmICLH60dMmE_-O0asd_guRzwBtRyAIg4XQ/w640-h480/Costa%20Westray1%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>We'd walked to the trig point at Costa. I'd never been there before, it is a slightly awkward place to get to with limited parking and a bit of a walk along the road to get to the footpath.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOPB-C6acm-i9s1sop0PNdzCH9JZCKgQ6T-5MdOvayATsA0trRO6DtACFPvBv962IrmmLZIPWIdgRHfktB8DT0KiCDKKDebKiwgBRBpxOxqE6v6iaUCme8QxOB0U9fFh1QLTNWIBp8DUYuiIo45-N3ZHkMnYvMih-whHXZEF1NAaxi1lxKfUb90quKnA/s1024/Heading%20trig%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="1024" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOPB-C6acm-i9s1sop0PNdzCH9JZCKgQ6T-5MdOvayATsA0trRO6DtACFPvBv962IrmmLZIPWIdgRHfktB8DT0KiCDKKDebKiwgBRBpxOxqE6v6iaUCme8QxOB0U9fFh1QLTNWIBp8DUYuiIo45-N3ZHkMnYvMih-whHXZEF1NAaxi1lxKfUb90quKnA/w640-h232/Heading%20trig%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-o4G07x2oYTHD6bSRjmA8TmhUR4F39vrIP4ABWrSPBHlQWw6OHbJK7ZQj4LL2y_QqIOihoYiZknOVLsQ3Km2a6Wzc2AAzqJmf1iyZcXjedPh9HDzxNpz52ZmSvbiNvbmezYaDtmLCFn8C6IVgTIJg8GqeKW_OPkPJt8BR3JEYL7RZ65ZGLGPIHTdQQY/s1024/Heading%20trig%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-o4G07x2oYTHD6bSRjmA8TmhUR4F39vrIP4ABWrSPBHlQWw6OHbJK7ZQj4LL2y_QqIOihoYiZknOVLsQ3Km2a6Wzc2AAzqJmf1iyZcXjedPh9HDzxNpz52ZmSvbiNvbmezYaDtmLCFn8C6IVgTIJg8GqeKW_OPkPJt8BR3JEYL7RZ65ZGLGPIHTdQQY/w640-h480/Heading%20trig%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise walking back to the trig.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2vCsHP3oUKhfPxrDKLvfRjclnSOEJi0plGp7WWN1OxaprdFoYuUM6WKHJWgyt-i4eIZY-WoAWNxHt6zqxbcEeIBFjcoRZP8ITzaThqOEj2SpD9n1g_v3daroqT8L2i5b-vbnqKoiTSpLDp9hRbwaZrjfkxaVw-M9Bko1_-lbZp7VGuNrPblDFqydWIg/s1024/Moorland%20Pool%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2vCsHP3oUKhfPxrDKLvfRjclnSOEJi0plGp7WWN1OxaprdFoYuUM6WKHJWgyt-i4eIZY-WoAWNxHt6zqxbcEeIBFjcoRZP8ITzaThqOEj2SpD9n1g_v3daroqT8L2i5b-vbnqKoiTSpLDp9hRbwaZrjfkxaVw-M9Bko1_-lbZp7VGuNrPblDFqydWIg/w640-h480/Moorland%20Pool%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsCUcV1KZ3lzILKL9c-j_jXk1pvK_2v0fxIjDUWYBfgCejY2WgP6OCmd6eXE66x7jq9BB_UqMff6UVjOoJ7femA8SqKoaee9GMX17dO-4SmPhABmE3ANgqGCdSzdFudpmWRSvqmLh4BO0gSUgg47vZqElt4_I3Ce6Oovwq2DOWd69GrdF8piojszCq9M/s1024/On%20moor%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsCUcV1KZ3lzILKL9c-j_jXk1pvK_2v0fxIjDUWYBfgCejY2WgP6OCmd6eXE66x7jq9BB_UqMff6UVjOoJ7femA8SqKoaee9GMX17dO-4SmPhABmE3ANgqGCdSzdFudpmWRSvqmLh4BO0gSUgg47vZqElt4_I3Ce6Oovwq2DOWd69GrdF8piojszCq9M/w640-h468/On%20moor%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moorland pools and the Hoy Hills.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMyyDa0EjgC3A6CYldO6leIpgs4yL5ubISju_4kYIUY9uPwLLkFAxYjCwqqLBRopL1LAJ6D_GOUX_l_x9ZrvECGUUhlNfHXFyR1X6vhkjk2rivjx3zgC8sLLYYnwTyj07YPZiH3DYTQnUYXdbdlyAsh7FSP8oiF7awYel2h3Qft06b6r9Fn6LMUtKv1E/s1024/On%20moor%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1024" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMyyDa0EjgC3A6CYldO6leIpgs4yL5ubISju_4kYIUY9uPwLLkFAxYjCwqqLBRopL1LAJ6D_GOUX_l_x9ZrvECGUUhlNfHXFyR1X6vhkjk2rivjx3zgC8sLLYYnwTyj07YPZiH3DYTQnUYXdbdlyAsh7FSP8oiF7awYel2h3Qft06b6r9Fn6LMUtKv1E/w640-h422/On%20moor%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p> The day before we'd walked up to the Birsay Moor trig point. Another place which is slightly awkward to access. Jack Snipe, Snipe, Raven, Reed Bunting and male Hen Harrier were the only birds.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> Further expeditions were made. An evening outing to check on the Barn Owl drew a blank for that but I did relocate the Great White Egret, back at its original location, seen flying in to roost.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tJ9LhNxxAZ9n37BFJ5bueBT7wlCcBshEeqk4lqFUEofb-M-v1KtkDw2ACJZY8FGh50IH-V4xnpUhmhjpdL1HUaT3b-4rR8jgoPAyvoi_aw53iMQouDPPZVQa_wYU8BKClVxGgXPiPtsHosqRka4CkjdaH8378JD8noWceFUeMDR8w6_A3Jx0W2VsyBE/s1080/Wasdale%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tJ9LhNxxAZ9n37BFJ5bueBT7wlCcBshEeqk4lqFUEofb-M-v1KtkDw2ACJZY8FGh50IH-V4xnpUhmhjpdL1HUaT3b-4rR8jgoPAyvoi_aw53iMQouDPPZVQa_wYU8BKClVxGgXPiPtsHosqRka4CkjdaH8378JD8noWceFUeMDR8w6_A3Jx0W2VsyBE/w640-h478/Wasdale%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch of Wasdale.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A trip to Dounby by bike to the post office involved a diversion to Loch of Sabiston, just checking for egrets, but there were none. Just two flightly Waxwings in Dounby village.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1dTrkTIH1_watPrakjn6NqB5bRpiTMa3yHpSGYjldlMRRTKOBSXbdTNYBIoNFrsZPi4YgWJZjG8tCzJufnrJFLVSUS5vNiWK4YJUccwMfG5uoWK3phVcPF9TBnoGU_kzxO6VNM4nwoAit2OiOOCfdlrc8cayJbpOFxOO7874jpCzRAg-TMsSoyD5JU4/s1080/Broken%20tractor%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1dTrkTIH1_watPrakjn6NqB5bRpiTMa3yHpSGYjldlMRRTKOBSXbdTNYBIoNFrsZPi4YgWJZjG8tCzJufnrJFLVSUS5vNiWK4YJUccwMfG5uoWK3phVcPF9TBnoGU_kzxO6VNM4nwoAit2OiOOCfdlrc8cayJbpOFxOO7874jpCzRAg-TMsSoyD5JU4/w640-h478/Broken%20tractor%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken tractor, Dounby.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The light traps have produced just a few Mottled Umber. Unless I get a very warm evening now I probably won't use the light traps now for a while; unless we head south of course.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8FlBjnbSkTvRVPoWLSdR0n6e15SmX-ZUI5QwzTr2n0NDfNm-_BK47XBVCqD7XmTOttCqqCitJEn9_Z-Q5vCRVj8lqPZpECXsgHQdxcyXk6noFN2UnWIiDB87eEC4nBxSnAqR7HfMtRh2oObdN7EX8V0rsmSXjaXumWrgBBFBUuOozF8aUIQVlCTjoZo/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1024" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8FlBjnbSkTvRVPoWLSdR0n6e15SmX-ZUI5QwzTr2n0NDfNm-_BK47XBVCqD7XmTOttCqqCitJEn9_Z-Q5vCRVj8lqPZpECXsgHQdxcyXk6noFN2UnWIiDB87eEC4nBxSnAqR7HfMtRh2oObdN7EX8V0rsmSXjaXumWrgBBFBUuOozF8aUIQVlCTjoZo/w640-h440/Mottled%20Umber%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSjXJvZBBRCzemKJ_FhKSIH7wdwxn3lTCAGhvA2xnZurkHCciVQnaWjSZsoAzcSrY01ZC-Hx9fxDOMu-EizTnEZzqh2JPS_6kpeiWjToMOMzhwJ1Ga9-blZ8OtU-a9X6Bmkh8czCeDaITVD0iOaksDN5yzCo0ai-6rEUFjFFssrZIHJrJ5N6qSaiTASQ/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1024" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKSjXJvZBBRCzemKJ_FhKSIH7wdwxn3lTCAGhvA2xnZurkHCciVQnaWjSZsoAzcSrY01ZC-Hx9fxDOMu-EizTnEZzqh2JPS_6kpeiWjToMOMzhwJ1Ga9-blZ8OtU-a9X6Bmkh8czCeDaITVD0iOaksDN5yzCo0ai-6rEUFjFFssrZIHJrJ5N6qSaiTASQ/w640-h502/Mottled%20Umber%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXMkeFYLGm3G3tvbmp_UT7c2j9aprywciI8KDxpXQKI9c0X3TFrJr9lFhNfltbLqrTyq83_JNhz9m42gZLnv0L-gfA-4zDM8gyKKjU4_aGS1m9LTK3Tf7zzTylOKq65O-brw8GuuBpBTI6e3qFXO2LoE4oZ0-FH8OpJHiK6iveo3zjEZ_8-spWXCHdpU/s582/Mottled%20Umber%20face.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="461" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXMkeFYLGm3G3tvbmp_UT7c2j9aprywciI8KDxpXQKI9c0X3TFrJr9lFhNfltbLqrTyq83_JNhz9m42gZLnv0L-gfA-4zDM8gyKKjU4_aGS1m9LTK3Tf7zzTylOKq65O-brw8GuuBpBTI6e3qFXO2LoE4oZ0-FH8OpJHiK6iveo3zjEZ_8-spWXCHdpU/w506-h640/Mottled%20Umber%20face.JPG" width="506" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umbers and slightly sinister thoracic face.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The only other beast of special interest was a Staphylinid beetle, I found this in leaf letter whilst looking for moth pupae. Always a slightly tricky ID but this is the species of this genus these generally turn out to be here.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTrL6v7XbvXunpI8TZRU6XzWBFbySvc3oAOpPHiQRyTAQr5cxSqIpL_4PBapRdI0Woex1eKLRKApAcnvQW6270oRmFQpbJ3EwJodUKqb_bDh3utOnfRHiXYMLeWd6xe-y5OnGFyxhtGnhAKdfBaG5JWLH-pioOfvxF6WEfmE9jdqJH0iIhSTyXK6ttfw/s1810/Lesteva%20sicula%20dorsal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1810" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTrL6v7XbvXunpI8TZRU6XzWBFbySvc3oAOpPHiQRyTAQr5cxSqIpL_4PBapRdI0Woex1eKLRKApAcnvQW6270oRmFQpbJ3EwJodUKqb_bDh3utOnfRHiXYMLeWd6xe-y5OnGFyxhtGnhAKdfBaG5JWLH-pioOfvxF6WEfmE9jdqJH0iIhSTyXK6ttfw/w640-h504/Lesteva%20sicula%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesteva sicula, 3.5mm, a small beastie.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7h-8TdQt7a-OI3de1VPzSkmOCBBGGhuTghqrmCNw7SPsyxfCqRusIPX_AR7uvYEGudpKGzQWf6n0wxfsZ2_os3K02B4hjmX6ko9vA6zmd682g0jpHvhyphenhyphenGi4PC0ovTzRrsRL5B0x7xjCt34QYWgSD1AoRCf745iWkhcJfd55z5FAZumbGLwPfJSVGrcM/s1080/Lesteva%20sicula%20elytra%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7h-8TdQt7a-OI3de1VPzSkmOCBBGGhuTghqrmCNw7SPsyxfCqRusIPX_AR7uvYEGudpKGzQWf6n0wxfsZ2_os3K02B4hjmX6ko9vA6zmd682g0jpHvhyphenhyphenGi4PC0ovTzRrsRL5B0x7xjCt34QYWgSD1AoRCf745iWkhcJfd55z5FAZumbGLwPfJSVGrcM/w640-h480/Lesteva%20sicula%20elytra%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pits on the elytra, how large, close and deep they are are needed for ID, and can only be seen properly if the elytra is spread or detached. The short antennae and shape of the pre-apical segments are also very useful for identification.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-17432839444037286112023-11-05T18:17:00.003+00:002023-11-05T18:17:55.204+00:00Listing<p>Pan-lists are going up on Bubo and this is motivating me to actually sort out my lists of things other than birds, which I've never done. Indeed the bird lists themselves are languishing somewhat with only the UK self-found list now up-to-date (and that requires a +1 to add <i>Pterodroma feae agg</i> which Bubo won't have for some reason).</p><p>For an explanation of pan-listing head here - <a href="https://psl.brc.ac.uk/about">https://psl.brc.ac.uk/about</a> and there is an active Facebook Group, here - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550187855270648">https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550187855270648</a></p><p>The Bubo Listing pages can be found here - <a href="https://bubo.org/view-all-lists.html?showlists=7546,PSL">https://bubo.org/view-all-lists.html?showlists=7546,PSL</a> The totals on the PSL lists on Bubo are currently quite low because only a few species groups have been added, they are currently being added at roughly a group of species every couple of days (I'm already a bit overwhelmed).</p><p>I don't have a photo of my "blocker", Coypu is on my list, now extinct in the UK after an effective eradication programme in which I took part as a volunteer at Minsmere, in Bert's day. I argued successfully for the Swona Cattle (<i>Bos taurus</i>) to be added, established since 1974 as a feral species, but failed with Feral Cat (<i>Felix catus</i>). I guess my other blocker is Wild Cat (<i>Felix sylvestris</i>) one glimpse of the thick-tailed one, many years ago,out on the hill; again no pictures. Orkney Vole (<span><i>Microtus arvalis orcadensis)</i> is also a bit of a blocker.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n8vTod2ZwoHk2OLZtQrrk0CM7zGR7J1CO0rSvOV6_ztCa6Xxf78pik-1rJLc1JyhJXUeJbOyWINE-o8MvO_ZDzfZoZS9yBEOrRyp7psqbFBjczDNZfLohAeAZeJp2L5X3cKuMySj9WOiK1OvXco8Pr1sqG5WzKQcDl8lfNCXwyJuM7Uaqtn3qTHDb78/s1024/Orkney%20Vole%20tunnel%2013b%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n8vTod2ZwoHk2OLZtQrrk0CM7zGR7J1CO0rSvOV6_ztCa6Xxf78pik-1rJLc1JyhJXUeJbOyWINE-o8MvO_ZDzfZoZS9yBEOrRyp7psqbFBjczDNZfLohAeAZeJp2L5X3cKuMySj9WOiK1OvXco8Pr1sqG5WzKQcDl8lfNCXwyJuM7Uaqtn3qTHDb78/w640-h464/Orkney%20Vole%20tunnel%2013b%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Orkney Vole, <i>Microtus arvalis orcadensis</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Can be observed in our garden with a bit of bird food and apple baiting and some patience. I will be sad to leave them when we move they are a very beautiful little mammal.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Birding has dominated my time. I've identified very few insects in the last week, other than a few pictures online. The rain over the next day or so may change that. Waxwing has been bird of the week with them turning up everywhere, other than our garden. My attempt to string one on call early on has been self-rejected, I think it was probably a Dunnock. In the end we went to see them in Stromness and re-aquainted myself with the call, softer than I remembered. So when I was hunting for things on the Heddle Rd in Finstown yesterday I was certain when I heard the call twice. Eventually they arrived in the garden, but briefly, whilst we were cleaning the house today. I'd just been outside for a good while doing the windows, before, and then Louise saw two sitting in the front garden Budleja, and fortunately, I glimpsed them before they flew off; studiously ignoring the many apples on sticks around the garden.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NdAPqdREyxrtIoN8rpIRFgRQygmH-NSL1eO6HpVklF28Kl7MXXnN6JMGFxrNb-pzRxDKd3W4yaA0ZJzdyNnPwXyIfEJPy0QP8VSpltHrhS4OvH5HKaCdJGsGjVFnE43KKv3EBrdM-lMetbtqEFpj4ODoWjuKjK7yZGas7y1kGAgblq2sAGpGkt3aPb0/s1024/Waxwing%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-NdAPqdREyxrtIoN8rpIRFgRQygmH-NSL1eO6HpVklF28Kl7MXXnN6JMGFxrNb-pzRxDKd3W4yaA0ZJzdyNnPwXyIfEJPy0QP8VSpltHrhS4OvH5HKaCdJGsGjVFnE43KKv3EBrdM-lMetbtqEFpj4ODoWjuKjK7yZGas7y1kGAgblq2sAGpGkt3aPb0/w510-h640/Waxwing%202%20lo.JPG" width="510" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stromness Waxwing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We've had at least one Blackcap for a few days stuffing itself with apples, indeed it's hard to believe one small bird could eat quite so much apple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nDMyW3oBaukkbgErKRVUGOph2XGornN8JutM3FDeNttkBXl88Uv1jThKoPpsL2yshsXB7ktPy196gn4blqbwTRmWuVcDN1pqM1xdP8RIwIGdjSMT2XWSIMKOiUzwoufk8rc229sfCnoF4miPwHr6K6ZgRO9d6NzC3uG5ZnTrF0Awpn4Gcdu4TCUgI_0/s1319/Blackcap%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nDMyW3oBaukkbgErKRVUGOph2XGornN8JutM3FDeNttkBXl88Uv1jThKoPpsL2yshsXB7ktPy196gn4blqbwTRmWuVcDN1pqM1xdP8RIwIGdjSMT2XWSIMKOiUzwoufk8rc229sfCnoF4miPwHr6K6ZgRO9d6NzC3uG5ZnTrF0Awpn4Gcdu4TCUgI_0/w492-h640/Blackcap%202.JPG" width="492" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdbCQ1o3K0bJMdpEITtt0T6d5VK8rjI2QeEcRYBDOv3_fGqAHQA4WtjTivEZrcShcWI9bFmdEWgzOMLFFFvKOyvKPQvTVt31A8cfieJ0-sFWIlk3rKdILMtUrc8opu-Sgs9_3g7PJydaM19zNu28oshKy7s5ERHVGIBNJoKzz1ELJx-eCLtmjxilzk8/s1319/Blackcap.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="1016" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrdbCQ1o3K0bJMdpEITtt0T6d5VK8rjI2QeEcRYBDOv3_fGqAHQA4WtjTivEZrcShcWI9bFmdEWgzOMLFFFvKOyvKPQvTVt31A8cfieJ0-sFWIlk3rKdILMtUrc8opu-Sgs9_3g7PJydaM19zNu28oshKy7s5ERHVGIBNJoKzz1ELJx-eCLtmjxilzk8/w492-h640/Blackcap.JPG" width="492" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackcap.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>But star of the garden show was a fabulous Great Spotted Woodpecker that spent half an hour around the feeders. A hasty refuel before heading off away again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuVoNr8MrPbDBBTv7DXVYL2ihupyX-xj06X-SOA6epvUYtKTjncLN-5C6YdEhALhoigt2ax3dFx18_7RPjX6BuDN2lLX-X7Q6e6wY2UL-A2ZEynsCnfuuS65tElGFSpVI8aM4KhmeV6NlfhOI7empvin09pIjPc2PT1ZO16Wkf_31fxS5jAUgEXdedF8/s1024/GtSpot%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="791" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVuVoNr8MrPbDBBTv7DXVYL2ihupyX-xj06X-SOA6epvUYtKTjncLN-5C6YdEhALhoigt2ax3dFx18_7RPjX6BuDN2lLX-X7Q6e6wY2UL-A2ZEynsCnfuuS65tElGFSpVI8aM4KhmeV6NlfhOI7empvin09pIjPc2PT1ZO16Wkf_31fxS5jAUgEXdedF8/w494-h640/GtSpot%202%20lo.JPG" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCJPQkMdDSQbkIxWS-NI8jFjlpBrldvZ-mX6Z8IRft5_DNlkk7nSzmDdXeB2g0GlQheFyKgaeNg1tVHNzXq5tc56GmlqL8pGgGSH1XM7e7gXM6cUqPO6OACv7X4z5_W_hYjeA9kSRmFY4Bzm61exgoLU7gnFvAK1PLmH-Gm7maitvDf7Po4_y1w5La_I/s1024/GtSpot%204%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="1024" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCJPQkMdDSQbkIxWS-NI8jFjlpBrldvZ-mX6Z8IRft5_DNlkk7nSzmDdXeB2g0GlQheFyKgaeNg1tVHNzXq5tc56GmlqL8pGgGSH1XM7e7gXM6cUqPO6OACv7X4z5_W_hYjeA9kSRmFY4Bzm61exgoLU7gnFvAK1PLmH-Gm7maitvDf7Po4_y1w5La_I/w640-h484/GtSpot%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9RIbr1ONos3gBVHILvhrlwcgOc8HthLHmUEnOJ0geAkphYyg_w_LxQ2bvbwNA2I4wYlugQnvZhBOcn5Ewes2nQjBbfaUeqjldgsKRv9VA7lw1fO_9lQyLkcg9ouR3pKKLZjC_3O7fVShrX8EgFjmC-mcevI2Wa9_-AzSmUSZ5eiyBi5Cj9M19juG-FE/s1024/GtSpot%209%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="754" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9RIbr1ONos3gBVHILvhrlwcgOc8HthLHmUEnOJ0geAkphYyg_w_LxQ2bvbwNA2I4wYlugQnvZhBOcn5Ewes2nQjBbfaUeqjldgsKRv9VA7lw1fO_9lQyLkcg9ouR3pKKLZjC_3O7fVShrX8EgFjmC-mcevI2Wa9_-AzSmUSZ5eiyBi5Cj9M19juG-FE/w472-h640/GtSpot%209%20lo.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WLbPhd7m7UfXWoCv_AOuAB9UH0NZoMzXRCNFUGQ5NIt5q5hjA9et73mgQWb7zhHlg3xdTdJcFzFqwlS3ugfG6QHwqBVivKI772ufBk17jZftUCT8XRexws3-EhNhQ9NHB2mZHSMKCoaxBWHd6MpJQtUDMk8uwLhoH-5qRiXv4Yj6EFf0_PcCEL99l4/s1024/GtSpot%2011%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1024" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1WLbPhd7m7UfXWoCv_AOuAB9UH0NZoMzXRCNFUGQ5NIt5q5hjA9et73mgQWb7zhHlg3xdTdJcFzFqwlS3ugfG6QHwqBVivKI772ufBk17jZftUCT8XRexws3-EhNhQ9NHB2mZHSMKCoaxBWHd6MpJQtUDMk8uwLhoH-5qRiXv4Yj6EFf0_PcCEL99l4/w640-h502/GtSpot%2011%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Spotted Woodpecker, subspecies major, a 1cy female.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="379" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GincAZQMMJ8" width="456" youtube-src-id="GincAZQMMJ8"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><p>The trip to see the Waxwings in Stromness was followed by a walk on nearby Warbeth Beach, where there were three Grey Plovers.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QZgV6oxQP07cL9SqmM5c5K78DAMrthktLC6JENIYIK_n0Dmvm0S0U4esIhgu_Xp7-MKki0RBMtF9icMvNgxh1Vg-cFbIPUSnNNhBnUlBiNEBmzwtJ30uIIex3sX2VWSQpBlKXed5boJUjAhIZjOqCRBYYsRheOoRqRQWTMPCAcveMYBFVdvs2aKWCXg/s1505/Grey%20Plover%20fly.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="1505" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QZgV6oxQP07cL9SqmM5c5K78DAMrthktLC6JENIYIK_n0Dmvm0S0U4esIhgu_Xp7-MKki0RBMtF9icMvNgxh1Vg-cFbIPUSnNNhBnUlBiNEBmzwtJ30uIIex3sX2VWSQpBlKXed5boJUjAhIZjOqCRBYYsRheOoRqRQWTMPCAcveMYBFVdvs2aKWCXg/w640-h482/Grey%20Plover%20fly.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the three Grey Plover, with an Oystercatcher and Common Gull.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On the moth front I've been collecting Ash keys. Most of the Ash in Orkney doesn't seem to fruit, at least not the trees I visit. However, on the walk from Loch of Wasdale to Binscarth as you approach Binscarth the path is lined with some lovely stunted, wind-formed Ash and at least one of these has fruits. Close observation of the keys show that some of these have a hole in them. There is a moth that does this, a rather small one, called <i>Pseudargynotoza conwagana, </i>long name.<i> </i>It's a micro, quite an attractive one, with just one Orkney record. I dissected a few Ash keys with holes in, but the hole is an exit hole, all I found was frass. However, Micro-Moth Field Tips suggests putting keys (without holes) in a jar, labelled of course, and seeing what happens. I've been checking the jar everyday for a week, and today, there is a tiny caterpillar. I'll photograph that tomorrow, here's an Ash key with an exit hole anyway.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Fu3xK-0G4LO8qZDuUVgBeB15U4_PDTa-bs6rIOs5VLNuXE6V1dwfcuOYq2wxiyxu9H3LDf3yPbU3FOcjYpk_q9msFuPZ82pqyB6OT8a7YkqEfPQrS6axbxLKJtD4l0YMmpq-tpbZ6rKxoivITOCCm4Up7PhIqC_IaymfAaMyZLxw4-P_JIXLCULvNs/s1024/Ash%20key%20Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20exit.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99Fu3xK-0G4LO8qZDuUVgBeB15U4_PDTa-bs6rIOs5VLNuXE6V1dwfcuOYq2wxiyxu9H3LDf3yPbU3FOcjYpk_q9msFuPZ82pqyB6OT8a7YkqEfPQrS6axbxLKJtD4l0YMmpq-tpbZ6rKxoivITOCCm4Up7PhIqC_IaymfAaMyZLxw4-P_JIXLCULvNs/w640-h466/Ash%20key%20Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20exit.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ash key with exit hole, hopefully made by <i>Pseudargynotoza cowagana</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmDTptpl2rbM1wIZBweFj3AQjlWPzoz_maS8GurN4pqM8xhvz7YnB6e1E0nkQDRLFwYdXIelu-Zk_GfV2hfwiCWOfQE0MY9C3kqMSA4nM3hK47fTAIMNG7uzm-bqRXN7JrKSAIPaX5hnAwVBVe7FMTvfGjYlNlKI-0MIUpSPIyUAXZtn6xwhRn3kPbTw/s1080/Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20cat2%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmDTptpl2rbM1wIZBweFj3AQjlWPzoz_maS8GurN4pqM8xhvz7YnB6e1E0nkQDRLFwYdXIelu-Zk_GfV2hfwiCWOfQE0MY9C3kqMSA4nM3hK47fTAIMNG7uzm-bqRXN7JrKSAIPaX5hnAwVBVe7FMTvfGjYlNlKI-0MIUpSPIyUAXZtn6xwhRn3kPbTw/w640-h478/Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20cat2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzqQ-vGCPp_Yun4bMkdUL8Ng6-0Fw2b8-uDUV78zcbsdB_b1Zrdyly1603LK6e5yyODCai6LoyZgIL3cSW-2HjOjhlFup_x0B1wHjEyeVH6d0JmQKz5Fv3fEAfhvaNlo8dyNhvJlNEK-o1SRlRzrjg12A97S4bqrADRf55Zr7A4JfgQeGxyYDOAV2Rbw/s1080/Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20+%20exit%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1080" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzqQ-vGCPp_Yun4bMkdUL8Ng6-0Fw2b8-uDUV78zcbsdB_b1Zrdyly1603LK6e5yyODCai6LoyZgIL3cSW-2HjOjhlFup_x0B1wHjEyeVH6d0JmQKz5Fv3fEAfhvaNlo8dyNhvJlNEK-o1SRlRzrjg12A97S4bqrADRf55Zr7A4JfgQeGxyYDOAV2Rbw/w640-h456/Pseudargynotoza%20conwagana%20+%20exit%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pseudargynotoza cowagana </i>larva<i><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">I went to Finstown to try to tick a fish, a Saury, <i>Cololabis adocetus, </i>unsurprisingly I failed; the lack of fishing gear might have had something to do with that.<i> </i>However I did get fab views of<i> </i>a Red-throated Diver, perhaps hunting said fish.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNicLEAj7mIHbOqlzb3OtYpFS-S-T8pv3pRBaDUI8jMG5JQXrW1TzkD_xt_w2Ysh5S94OaJ4uYSIBqrLGwo3vYPOs1eoPRMUwu02ME9Hm7UHpe1rgkz3hHJ_FTWbfBVSZ_FJSNECI4fQAWJwVbiw-WGr1m3jcurJ0hhWeP0rxPm0cSWvCBEexV7pSXOlU/s1024/Red%20throat%20flap%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1024" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNicLEAj7mIHbOqlzb3OtYpFS-S-T8pv3pRBaDUI8jMG5JQXrW1TzkD_xt_w2Ysh5S94OaJ4uYSIBqrLGwo3vYPOs1eoPRMUwu02ME9Hm7UHpe1rgkz3hHJ_FTWbfBVSZ_FJSNECI4fQAWJwVbiw-WGr1m3jcurJ0hhWeP0rxPm0cSWvCBEexV7pSXOlU/w640-h448/Red%20throat%20flap%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-throated Diver.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I then looked at Binscarth, two Waxwings by the shop. And headed up the Heddle Rd - Bullfinch, Coal Tits x2 at least, Waxwing again and two Swallows, my first November Swallows in the county. The pics of all these are rubbish so I won't bother.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0lGXJfOW6L72fpZKn7nFlrx4kDcSvyXZDB4OK66wkmUDqHI8h70hDXhLnuVwoHvMIfOX3glOA9HUV82wNnJWnga42_dAOt1mDW3xM4FUX5EPOQnbPINk5f5IoNyzEOrTABR4eGQIKoBLdauA0rhyphenhyphenAhA-hSIgQgp4KCjj3qY5LmphofK18A2JVbht1h4/s1024/Footsteps%20shore%201%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0lGXJfOW6L72fpZKn7nFlrx4kDcSvyXZDB4OK66wkmUDqHI8h70hDXhLnuVwoHvMIfOX3glOA9HUV82wNnJWnga42_dAOt1mDW3xM4FUX5EPOQnbPINk5f5IoNyzEOrTABR4eGQIKoBLdauA0rhyphenhyphenAhA-hSIgQgp4KCjj3qY5LmphofK18A2JVbht1h4/w640-h406/Footsteps%20shore%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evie Beach.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-27331906160746007282023-10-25T23:41:00.004+01:002023-10-25T23:46:40.002+01:002+2=1<p> Two moth traps, out for two nights, one moth caught.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvHAfhM0p4FkA4VTE5LDzSM4aJHuRe1-mUm2vKUIaV_Zpntvv4rBnk0rktG5NDXZSg6oHdKSTh-JORhU8QVUAYKWZSFN_gYZxbQzEPsCGiBZyWdrHskYB5j5M3Moc4db_mCnNbEKcFIyDs51UbCBvzN60rMWiOCndYQKWel6sA5HXEcWgAMS1OgPR_Ds/s1024/Angle%20Shades%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdvHAfhM0p4FkA4VTE5LDzSM4aJHuRe1-mUm2vKUIaV_Zpntvv4rBnk0rktG5NDXZSg6oHdKSTh-JORhU8QVUAYKWZSFN_gYZxbQzEPsCGiBZyWdrHskYB5j5M3Moc4db_mCnNbEKcFIyDs51UbCBvzN60rMWiOCndYQKWel6sA5HXEcWgAMS1OgPR_Ds/w640-h470/Angle%20Shades%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angle Shades.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It was worth a try, down in the South of England it seems traps can barely avoid large numbers of rare migrant moths.</p><p>Other moth stuff has involved collecting more Gorse seed pods, a painful activity, and also Ash keys; looking for larvae.</p><p>I also had some dissections to carry out to sort out some identifications from specimens I received. The dissections proved very useful, two almost unidentifiable specimens of Noctuids mooted as rarities were proven to be more common species. However, Marbled Coronet and <i>Lobesia littoralis</i> were both proven. (Thanks again to SS for his help.)<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCxuOgvuKybrW6tCnfSgvAexR_vXDeaFO56HeKJjC5lCANj5hejODGVdNt9xqEZyQL0q3amRfUerIMhD482DymGHRlk2RWz5Srt-sbmx1jmuyytEaNoTqgCIx-6gzEGWSKHhjVJffoUn1fCd5C-7mnQErCoySUIiQVrCFKq-IGG_l1mKgN_BnUyka4w8/s1024/Whole%20moth%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="756" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCxuOgvuKybrW6tCnfSgvAexR_vXDeaFO56HeKJjC5lCANj5hejODGVdNt9xqEZyQL0q3amRfUerIMhD482DymGHRlk2RWz5Srt-sbmx1jmuyytEaNoTqgCIx-6gzEGWSKHhjVJffoUn1fCd5C-7mnQErCoySUIiQVrCFKq-IGG_l1mKgN_BnUyka4w8/w472-h640/Whole%20moth%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marbled Coronet.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCtWMuoUYSI-KutckVt7c7dL6iwyRUIbIcNx2yss1Av7YfDrHLeQ3C4mHMtvhOvJOGhHhWhmEP6JbB7uCXIEaaiIo_jJtbTo6KeLHmPvg008z8b2nJjQbNVRMAataZq-lyW-0EbutASQDAMjLH9y6OqtCZ354Cx_S4B4kPV4V3tkH2LcQcVDUEg1drlI/s1024/Male%20gen%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1024" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCtWMuoUYSI-KutckVt7c7dL6iwyRUIbIcNx2yss1Av7YfDrHLeQ3C4mHMtvhOvJOGhHhWhmEP6JbB7uCXIEaaiIo_jJtbTo6KeLHmPvg008z8b2nJjQbNVRMAataZq-lyW-0EbutASQDAMjLH9y6OqtCZ354Cx_S4B4kPV4V3tkH2LcQcVDUEg1drlI/w640-h472/Male%20gen%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps not my best work, but good enough.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXbbojYdE-yoe6joVBlAbBruHHR7INHNLLhW9L6vuC6Vq3rvp09IuvsS8rrz92Z9GIDSVaAoHzOIx0ejTaeejXn2nVidPMdT1S9epyRAVQjVR5iUjbosyOuMHTeIj2-hcFPVHU9AMCJCx0pupMNczKbx2DzlZgxmcZhuN8FVQWxk5q-PjOn_GLbRjd_c/s1024/Aedegus%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="785" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXbbojYdE-yoe6joVBlAbBruHHR7INHNLLhW9L6vuC6Vq3rvp09IuvsS8rrz92Z9GIDSVaAoHzOIx0ejTaeejXn2nVidPMdT1S9epyRAVQjVR5iUjbosyOuMHTeIj2-hcFPVHU9AMCJCx0pupMNczKbx2DzlZgxmcZhuN8FVQWxk5q-PjOn_GLbRjd_c/w490-h640/Aedegus%202%20lo.JPG" width="490" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aedaegus.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQACiHda-UzphtNCMSe7p-prJH-lFhng1_d_wxgXaUlFYsYhzxy67FJjFWIH4Qy0yOkrsZ2QlkY9hVXgjD0ZHmDX9bpl2BTbk-ERySLzidpj8rTpud0U8ByGkc0_gGLjC2Qk6nFXAuT26XLj7_CkBcLq77EUca863W7RRHxYjU51knxh_irIALb1wGI_U/s1024/Ll%20ventral.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQACiHda-UzphtNCMSe7p-prJH-lFhng1_d_wxgXaUlFYsYhzxy67FJjFWIH4Qy0yOkrsZ2QlkY9hVXgjD0ZHmDX9bpl2BTbk-ERySLzidpj8rTpud0U8ByGkc0_gGLjC2Qk6nFXAuT26XLj7_CkBcLq77EUca863W7RRHxYjU51knxh_irIALb1wGI_U/w640-h474/Ll%20ventral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lobesia littoralis</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF4l2SNZy3qnIoHi_vsmlVTk2237c3aJIhX63QDBYKHIQcCxif6HuTkFKsIVRoSvzYLgTu-Pkk_g0A5nuBGo-IvqWNGRWdyzI-0uximEjAJK_uiB_5wXgA1lrunVzlCzXuiUhQ019i-SYikv4oMFLNT_8Q3GjKSDrf1yCFVlDd9v-xheKUz3pbgJ5Wvs/s1389/Ll%20m%20gendet.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1389" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpF4l2SNZy3qnIoHi_vsmlVTk2237c3aJIhX63QDBYKHIQcCxif6HuTkFKsIVRoSvzYLgTu-Pkk_g0A5nuBGo-IvqWNGRWdyzI-0uximEjAJK_uiB_5wXgA1lrunVzlCzXuiUhQ019i-SYikv4oMFLNT_8Q3GjKSDrf1yCFVlDd9v-xheKUz3pbgJ5Wvs/w640-h452/Ll%20m%20gendet.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, maybe not my best work but...<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I carried out some more <i>Agonopterix </i>dissections, all four proved again to be <i>A. heracliana</i>. </p><p>On the bird front a Ring Ouzel, just the third for the patch I think, performed nicely in the back garden.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbdr9wKUrQbxz_myFbf6Cju5TV4mQ13WxE8Tysx3WEo4MUFNzxqzz7kX09zgJpGpUlPYYfeaMqi6LqIrSy0r4pPazA4qaupwEqA9J1CazcBuo5SHEf0R2KrtZ75R1E_6blboJsdaq6xxQ7aQoCWAvkZDeE5trT-Uj_mKlwLLhP5uVd15f-il2i9pGQcc/s1024/Rouzel%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1024" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTbdr9wKUrQbxz_myFbf6Cju5TV4mQ13WxE8Tysx3WEo4MUFNzxqzz7kX09zgJpGpUlPYYfeaMqi6LqIrSy0r4pPazA4qaupwEqA9J1CazcBuo5SHEf0R2KrtZ75R1E_6blboJsdaq6xxQ7aQoCWAvkZDeE5trT-Uj_mKlwLLhP5uVd15f-il2i9pGQcc/w640-h454/Rouzel%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Ring Ouzel, an adult.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The light was not the best on a very dreich day. ISO 10,000.</p><p>Some other bird photography was a little easier.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQdwMNtJcfD2xm-2o0mDKDK6QPreQ5WK5fMKQQhb8AX51R1FmkB3h2TfLC0hrbhY-u64MzNATUHf57OBtSseNa2FTPFCJEcR_fzzW7xZrHr1WXJ-03WO8hQvcDPhm_NKUadqN5ggSoHToJC6-feVeayH3IBfB3c7zBKaZnVyFd5-l00c7gYfNYV8d6zo/s1024/BB%20apple%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQdwMNtJcfD2xm-2o0mDKDK6QPreQ5WK5fMKQQhb8AX51R1FmkB3h2TfLC0hrbhY-u64MzNATUHf57OBtSseNa2FTPFCJEcR_fzzW7xZrHr1WXJ-03WO8hQvcDPhm_NKUadqN5ggSoHToJC6-feVeayH3IBfB3c7zBKaZnVyFd5-l00c7gYfNYV8d6zo/w640-h474/BB%20apple%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackbird; if I had to say I'd suggest 1cy male, but that could be wrong.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I had a trip out to check on the local Barn Owl again which afforded excellent and extended views. Hopefully folk will keep their distance as I think it has every chance of staying the winter.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2N6dhSN1M0kF2HgKakc4iQO5GavxAvp8PK2u51yl54iKIJ-R4fRkc_Wf7eIX5woY9SMi_UkkIHhuZjc0D45ZCtANUKHecfqYSIaH71PF9dmryVWARDUnmmW4OVIOtxlG-eMw_wTbG2EVbYYnjweaHJ0lit7fFB_Ar5kb73fkAn7XeHQ0RzcgLAxWsYm8/s990/Barn%20Owl%20lo%20provia%20best.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="990" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2N6dhSN1M0kF2HgKakc4iQO5GavxAvp8PK2u51yl54iKIJ-R4fRkc_Wf7eIX5woY9SMi_UkkIHhuZjc0D45ZCtANUKHecfqYSIaH71PF9dmryVWARDUnmmW4OVIOtxlG-eMw_wTbG2EVbYYnjweaHJ0lit7fFB_Ar5kb73fkAn7XeHQ0RzcgLAxWsYm8/w640-h480/Barn%20Owl%20lo%20provia%20best.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We went for a stroll past Loch of Wasdale and into Binscarth Wood. No Coal Tit was found but it was a lovely walk on a beautiful, still West Mainland day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5L5xYFqrPRMRU8kGJWrOZd0vklYFJ1xuBuZJtTF9p7zbxLH6TgEPbNQqEfUqRpZ2JCpywWSJwxCwnL2hGqH7foXqjYozPQC90hKIrTuJx1mdu1qB7EgR3roIxFV_yidhZPbBMLA4vYzYqnKZCJsIcD7H4OdUdU_vMo1uIow0RjKiz8ZjauQorEfXnww/s1024/Elm%20leaves%20bubbles%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5L5xYFqrPRMRU8kGJWrOZd0vklYFJ1xuBuZJtTF9p7zbxLH6TgEPbNQqEfUqRpZ2JCpywWSJwxCwnL2hGqH7foXqjYozPQC90hKIrTuJx1mdu1qB7EgR3roIxFV_yidhZPbBMLA4vYzYqnKZCJsIcD7H4OdUdU_vMo1uIow0RjKiz8ZjauQorEfXnww/w640-h480/Elm%20leaves%20bubbles%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0K_OSyvK5CBS-cldWIHcb1YnI0YRDuwSeS2KcQ1vuZVf4kvXUOn-7JW3UVvrI-QWSOpARF2LP8hX2pYdcTIGId2_tv8APCgzvd9TAUcIitcDLWMBybprc5KxVYDCaVDL1VWKMLAWQdUG-giPtqloEVPGaoP_PLlGThS-Yrb-wwnFglnqS1dSjc1NV2o/s1024/Elm%20leaves%20burn1%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0K_OSyvK5CBS-cldWIHcb1YnI0YRDuwSeS2KcQ1vuZVf4kvXUOn-7JW3UVvrI-QWSOpARF2LP8hX2pYdcTIGId2_tv8APCgzvd9TAUcIitcDLWMBybprc5KxVYDCaVDL1VWKMLAWQdUG-giPtqloEVPGaoP_PLlGThS-Yrb-wwnFglnqS1dSjc1NV2o/w640-h480/Elm%20leaves%20burn1%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXD90rm7yNLvd5z0686r9h_33kVm-Odt2W6gxZBPWpjlKpptwO9MBjEkaFzC5oStSkF7wZ_TuXUGgOxZ83Fn7mk9Yz2nhyphenhypheneBEonvea_5xH0E5v0zOIShfXuH3kHrwhmBlIHncL-0w1kGV-KssCS1ceduYAZ5PvgJYElslTDwCCnQmfQQmMpGCQx90weRM/s1024/Ferns%20water%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXD90rm7yNLvd5z0686r9h_33kVm-Odt2W6gxZBPWpjlKpptwO9MBjEkaFzC5oStSkF7wZ_TuXUGgOxZ83Fn7mk9Yz2nhyphenhypheneBEonvea_5xH0E5v0zOIShfXuH3kHrwhmBlIHncL-0w1kGV-KssCS1ceduYAZ5PvgJYElslTDwCCnQmfQQmMpGCQx90weRM/w640-h462/Ferns%20water%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaves, light, water.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSCaMUBKpVTYRUIj5mC5dqNAJo_P9moGLanoM4KN9RGIHZoSEFFpNHS6MsWtDoXnw6GEcA_YkY63nbKVNuk9Rjbchepo4JPyk8jvPLE4-FmMhlTgDzsrBoy4t8dwWyfImLik66UZuxVL3L3s8vi-Xv4vO-daQD3fGe2EmacqnKEXgOQtAkGoFfjW1k6s/s1024/Robin%20sing%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiSCaMUBKpVTYRUIj5mC5dqNAJo_P9moGLanoM4KN9RGIHZoSEFFpNHS6MsWtDoXnw6GEcA_YkY63nbKVNuk9Rjbchepo4JPyk8jvPLE4-FmMhlTgDzsrBoy4t8dwWyfImLik66UZuxVL3L3s8vi-Xv4vO-daQD3fGe2EmacqnKEXgOQtAkGoFfjW1k6s/w640-h464/Robin%20sing%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Back in the garden the Brambling flock got up to 14 and there have been over 100 Redwings through most days. Blackbirds and Robins have been noticeable migrants. An influx of Reed Buntings and two Stonechats, the first for a long time, were down by The Shunan where today there were six Common Redpoll and a large flock of 110 Fieldfares. </p><p>Lunchtime today I got a phone call, "There's an egret near our house, in the field opposite the farm entrance." (Thanks IK.) Sure enough, and as suspected, this turned out to be the elusive Cattle Egret which allowed a brief photographic opportunity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vLbuZi0RIhyV8kcF7y0h1WIlkPHl2Zaxm1WSVN3KW6CpY2QP-A7NNIsTTvS6aJsO7dIjE2uWtLCeLHM_SreCf1lkaPat6eeYkzXrj0STaoG3Y-MC2iVue0_DfMh3yn3qOIXDjBTrEubTYWfRG8IPisVZU-vdKo1lXPtuoqediXOpQD3WIwakpfN3tT4/s1298/Cattle%20Egret%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="992" data-original-width="1298" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vLbuZi0RIhyV8kcF7y0h1WIlkPHl2Zaxm1WSVN3KW6CpY2QP-A7NNIsTTvS6aJsO7dIjE2uWtLCeLHM_SreCf1lkaPat6eeYkzXrj0STaoG3Y-MC2iVue0_DfMh3yn3qOIXDjBTrEubTYWfRG8IPisVZU-vdKo1lXPtuoqediXOpQD3WIwakpfN3tT4/w640-h490/Cattle%20Egret%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS08kq4SCgxmJMBoIB_hyw-xuP7noXKpIagtvjDQPR44Ypkkgoi85uft_JzpxmGPcWfcayFHiL55ShIZHK90D_a3-U2dNSWfmW3igHwB9O6-wilyK0cx98CtR_QcsfFnnhWaJFcVmC17VGEuexGF9Qv0RrEW6wmEjKISK4L4D1CemfEkFWmX7Kw5Z5wo/s997/Cattle%20Egret%204.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="997" data-original-width="897" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS08kq4SCgxmJMBoIB_hyw-xuP7noXKpIagtvjDQPR44Ypkkgoi85uft_JzpxmGPcWfcayFHiL55ShIZHK90D_a3-U2dNSWfmW3igHwB9O6-wilyK0cx98CtR_QcsfFnnhWaJFcVmC17VGEuexGF9Qv0RrEW6wmEjKISK4L4D1CemfEkFWmX7Kw5Z5wo/w576-h640/Cattle%20Egret%204.JPG" width="576" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>But then, it was up and away. for no apparent reason<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUsIInQg6wSv2nHkha4v7Fn_PnfjrsuWBOj0klWmR-KWSdWSj3KPcUWB_NLb1bpBT8J-KvPBIz9FgN_pD7bhGwouXrd-sMg9GXwORtOsQgjTM7Iqi3RFnTcSihZp_lFBDJ0sUoXXfJWvSAOsx8ZnC1t1KmIkcjy4FsEY4QtOir5BAVbuDZT1g2FEmN08/s1024/Rooks%20sky%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUsIInQg6wSv2nHkha4v7Fn_PnfjrsuWBOj0klWmR-KWSdWSj3KPcUWB_NLb1bpBT8J-KvPBIz9FgN_pD7bhGwouXrd-sMg9GXwORtOsQgjTM7Iqi3RFnTcSihZp_lFBDJ0sUoXXfJWvSAOsx8ZnC1t1KmIkcjy4FsEY4QtOir5BAVbuDZT1g2FEmN08/w640-h480/Rooks%20sky%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-54111217124815552922023-10-19T23:06:00.003+01:002023-10-19T23:11:40.931+01:00Jags<p>I went for my Covid and Flu jags on Tuesday, so felt fairly rubbish on Wednesday and didn't do much, bit of a walk at Stromness, failed to find the Kingfisher, did find some <i>Coleophora </i>larvae and took a sample, promptly lost it whilst beginning the dissection, it vapourised, somehow; darn!</p><p>Today has been spent in front of the computer trying to sort out some records. Cleaning my own data and raising questions about other records (huge thanks to SS for lots of assistance). The questions arise from information in the new Pyralid and Crambid Moths book. I've had the book for a few days now, and what a fabulous achievement it is. Apparently, it has taken the best part of 15 years from beginning writing it to publication and initial distribution. Well done to Mark P, Sean, Mark T and everyone else involved. If you're interested in moths don't hesitate, just get a copy - <a href="https://www.atroposbooks.co.uk/pyralid-and-crambid-moths-of-britain-and-ireland">https://www.atroposbooks.co.uk/pyralid-and-crambid-moths-of-britain-and-ireland</a> - still with £15 off.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFoMrYnXmKpkZF08bNz_iMjBdgd6_8wiC8oN7VyKAp87BWyX5WpFgQSCvw-VyM8mNIL1YWlFyFnZ_KOIg_AjzsyvU9MnEAcx6tZ3LFZobnVRwKrIOfQpaFsIIIo-_ERyCW3bPVPDivlcF-ENK8HCHbR6hA2hM4U4QkE-_PShhrT-Cnqy8EhXxEz3YUg8/s593/Screenshot%202023-10-17%20152632.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="417" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFoMrYnXmKpkZF08bNz_iMjBdgd6_8wiC8oN7VyKAp87BWyX5WpFgQSCvw-VyM8mNIL1YWlFyFnZ_KOIg_AjzsyvU9MnEAcx6tZ3LFZobnVRwKrIOfQpaFsIIIo-_ERyCW3bPVPDivlcF-ENK8HCHbR6hA2hM4U4QkE-_PShhrT-Cnqy8EhXxEz3YUg8/w281-h400/Screenshot%202023-10-17%20152632.png" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok, so I used to go birding with Sean quite a bit, and I've got a great story that he won't like about crashing his (Dad's?) car on the way to Dunge one time, and the very cool woman whose car he'd just back-ended, "Do you always stop like that?" (Sorry SC.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The questions raised are around a couple of species of <i>Eudonia</i>, if you have the book you can see question marks over Orkney for <i>E. lineola</i> and <i>E. alpina</i>. I've just scrubbed my two <i>E. alpina</i> records having gone back to my photos (all kept by date).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkIRmH-HqXRqc8rYC3LDPcEctJvF_1zm6Fhh1OP_hvtyZpqoaPekQu-ADCP01PZd4bzoCmvG2SWBMeBv7sNOstZSumyM7ENJtzjktWqjdzvPJSeQbI0Yl2zrA61wNA8OFjZfWPCQUe_B_soOv6Gy06lR33J0xtRsJIrH7F6InYP9pxMH_Dd6MZ3C2yZ0/s1013/Eudonia%20angustea.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkIRmH-HqXRqc8rYC3LDPcEctJvF_1zm6Fhh1OP_hvtyZpqoaPekQu-ADCP01PZd4bzoCmvG2SWBMeBv7sNOstZSumyM7ENJtzjktWqjdzvPJSeQbI0Yl2zrA61wNA8OFjZfWPCQUe_B_soOv6Gy06lR33J0xtRsJIrH7F6InYP9pxMH_Dd6MZ3C2yZ0/w462-h640/Eudonia%20angustea.JPG" width="462" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Eudonia angustea</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>Eudonia alpina</i> occurs early, from May to July, and not into August, and is larger, usually, than <i>E. angustea</i>. I haven't found Sterling and Parsons that helpful for this species, comparing photos with the illustrations, although to be fair if I'd read the text more carefully... (and listened to MP) I might have done better. Anyway, remedied now.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I fared a tad better with the Cattle Egret than with the Kingfisher. We had another look for it and got distant but acceptable views.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhClnl8jNoZSkgVhcCb_2HVIwo4dnteMS7cc-Nf8QhE84MRvH_H99021j-pyJli4hjauBF1_cF6dvg789j6ChXkEBgnBMIVfp17jorgj-iKVhzhC_nxxV_QXoRhw15m2FhnjONxQiXEOi934jERpU90eP2fLtdo_U1tIldkMclMq9D1iUO2ueJkrLR7I/s857/Cattle%20Egret%203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="857" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhClnl8jNoZSkgVhcCb_2HVIwo4dnteMS7cc-Nf8QhE84MRvH_H99021j-pyJli4hjauBF1_cF6dvg789j6ChXkEBgnBMIVfp17jorgj-iKVhzhC_nxxV_QXoRhw15m2FhnjONxQiXEOi934jERpU90eP2fLtdo_U1tIldkMclMq9D1iUO2ueJkrLR7I/w640-h428/Cattle%20Egret%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret, 2nd Orkney record, thanks to MT for relocating it.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I also managed to see my first definite Orkney Barn Owl, which was in the area of where I've had a few possibles from the car, at night, over the years. It was a very white one, so likely from Scotland and not Europe.</p><p>Up to seven Brambling have been in the garden with three Chaffinch, a couple of Greenfinch and six Goldfinch, so perhaps our variety of feeding birds is returning, the last few months it's been very thin.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKAbty49ouwsV9C8qIhhx5o-pR6L-TYvaiUC8XVxqgsKXhe434xhq-ITKqmFO6YkoSNsaEI4u7x6dTqB9p_4Pq-VAZ6khLK5dwsQdkKfVFkdmtvicbdVf6lSqNrH4F1pnK2NnSD1VPP3FDbR6v9lqZieVZv07w7P5C5oo16pTZqzkIr6RUjtlru-keXM/s1594/Brambling%202b.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1594" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKAbty49ouwsV9C8qIhhx5o-pR6L-TYvaiUC8XVxqgsKXhe434xhq-ITKqmFO6YkoSNsaEI4u7x6dTqB9p_4Pq-VAZ6khLK5dwsQdkKfVFkdmtvicbdVf6lSqNrH4F1pnK2NnSD1VPP3FDbR6v9lqZieVZv07w7P5C5oo16pTZqzkIr6RUjtlru-keXM/w640-h472/Brambling%202b.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brambling, male.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd3J722PvMLAnhyhFWqU3vJeRhCflEOkkeQoTcDIEFltRpzjn8rvoswLGqHAdm1HgIaOEMlJykkKfU5KUQ1I0qmtfS-N0vqbYYuivvN8jVdPHsZy2m3vHNAOPP6CNKU9dNTeOmFjNzvcxjX-RPcybSRQ7Sxdw_-_vRCTkNEhI4EQbPw7uWyTSo5eDBHE/s1557/Brambling.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1557" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkd3J722PvMLAnhyhFWqU3vJeRhCflEOkkeQoTcDIEFltRpzjn8rvoswLGqHAdm1HgIaOEMlJykkKfU5KUQ1I0qmtfS-N0vqbYYuivvN8jVdPHsZy2m3vHNAOPP6CNKU9dNTeOmFjNzvcxjX-RPcybSRQ7Sxdw_-_vRCTkNEhI4EQbPw7uWyTSo5eDBHE/w640-h482/Brambling.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brambling, female.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq15Zp9zQ-c7IVFyjuUmQGvamHykjFt0jjBHE9MkdLggwr_OVfqhlS36faWOXGD3ylv8aoXhr9jw-CKDwe7ywvXDrM_nO1AuX_J1ZzVirKkN0PwdvNnix3cOBh9xIOHJ0JHDR9A5bJ4rsiROw_9geIpdHaI9AP8FB5buJw45dy8CvDNZOJ0CRycILnGYc/s1721/Chaffinch%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="1721" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq15Zp9zQ-c7IVFyjuUmQGvamHykjFt0jjBHE9MkdLggwr_OVfqhlS36faWOXGD3ylv8aoXhr9jw-CKDwe7ywvXDrM_nO1AuX_J1ZzVirKkN0PwdvNnix3cOBh9xIOHJ0JHDR9A5bJ4rsiROw_9geIpdHaI9AP8FB5buJw45dy8CvDNZOJ0CRycILnGYc/w640-h478/Chaffinch%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch, male.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcplz6gmUH6jZjkTmNMaFZEvnhf-ahTKXqsTKtPnEZuem4YZYhnWRe8p5HCS4S7C1XkufQadIfOdCscgWosQxlYauMRfBH6lvQLlBR7oIYMT9uP5hDj04rAdrSEHGePTFK2gi-GZrrqck2tgPbB4FkhyphenhyphenJEOdT7TESJayGq9WV0Lm61SbnUnn-7kNhMxw/s1560/Goldfinch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1560" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcplz6gmUH6jZjkTmNMaFZEvnhf-ahTKXqsTKtPnEZuem4YZYhnWRe8p5HCS4S7C1XkufQadIfOdCscgWosQxlYauMRfBH6lvQLlBR7oIYMT9uP5hDj04rAdrSEHGePTFK2gi-GZrrqck2tgPbB4FkhyphenhyphenJEOdT7TESJayGq9WV0Lm61SbnUnn-7kNhMxw/w640-h498/Goldfinch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldfinch.</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On the birding front, a bit of a disaster, I took the scope out of my rucksack to use it the other day and it was a bit knackered.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHW0B8xPhBgrtfpmaDQvFkFSxdZXJePZkO0S7uL5dOP0W2nkEOTUt-vfLe8UZdnCL5XkWbqm2A1gIp2iDDt7QAvE5sE3J9yMaECVzxA2nX4p86KVGfc7H9T1vup2Zp56dhNnO3UYoYaLN35IIEwIa4W4cPgiri5ZUxza8cD6mdAbYasiubjymLXMqr1Q/s1195/Scope%20objective.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKHW0B8xPhBgrtfpmaDQvFkFSxdZXJePZkO0S7uL5dOP0W2nkEOTUt-vfLe8UZdnCL5XkWbqm2A1gIp2iDDt7QAvE5sE3J9yMaECVzxA2nX4p86KVGfc7H9T1vup2Zp56dhNnO3UYoYaLN35IIEwIa4W4cPgiri5ZUxza8cD6mdAbYasiubjymLXMqr1Q/w548-h640/Scope%20objective.JPG" width="548" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nikon ED 50 Fieldscope, a bit unwell.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">It got that dent a few years back, I guess that had compromised the airtightness of it. I'd been out in the rain and hadn't opened the sack, so humidity had got in I suppose. Fortunately I still have the very old but faithful Zeiss, but it's not nearly as easy to carry as the Nikon. It will shortly be on the road, to the Nikon Repair Service.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Currently, there are apples on sticks front and back, and a feasible Waxwing was heard going over the other afternoon. It's been a while since we've had them in the garden.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I was sent a few moths to dissect to confirm the ID. I chickened out with an <i>Elasticha</i>, rather rare and small, so I passed that on to more expert hands (thanks MY). However, I did tackle a <i>Depressaria </i>which turned out to be <i>D. sordiditella</i>. Second county record I think so a nice one.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51prri0Dqg5XpsNIlquV9VXJ1UMqypjxsTU6N8qM2TFm59n4ix_EDSQ85D39zIhpBHYCerG-_w7tlbjKsPfS-71rjyaJNPjf9ADlu1Sml8cnM6YOUQuwAEalYqAYN4DDE-xum2NGzuFjYlF3vVFZ6ypalOcMfINVS3Z3E3rPyHglI-vn-8bcAlf38uzk/s1024/Depressaria%20sordiditella%20m.%20gen%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1024" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51prri0Dqg5XpsNIlquV9VXJ1UMqypjxsTU6N8qM2TFm59n4ix_EDSQ85D39zIhpBHYCerG-_w7tlbjKsPfS-71rjyaJNPjf9ADlu1Sml8cnM6YOUQuwAEalYqAYN4DDE-xum2NGzuFjYlF3vVFZ6ypalOcMfINVS3Z3E3rPyHglI-vn-8bcAlf38uzk/w640-h484/Depressaria%20sordiditella%20m.%20gen%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9b65V25O6K9w2xeMpZ-C2PXCcZKL506CwIgk1MB21PjlmgjiM8oTz4r-WRXdw7u8VOLCtaqfr3HJMIfSKHKrvOyfD93tTa62MjRuJLmBtl1eCG486H0tQGX3MaSgFWzBChJyHCyDc0dmIpjhbnxUpxBCGIZAjEgXH65lDT6aDMn1uK6sRBksk3zvLjA/s1024/Depressaria%20sordiditella%20m.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1024" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9b65V25O6K9w2xeMpZ-C2PXCcZKL506CwIgk1MB21PjlmgjiM8oTz4r-WRXdw7u8VOLCtaqfr3HJMIfSKHKrvOyfD93tTa62MjRuJLmBtl1eCG486H0tQGX3MaSgFWzBChJyHCyDc0dmIpjhbnxUpxBCGIZAjEgXH65lDT6aDMn1uK6sRBksk3zvLjA/w640-h484/Depressaria%20sordiditella%20m.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Depressaria sordiditella</i>, male. (Thanks to MY for confirming.)<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Dissection of a pug was interesting. Their genitalia are pretty much as hard to unpick as are the whole moths. However, I got it to Common Pug in the end.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The moth traps also did some business with a couple of Mottled Umber, two more Red-line Quaker and a late Rosy Rustic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTuz1Rh422C4FowKVdpmlmuHdmIcOEt6pK_mfSgx-jQ5KjFaEJcx9IjZwGKg1pJnvSaBWAniAsp243_1wXBn4UJZKhZtv1tpl3tSgE-tfEgQYDLlbs3UKwl1R1o7JREiCvBSZWVqh1Cgd770pgQmvm2tw0D_PZ98Hn_aok_-RDspx8_4qfO8JdHZYVgI/s1024/Mottled%20Umber%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="1024" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTuz1Rh422C4FowKVdpmlmuHdmIcOEt6pK_mfSgx-jQ5KjFaEJcx9IjZwGKg1pJnvSaBWAniAsp243_1wXBn4UJZKhZtv1tpl3tSgE-tfEgQYDLlbs3UKwl1R1o7JREiCvBSZWVqh1Cgd770pgQmvm2tw0D_PZ98Hn_aok_-RDspx8_4qfO8JdHZYVgI/w640-h448/Mottled%20Umber%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pDMd3awKHuSFTmxKQZhPT6CgNiNbyos0LkDLTRPgHbhK0GJ1AyOfNVjeDnkSyqdXQcyGY3d1-I5YFHml7tROQwPiN-mxjDXyorpR5Pix1s1QJ3R9NPMg3bBTNVoFAOsdV45bg_HokJ01_4mCp_XJfXWS-oxCC9V_7sQqqDN5gRpOCWfwFSTufdJ1fhE/s2146/Mottled%20Umber%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="2146" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0pDMd3awKHuSFTmxKQZhPT6CgNiNbyos0LkDLTRPgHbhK0GJ1AyOfNVjeDnkSyqdXQcyGY3d1-I5YFHml7tROQwPiN-mxjDXyorpR5Pix1s1QJ3R9NPMg3bBTNVoFAOsdV45bg_HokJ01_4mCp_XJfXWS-oxCC9V_7sQqqDN5gRpOCWfwFSTufdJ1fhE/w640-h468/Mottled%20Umber%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Umber, males.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEE6_ktWi9F5Oo46gMrk-4ZYNbwF7awf-fFmzQLJFU7nSSVFMTj6jYmzJOFaVNAQhtJZDVnEbxPZpqxqN-9LZnTraC4lSSFD5Yi2TAkbk0JxUb2e7vMYey3dLyPfNxAW0K-YEfSc7uXNqmD0nBQ_I6lbF-rQoBwjbaY3AGvJvotD9G4cA7I8q4qmLz68/s1024/Red-line%20Quaker.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEE6_ktWi9F5Oo46gMrk-4ZYNbwF7awf-fFmzQLJFU7nSSVFMTj6jYmzJOFaVNAQhtJZDVnEbxPZpqxqN-9LZnTraC4lSSFD5Yi2TAkbk0JxUb2e7vMYey3dLyPfNxAW0K-YEfSc7uXNqmD0nBQ_I6lbF-rQoBwjbaY3AGvJvotD9G4cA7I8q4qmLz68/w640-h476/Red-line%20Quaker.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-line Quaker again, I'm having a record year for those.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Mottled Umber is approaching favourite moth status, perhaps something to do with that weird face you can see on the thorax.</p><p>It is really blowing tonight, it's doing that thumping thing it does in the gusts and it's due to continue all night and into tomorrow with heavy rain as the supporting cast. Coming from the east, so maybe there'll be some interesting birds in its wake. There might be some interesting moths too, the traps will be out as soon as possible after it has done with its weather.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk4_V5cJL_WqVL1wqjOWi85uCaxwB5in39TGTSoQJFBiel7iqGn71_8Mc6mdK_OF4k_u74DspDc1CpcyXqolN9TGSDcTpGUrSqo5NTRC1b4C0WBCpT15FMJ09FUSuqGQVB6V3BzM49O9kcLwir7kwoZWJ4u_r7UInV5UvsOc6n26iZD9Us-d2XkjphlA/s1024/Hoy%20High%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk4_V5cJL_WqVL1wqjOWi85uCaxwB5in39TGTSoQJFBiel7iqGn71_8Mc6mdK_OF4k_u74DspDc1CpcyXqolN9TGSDcTpGUrSqo5NTRC1b4C0WBCpT15FMJ09FUSuqGQVB6V3BzM49O9kcLwir7kwoZWJ4u_r7UInV5UvsOc6n26iZD9Us-d2XkjphlA/w640-h468/Hoy%20High%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoy High (it's actually on Graemsay) from the Stromness shore.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-9190241987470485002023-10-13T18:24:00.004+01:002023-10-13T21:55:18.185+01:00Twitchy.<p>If on the day of the EbT I'd have dropped in at The Loons I would have found a Ring-necked Duck. As we went past on our return from the coast I had thought about it, nearly stopped, but didn't. That, of course, would have thrown the timings out for the afternoon, and then perhaps the Eyebrowed Thrush would have been in our garden undetected. Been and gone, unseen.</p><p>Anyway, I did subsequently go and see said duck, twice. It's a confiding beast, generally hanging about and feeding right by the hide.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7mI8C2boVXVKiSXI_Q6fc1nt7aV-Rc7pc7IhTZTXBsmARfh1WkOTXL5ew3k0oV26Y-HDRl97TQiNnbpX6Y_gm0dDlfDdYanGu3ljy1CNouig3nJsNLyCGhIo2vkqbafSgFDJSlLTULfheSsoV53Kv0mfWzcgsJXIAfTDlTBV35fVefs7VpUrrVediB0/s1024/RnD%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7mI8C2boVXVKiSXI_Q6fc1nt7aV-Rc7pc7IhTZTXBsmARfh1WkOTXL5ew3k0oV26Y-HDRl97TQiNnbpX6Y_gm0dDlfDdYanGu3ljy1CNouig3nJsNLyCGhIo2vkqbafSgFDJSlLTULfheSsoV53Kv0mfWzcgsJXIAfTDlTBV35fVefs7VpUrrVediB0/w640-h476/RnD%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII44d6RXyuV_ipl3WfrahcHa_Dvo_9RohxjXSvC3W_rK-3qfeO3PJhbqvH45JsaAfs_oX2r9oKRbuB-Uy5krZBBqECvfU73BGj9OC-E8hZ0w_qjoN56-baLUMUQxQLuvny68N8b6PzM4yqix9x1NBv8Ur237TG6txrexxjR3z7W_YwVxLY1DdyJvdB2A/s1024/RnD%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjII44d6RXyuV_ipl3WfrahcHa_Dvo_9RohxjXSvC3W_rK-3qfeO3PJhbqvH45JsaAfs_oX2r9oKRbuB-Uy5krZBBqECvfU73BGj9OC-E8hZ0w_qjoN56-baLUMUQxQLuvny68N8b6PzM4yqix9x1NBv8Ur237TG6txrexxjR3z7W_YwVxLY1DdyJvdB2A/w640-h476/RnD%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinjvupUWrdgF2sWPT5enSJYdz2jAH3dW32MRQUCC9MIOxpQzUjMbDvs4QqqAJzfLF4TQSls4S-RtoJF2ERqUPGabb1z1f4wBwXqbI8BL8cR1Kz3AEY_p8jw05kZWiwuEkWyoe_Mvxw2IlaTvSJvr47vm9ZWhaTwAv8SUACfvwBmzVGLVCn2svCuldUvo/s1024/RnD%20flap%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhinjvupUWrdgF2sWPT5enSJYdz2jAH3dW32MRQUCC9MIOxpQzUjMbDvs4QqqAJzfLF4TQSls4S-RtoJF2ERqUPGabb1z1f4wBwXqbI8BL8cR1Kz3AEY_p8jw05kZWiwuEkWyoe_Mvxw2IlaTvSJvr47vm9ZWhaTwAv8SUACfvwBmzVGLVCn2svCuldUvo/w640-h460/RnD%20flap%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AyFZyEArgGo2iuQohbdos3k0NRkCVu6T2ORmohK0Qo9XU8LA_FCdAmMP-BpD2quql7LbBkaBsbIsviaReKrsgcfTY08nJ596-_gDttvNmt4AbF1MSjUdSn9y4pIkHFkfuiXlzHmzwaDrD-bJdqbwyNhl79hoT44HoTrtU2x1a6HfrwMFqm6qo1-VVyY/s1024/RnD%20flap%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AyFZyEArgGo2iuQohbdos3k0NRkCVu6T2ORmohK0Qo9XU8LA_FCdAmMP-BpD2quql7LbBkaBsbIsviaReKrsgcfTY08nJ596-_gDttvNmt4AbF1MSjUdSn9y4pIkHFkfuiXlzHmzwaDrD-bJdqbwyNhl79hoT44HoTrtU2x1a6HfrwMFqm6qo1-VVyY/w640-h476/RnD%20flap%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQvvqUIdOmwC2FADbfZk0Axpa6tENvXj4Q81_7W0LoHm-rhMpTZVgK7tf25-kWcQ6MCw-J6wUxvhz2e2UtcvgLOynObckxbuORyF0nnC1m35g-lzgC12yAmgpOq282SDf7w_wQmSLODObhLfzZIxEeurhvMthfhyhyphenhyphen8-Rj6OE2faq5HvuX_MXC_Mqa3M/s1024/RnD%20left%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="761" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQvvqUIdOmwC2FADbfZk0Axpa6tENvXj4Q81_7W0LoHm-rhMpTZVgK7tf25-kWcQ6MCw-J6wUxvhz2e2UtcvgLOynObckxbuORyF0nnC1m35g-lzgC12yAmgpOq282SDf7w_wQmSLODObhLfzZIxEeurhvMthfhyhyphenhyphen8-Rj6OE2faq5HvuX_MXC_Mqa3M/w640-h476/RnD%20left%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DE2TKXPV_sD9PPQClrQnHGrC-v5i1mRNjZJ390W8tfDOTqxqGuXzml5-E33CaUAxGoCefAFPN5nkGFA32D-iA9jjQqaOvQ_6Uof7cWES3zed0rf4wD31DlYbIGUYqY9FpLEuquNlQkWP_2duR2lTmbSB5swuChNAzD7VwPQNgkPg6seMYF0869LczJ8/s1024/RnD%20veg%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1024" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2DE2TKXPV_sD9PPQClrQnHGrC-v5i1mRNjZJ390W8tfDOTqxqGuXzml5-E33CaUAxGoCefAFPN5nkGFA32D-iA9jjQqaOvQ_6Uof7cWES3zed0rf4wD31DlYbIGUYqY9FpLEuquNlQkWP_2duR2lTmbSB5swuChNAzD7VwPQNgkPg6seMYF0869LczJ8/w640-h444/RnD%20veg%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring-necked Duck.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There have been a couple of other interesting birds within 15 minutes of home (by car). We dipped the Cattle Egret on Monday by about five minutes as the cattle were moved and it relocated. That was en route home as we were coming back from South Ronaldsay (more of that later). But in the rain, rain and more rain yesterday we went for another look... and failed again. To rub in some salt we also dipped the Glossy Ibis on the same wee tour around.</p><p>On Sunday we had early visitors, locals hoping to see the EbT. It had gone but we all enjoyed a bit of a gab, emptied my moth traps, for the total of two Angle Shades and a Silver Y hiding in the conservatory, they keep coming in for the Honeysuckle, finding their way in by the windows that are open a crack.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiRvr-Z0PhoEyX6CqW7tSKnXQ8hfLxvdeLJYYwYu6gBWnxv64FnK6ToPUZWyZnmL9asZR6v67s_LFOFsjnktPBWlLK0FhgnNTHSd4RmpqwUWF02G4po6NPMToiNPXWVMrtQ0sx3cY4A4YEXjndChw7qITg1tVZI6wndFZrXcDqb8mfPypGSFyAZX3qPs/s1376/Angleshades%20close.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1376" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiRvr-Z0PhoEyX6CqW7tSKnXQ8hfLxvdeLJYYwYu6gBWnxv64FnK6ToPUZWyZnmL9asZR6v67s_LFOFsjnktPBWlLK0FhgnNTHSd4RmpqwUWF02G4po6NPMToiNPXWVMrtQ0sx3cY4A4YEXjndChw7qITg1tVZI6wndFZrXcDqb8mfPypGSFyAZX3qPs/w640-h498/Angleshades%20close.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is an Angle Shades.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Monday was as fine as the Met office promised, although the thick, drizzly mist was initially disconcerting. Despite it we headed for South Ron. Louise fancied a walk and I had a couple of lifers lined up, a cunning plan as Baldrick would have it.</p><p>We walked from Windwick north. It's a spectacular bit of coast. Goldcrests came in/off the sea and landed feet from us, I chose to look rather than photograph. 20 or so Whoopers went north, 80 or so Pink-feet whirled around. There were a few Silver Ys and I was hopeful that the cases I found on smaller rush might be <i>Coleophora glaucicolella</i>, but they turned out to be <i>C. alticolella</i> after all.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEUopcKWqM0xekE_XQtkFOY-9N7hwQzcDC8oVuvrZKaWasiNysUMS2buTQMmy3PqJxZtjEOu8CC1J0O9e9zxAdckDvp44XR0x-kNnQnDPWlclltJsFkYoQcUvEKpErTZDHeyX5xew8_-2DUJE2slnQ45KaGez9CFWcz6_dW_-sbL5s-oibLqnoySVA4/s1024/Coleophora%20larvae1%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="1024" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxEUopcKWqM0xekE_XQtkFOY-9N7hwQzcDC8oVuvrZKaWasiNysUMS2buTQMmy3PqJxZtjEOu8CC1J0O9e9zxAdckDvp44XR0x-kNnQnDPWlclltJsFkYoQcUvEKpErTZDHeyX5xew8_-2DUJE2slnQ45KaGez9CFWcz6_dW_-sbL5s-oibLqnoySVA4/w640-h502/Coleophora%20larvae1%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Case bearer, <i>Coleophora alticolella</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbHzkn8uBcCM1aFB4U3grytLkS7WTRK2Y5N90HjLDy3fve2zwLzJviZlBh_dX2fPFrZDdqAlP3dnfskej3JaUOowMteFMxrKSlv62-i6uUZ98IwHFsyvVbANi2zIHcxms54jxcf17D71j1v0rLB_VrAG2T3zudg-H8Ky5aXxL5Nvijw1_riTut0pvBXQ/s1024/Nr%20Windwick%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1024" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbHzkn8uBcCM1aFB4U3grytLkS7WTRK2Y5N90HjLDy3fve2zwLzJviZlBh_dX2fPFrZDdqAlP3dnfskej3JaUOowMteFMxrKSlv62-i6uUZ98IwHFsyvVbANi2zIHcxms54jxcf17D71j1v0rLB_VrAG2T3zudg-H8Ky5aXxL5Nvijw1_riTut0pvBXQ/w640-h450/Nr%20Windwick%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near Windwick, looking south.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Before heading to the very good cafe for a late lunch, the planned twitching excursion was actioned and we headed a mile or so off down small byways to South Flaws cemetery.</p><p>Things were not promising when we arrived. Signs of recent grass mowing... However, we were seeking small things and began to scour the close mown grass. Louise came up with the first of the sought. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpZBEZoHslXX5Eu4FIV0RFoLx6T55K0pevVEesfcI-ryykhe9A_YrNOMKpmoMYAewOY0c4Xev6hjSI_bLeTMCHBprGoI9gYfx9IitbLRmUo0hqtIpn7HJaY3Lyy_mIWsQXt4azCJawvfXR7xF85ZPTx2kAPE6PY9WxHOAWV880oJ7CTjLNdf-WSe3sN4/s1024/Cordyceps%20militaris2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijpZBEZoHslXX5Eu4FIV0RFoLx6T55K0pevVEesfcI-ryykhe9A_YrNOMKpmoMYAewOY0c4Xev6hjSI_bLeTMCHBprGoI9gYfx9IitbLRmUo0hqtIpn7HJaY3Lyy_mIWsQXt4azCJawvfXR7xF85ZPTx2kAPE6PY9WxHOAWV880oJ7CTjLNdf-WSe3sN4/w640-h456/Cordyceps%20militaris2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0qGD6mvXD1F8iqfygJenHII65lR903wKbAQQtsBvUfvafa9hNFqRmTeF-L0kVmtLzwLYvokUWfVVWvA8X36zTEQ4rwGUzzfi_rwyhrFx8BNcDBp7zl0ft-z66_PVE-xhSm6OXFiCDMgzoQmpPEVKjWexaYrZnG_jDSy7FzhIL87-rCKD30pjV6VkeLA/s1353/Cordyceps%20militaris%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1353" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0qGD6mvXD1F8iqfygJenHII65lR903wKbAQQtsBvUfvafa9hNFqRmTeF-L0kVmtLzwLYvokUWfVVWvA8X36zTEQ4rwGUzzfi_rwyhrFx8BNcDBp7zl0ft-z66_PVE-xhSm6OXFiCDMgzoQmpPEVKjWexaYrZnG_jDSy7FzhIL87-rCKD30pjV6VkeLA/w640-h504/Cordyceps%20militaris%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cordyceps militaris</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The colloquial name is Red Caterpillar Club which sounds as if there should be a mighty garish rave involving vivid Lepidopteran larvae somewhere out in the wilds. But the club refers to the shape of the growth, not a gathering of like-minded moths, garbed similarly. The biology is interesting though, as this fungi is a parasite of moth pupae and grows up through the soil where they have buried themselves to spend the winter. No, the moths will not emerge.</p><p>One more thing to find. We'd just about given up when some bright yellow caught my eye, and there was the tiny Meadow Coral.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaaZnTq8Bi1cvJTzjU-p_H0v-xL3VNraHFU97vlaksJa4mRqwf4Lbf_oySwvb2zTXSUSrZjNsYdLUd50BtlQFRlBFGBjGQFMMq3Gs6V7PkDS47C9an6apWbnLJk-S9FJ7oqV0jGifTHrSwrwz0sqsMLQEZlp9zFj4235sH9MHV4hLzWYBEqrcn_VCl-s/s1024/Clavulinopsis%20corniculata%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaaZnTq8Bi1cvJTzjU-p_H0v-xL3VNraHFU97vlaksJa4mRqwf4Lbf_oySwvb2zTXSUSrZjNsYdLUd50BtlQFRlBFGBjGQFMMq3Gs6V7PkDS47C9an6apWbnLJk-S9FJ7oqV0jGifTHrSwrwz0sqsMLQEZlp9zFj4235sH9MHV4hLzWYBEqrcn_VCl-s/w640-h500/Clavulinopsis%20corniculata%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clavulinopsis corniculata.</i> </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Mission accomplished, off to the cafe, which specialises in some very tasty Middle-Eastern food, perhaps surprisingly, sited on Burray (the next island north).</p><p>As we were leaving the cafe, a phone call (thanks AL) alerted us to Orkney's 2nd ever Cattle Egret. We shouldn't have stopped for a quick Tesco shop. We arrived as the kye were being moved, no egret to be seen. </p><p>I've seen plenty of Cattle Egrets though, although but one in the UK. I'd not previously seen <i>Calliphora loewi</i> which I caught in our kitchen on our return home. A window had fortuitously been left open. It took me pretty much all the next day to identify and photograph but I got there in the end. A real northern specialty, but not previously recorded with certainty from Orkney. Armed with my new key it wasn't exactly a piece of cake to ID but it was possible.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bWx_8A5_WKDiWDL-sjQgmcByiaPi3DoHaBFsUAWg-nY0Y6J-a0_F5DVhQbGeuMqnD-czk3l2YlVdvqzXk2HtKapEvXYq4fnP4SZOIQCym99F2lK-8IpAJsl2alqnmRXVkdT8rsEE2YksS1TiemZzLp_X21yq_pRFYFtP7j57AXLrg2_C29eAPpQBcDA/s1024/C%20l%20lateral%20best%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1024" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bWx_8A5_WKDiWDL-sjQgmcByiaPi3DoHaBFsUAWg-nY0Y6J-a0_F5DVhQbGeuMqnD-czk3l2YlVdvqzXk2HtKapEvXYq4fnP4SZOIQCym99F2lK-8IpAJsl2alqnmRXVkdT8rsEE2YksS1TiemZzLp_X21yq_pRFYFtP7j57AXLrg2_C29eAPpQBcDA/w640-h500/C%20l%20lateral%20best%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Q6-hKivvDPxVBgRqQO8JBtDFISWpDusN1ZLaJf_UrYS0sI9Q4DC9TMJo-u1AJwTuS5iVzXhDLG08dv9prSRZlgq1Ao67iGDK_na0gkn_FA51vlgD6EJPqa8HY9qMJQSw6yuBkj3ksysVwg8AVqzFkQGzI4eCzk1szOy-e8kJOqKFp5tufbAF_P3LDY/s1355/Cl%20face%20best.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1355" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Q6-hKivvDPxVBgRqQO8JBtDFISWpDusN1ZLaJf_UrYS0sI9Q4DC9TMJo-u1AJwTuS5iVzXhDLG08dv9prSRZlgq1Ao67iGDK_na0gkn_FA51vlgD6EJPqa8HY9qMJQSw6yuBkj3ksysVwg8AVqzFkQGzI4eCzk1szOy-e8kJOqKFp5tufbAF_P3LDY/w640-h472/Cl%20face%20best.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlne5cbQN7XzfMz8ipVuxmdIj8F_SwX-ELe361iMPj6Rc6FfC5iKJ9eBGWPs17fgynctt1N6SFhOP3qpzIZWYx1PKdqVR83RWpeLfQwOLxeAQLdVmitXTPrOOoTbu2qS-hmKrHHtfgsAguhFVT5fHPytZPer2zkXk5f8gUvFsBtLjElZRDudBbYRJ7NIA/s1521/Cl%20face%20lateral%20best.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1521" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlne5cbQN7XzfMz8ipVuxmdIj8F_SwX-ELe361iMPj6Rc6FfC5iKJ9eBGWPs17fgynctt1N6SFhOP3qpzIZWYx1PKdqVR83RWpeLfQwOLxeAQLdVmitXTPrOOoTbu2qS-hmKrHHtfgsAguhFVT5fHPytZPer2zkXk5f8gUvFsBtLjElZRDudBbYRJ7NIA/w640-h494/Cl%20face%20lateral%20best.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ahwZMnf0gBOBh4yaqPgpReLn351XSd33Ayj8_JWlJeMiDrFTvSJVDBYInQzR8XRNNPk-LNdnJFl0CM-V9L3YWwwJ-WpOfwB4Ibp1Xpw1FtjG34uvQzRD3KOsw5f97Fz99PcDVr6xXgTlpBPc6YcxbtrkkIEoOTGq9KbPFzNdK5wz_0dKwKyNvRscxUU/s1024/Cl%20m%20gen%20micro%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ahwZMnf0gBOBh4yaqPgpReLn351XSd33Ayj8_JWlJeMiDrFTvSJVDBYInQzR8XRNNPk-LNdnJFl0CM-V9L3YWwwJ-WpOfwB4Ibp1Xpw1FtjG34uvQzRD3KOsw5f97Fz99PcDVr6xXgTlpBPc6YcxbtrkkIEoOTGq9KbPFzNdK5wz_0dKwKyNvRscxUU/w640-h464/Cl%20m%20gen%20micro%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male genitalia, diagnostic.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw6AWmWBEH12v9z0AQdHV3o0OThWavgwjVSlWJTaBDZPiCNR3_sdL0OEecdVyKqQVQGSBdA4DAlmmXiLdKflGwQ8WXFQ5KrnakRicCrIGj8ffqgLO2ItVmBolON5_1SEZ6wxhbikE7LXf-GcMwRJo6I9y-4ImZ8My9MSllNfQAAk00maJ_YOc78y8AH8/s1521/Cl%20thorax%20best.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1521" height="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigw6AWmWBEH12v9z0AQdHV3o0OThWavgwjVSlWJTaBDZPiCNR3_sdL0OEecdVyKqQVQGSBdA4DAlmmXiLdKflGwQ8WXFQ5KrnakRicCrIGj8ffqgLO2ItVmBolON5_1SEZ6wxhbikE7LXf-GcMwRJo6I9y-4ImZ8My9MSllNfQAAk00maJ_YOc78y8AH8/w640-h494/Cl%20thorax%20best.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Calliphora loewi</i>, just 150 or so records on the NBN.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>It's been a stormy week and it looks like continuing. A half-hearted seawatching expedition ended up being more of a photographic outing. More hooley to come, 60 - 70mph gusts forecast for the weekend.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OFZ-JxrjgmqKakXOG6TIxg6Qufw5D6otkxk2UYTHTFvzC27Sqdx2-yMgjrLBw6avW2mqy0prwTt_tM8hCvbC1j5ikD_jPRiP6QBgKTmtHtr8VDbSCrWA2y3D0HFcMrqx5JAM-rOACbQw8YNbV_A6sgCcRD_juu3AZCDY4mocv4VUfGSRHx9tCgl8cjA/s1024/The%20Brough%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OFZ-JxrjgmqKakXOG6TIxg6Qufw5D6otkxk2UYTHTFvzC27Sqdx2-yMgjrLBw6avW2mqy0prwTt_tM8hCvbC1j5ikD_jPRiP6QBgKTmtHtr8VDbSCrWA2y3D0HFcMrqx5JAM-rOACbQw8YNbV_A6sgCcRD_juu3AZCDY4mocv4VUfGSRHx9tCgl8cjA/w640-h480/The%20Brough%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim43QJuQLhTob0nirmZ73tbDwxGLAqB7HGiwZ2upIdK191AqBsJTMMBO46N69n7YeyCeJnffMvKzzoaa6dgHbN_bmwgJJdJIkGZ3OouSC7wb0GKh2FNXg2tNqsnky_WTLARV1DrpdUr7U8AHGwF3FrjmXByx2Y8jxB9u3P0p641liI4NV8jcDjup95-rU/s1024/The%20Brough%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1024" height="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim43QJuQLhTob0nirmZ73tbDwxGLAqB7HGiwZ2upIdK191AqBsJTMMBO46N69n7YeyCeJnffMvKzzoaa6dgHbN_bmwgJJdJIkGZ3OouSC7wb0GKh2FNXg2tNqsnky_WTLARV1DrpdUr7U8AHGwF3FrjmXByx2Y8jxB9u3P0p641liI4NV8jcDjup95-rU/w640-h528/The%20Brough%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfsAQJiR-12uiLO2Xni_XmDcbQZj-QDL2S6gScrX4CkOlaTb7vMGSU6ct311CuYE03KPV6C6RHSg1oF3FtiPj7CxCe0p3EVbO9X70LQzUeCR9sEzrdJh60nHn83EgAC16z7cxGJLdqy13pbHlAseTrrQ8BsrfVSHfez8cxjZzBb6Ypi2Nx1B4EqdJM00/s1024/Grasswind%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfsAQJiR-12uiLO2Xni_XmDcbQZj-QDL2S6gScrX4CkOlaTb7vMGSU6ct311CuYE03KPV6C6RHSg1oF3FtiPj7CxCe0p3EVbO9X70LQzUeCR9sEzrdJh60nHn83EgAC16z7cxGJLdqy13pbHlAseTrrQ8BsrfVSHfez8cxjZzBb6Ypi2Nx1B4EqdJM00/w640-h480/Grasswind%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsKuQ8ItnjEYTAvZA9032310GVMFoLq_IF0jAw2wDYhntVRJrJp32UANExQVZyJuz2N0BKptKckxYSOalnqvcW77E1b589NV5IiSiQ-ERVm-SORcoj-SDDHHc0T1XpllkoYlPyzQExgRcQyPhISj4P1qEfYAlqV_IGETM1QhTRZAWWbGp_I09eoasW4w/s1024/Reed%20Canary%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsKuQ8ItnjEYTAvZA9032310GVMFoLq_IF0jAw2wDYhntVRJrJp32UANExQVZyJuz2N0BKptKckxYSOalnqvcW77E1b589NV5IiSiQ-ERVm-SORcoj-SDDHHc0T1XpllkoYlPyzQExgRcQyPhISj4P1qEfYAlqV_IGETM1QhTRZAWWbGp_I09eoasW4w/w640-h480/Reed%20Canary%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ53oBKtHRrJTb8osMI0W2CIHsDySmyZHvwYF6gOP84VWMCOhZTJGichD5EWN-BUEXTnhQc-uzu6OWI4xwzYNlOh_1DOMshTw_6tITy3aberEDp6ANp3rsAtv_CwuT07cBUfGCceg0-BtVPaHyYRjLtqwZ_efioCHs10HIQyQHgtA7iKSEddnM-pINqCk/s1024/The%20sea2%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="1024" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ53oBKtHRrJTb8osMI0W2CIHsDySmyZHvwYF6gOP84VWMCOhZTJGichD5EWN-BUEXTnhQc-uzu6OWI4xwzYNlOh_1DOMshTw_6tITy3aberEDp6ANp3rsAtv_CwuT07cBUfGCceg0-BtVPaHyYRjLtqwZ_efioCHs10HIQyQHgtA7iKSEddnM-pINqCk/w640-h270/The%20sea2%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IioeT2S02G_SkGHXY5WmkUTQeeHkorlfIrzfyWYG7g4SvT2sj-vMky5FRBrPY7R7-pGt-ZH0jYTY0RDfR-BBs0eLJE4F6dVWPhKyPcYpV_LxABZm2JjGqzOUDm8fZE8KTRJhkvgV9G-8_M9oDJBWSiiwF1PczeIVLWmBxDZyraP2Cqd89qkPomegtK4/s1024/The%20sea%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IioeT2S02G_SkGHXY5WmkUTQeeHkorlfIrzfyWYG7g4SvT2sj-vMky5FRBrPY7R7-pGt-ZH0jYTY0RDfR-BBs0eLJE4F6dVWPhKyPcYpV_LxABZm2JjGqzOUDm8fZE8KTRJhkvgV9G-8_M9oDJBWSiiwF1PczeIVLWmBxDZyraP2Cqd89qkPomegtK4/w640-h456/The%20sea%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p>EbT post-script:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOqfX-6jPW5SSAE71WChLK_PWsjb8GBZaQLHyhNBnn9SveXzPnL1teUJxbQrE4ZUUxlJi73f6kNEf1LCakkDJKq5sEgSvdccis4RviBu35vBk9TbHYnUaeDZROv36uq3E_gu4HIntG5zDen3s_Lgi7AqV4EQXToxwbhHNafk_ZovofNwihBO1JXZ8Kv8/s1024/The%20twitch.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOqfX-6jPW5SSAE71WChLK_PWsjb8GBZaQLHyhNBnn9SveXzPnL1teUJxbQrE4ZUUxlJi73f6kNEf1LCakkDJKq5sEgSvdccis4RviBu35vBk9TbHYnUaeDZROv36uq3E_gu4HIntG5zDen3s_Lgi7AqV4EQXToxwbhHNafk_ZovofNwihBO1JXZ8Kv8/w400-h300/The%20twitch.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The twitch.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-28858975640623222072023-10-07T22:51:00.003+01:002023-10-07T22:51:31.269+01:00Eye-browed Thrush in the garden.<p>I've found a few rare birds, should have, I've been at it for 62 years (I reckon to have started birding when I was six years old). I think this is the only mega though, a few BBs along the way, plenty of county level stuff. Of late, although I still go birding pretty much every day, invertebrates have been my main interest. </p><p>Today started with moth traps, three traps two moths, somewhat disappointing, just Angle Shades and Small Wainscot. It was after breakfast, late morning that I noticed the Redwings dropping in. A few at first but then a flock dropped out of the sky, as they do. I had a couple of quick searches around the garden to no avail and then headed for the coast where there was no obvious incoming of migrants.</p><p>At home again lunchtime and more Redwing activity with further flocks doing the dropping out of nowhere. We have Swedish Whitebeam in the garden and they were an obvious target, berries were disappearing at a rate. But, each time I went round the trees the flocks headed off.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSAHhjXZ0oRkGelL7X1RNg5WdZ-_tH0dxs_cBu52tCLISpEZ6Bod3-ij2T89cRC8g51zPpOnfsQwh_0Fd0hDA-K69L_HBu5Z_zxhDZH-ZdZ7Zy2_KAZFG24YDPyQ7GL5KucFLSQLIaiEYWqZ3c4xAqTOb8yUBNEMqfnaourgiZsuSXRmhOMTb3EEu1lY/s1080/Redwing%202%20orig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1080" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSAHhjXZ0oRkGelL7X1RNg5WdZ-_tH0dxs_cBu52tCLISpEZ6Bod3-ij2T89cRC8g51zPpOnfsQwh_0Fd0hDA-K69L_HBu5Z_zxhDZH-ZdZ7Zy2_KAZFG24YDPyQ7GL5KucFLSQLIaiEYWqZ3c4xAqTOb8yUBNEMqfnaourgiZsuSXRmhOMTb3EEu1lY/w640-h472/Redwing%202%20orig.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fCRBsYytwtcy4K4bHjNl47xIi7pT6CldEDQAEd4_SpsP4zoLMJdM553iRsXGbHcXMawU03HcvnI3ufNZ9GNbHZFxBO8k8IXvBVrBQ9KXkyCyI2AtgLsn4is8a9cCsi1IAH9flvdgMfzrfwdznlN2uadGL3DGrb4VHtq0XNsC63GneEV4WB041RTWK8g/s1080/Redwing%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1080" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fCRBsYytwtcy4K4bHjNl47xIi7pT6CldEDQAEd4_SpsP4zoLMJdM553iRsXGbHcXMawU03HcvnI3ufNZ9GNbHZFxBO8k8IXvBVrBQ9KXkyCyI2AtgLsn4is8a9cCsi1IAH9flvdgMfzrfwdznlN2uadGL3DGrb4VHtq0XNsC63GneEV4WB041RTWK8g/w640-h472/Redwing%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVNPbdunG8mu2R9TTi0cFgZIDu859OiQUnbTIbAEAPcX2n2WYNF0Prbr2OvJQUAJlXp5Jr2FP_L4W4l83q1hjesMFxL1sos7q5styaDiPO6bbw8rdpUqT394coYkd345Ki3-Elu73CoBlFdJ-WsMeRXfDHvvLKCN_Zp0-aS__a8wYkrxp_PLbBBHjpu0/s1080/Redwing%204%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1080" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVNPbdunG8mu2R9TTi0cFgZIDu859OiQUnbTIbAEAPcX2n2WYNF0Prbr2OvJQUAJlXp5Jr2FP_L4W4l83q1hjesMFxL1sos7q5styaDiPO6bbw8rdpUqT394coYkd345Ki3-Elu73CoBlFdJ-WsMeRXfDHvvLKCN_Zp0-aS__a8wYkrxp_PLbBBHjpu0/w640-h472/Redwing%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Redwings scoffing Swedish Whitebeam berries.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>There was also a bit of Swallow movement, a House Martin, Pied Wag and a few other bits and bats. However, I've been looking for moth larvae recently so elected to head off down the hill, check The Shunan and wander across the fields. Target species <i>Chlorophora glaucicolella.</i><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Dipped on the moth, couldn't find appropriate food plants. And eventually headed back up the hill to the house via a few diversions.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Redwings were very evident in the back garden and in between tea and cake and more tea I kept checking them. Hummed and hawed about going out on the bike. Had another look at the trees. That's odd, that Redwing has no breast streaks, and it's all red-brown down the breast (it was face on). It went down on the ground in the vegetation, definitely no breast streaks, neat little wing bar, rather different face markings, more restricted, less clear. Grabbed the camera which was handy and managed to fire off a few shots. Look at the camera back, no I wasn't imagining anything. Now wracking memory... too small and not right for Red-throated Thrush. Grab the book (Wildguides is always on the kitchen window ledge) .... various expletives. Fumbled the phone. AL lives just 10 mins away, gave him a ring.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcD_tll9j3NsyfgnoUfpH9v9yd4_bZJBc8xFHNFRW3Jm991aRkWsIMTOozNxPacBSuyG2ZKZ7RKjWLGjyhXN8OrGtdlVFRLPo2xV1_O4SdWY8o735YxZCGUp4GKL4y3JmSFhz7wXPh047tmBzow8kTbBpxVXZatVgf4KX_E90FU01O6HFIWsJup0GF98/s1194/Eye-browed%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1194" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcD_tll9j3NsyfgnoUfpH9v9yd4_bZJBc8xFHNFRW3Jm991aRkWsIMTOozNxPacBSuyG2ZKZ7RKjWLGjyhXN8OrGtdlVFRLPo2xV1_O4SdWY8o735YxZCGUp4GKL4y3JmSFhz7wXPh047tmBzow8kTbBpxVXZatVgf4KX_E90FU01O6HFIWsJup0GF98/w640-h516/Eye-browed%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrXYZ4HpQBRDObOSEa65l5TBS0qWhB2Dwx7AZ3DJ5FcdOcTD2JVSIl2DInZq-JqJAIMW_mj4VMycbDsO4WKCPROLiZMoCLn1Qo4I620B-kaN7ZhORMlJnwj7ka_8829nErjgKHkHycIqQuB9lNfdZHp3bSEPM3XOrFQaehNnebKf8nvRwevXrKf6Z3bw/s1194/Eye-browed%203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1194" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrXYZ4HpQBRDObOSEa65l5TBS0qWhB2Dwx7AZ3DJ5FcdOcTD2JVSIl2DInZq-JqJAIMW_mj4VMycbDsO4WKCPROLiZMoCLn1Qo4I620B-kaN7ZhORMlJnwj7ka_8829nErjgKHkHycIqQuB9lNfdZHp3bSEPM3XOrFQaehNnebKf8nvRwevXrKf6Z3bw/w640-h516/Eye-browed%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye-browed Thrush first images.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">When AL arrived he confirmed that I wasn't mad. And it was general relief when both AL and Louise had confirmatory views and we got some better images. At this point I put the news out on What's App.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hk3RK0WTTTJqlms1bBbUJ7TTbxcISk9ikwbG3OujriA03ueSGINuXcaSVzij7WpOlEcaRFbUOj9rgKJL2jltaXl2oNbiRyiBanbA3hWd5JPtbv5t_J6qL-voh5BSwSJfWpPYaV4VeRyW3mw20ddBCIyxEKUxM6L0eY3Jwe9sxfW2z40q7HuFf6CNXYI/s1194/Eye-browed%201b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1194" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Hk3RK0WTTTJqlms1bBbUJ7TTbxcISk9ikwbG3OujriA03ueSGINuXcaSVzij7WpOlEcaRFbUOj9rgKJL2jltaXl2oNbiRyiBanbA3hWd5JPtbv5t_J6qL-voh5BSwSJfWpPYaV4VeRyW3mw20ddBCIyxEKUxM6L0eY3Jwe9sxfW2z40q7HuFf6CNXYI/w640-h516/Eye-browed%201b.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYzxyuSxIKiBS93vV64wDgNzigEJPBk2wU5PLsDTy3PDPNovvHU_wXHNGObpQZUoPMCsD6lBdEE94uNcjLEOqIW_CbTqQlmrMaMSP5Mfc7WQEQlUzFaHOqThdDUCUIm9j-VmCBcrlDCM5tk7yqFOLnMI03erfWWGx9tjxUzpRSMJcAHzKEJgsfZDP6Dk/s1080/Eye-browed%204%20lo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="1080" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCYzxyuSxIKiBS93vV64wDgNzigEJPBk2wU5PLsDTy3PDPNovvHU_wXHNGObpQZUoPMCsD6lBdEE94uNcjLEOqIW_CbTqQlmrMaMSP5Mfc7WQEQlUzFaHOqThdDUCUIm9j-VmCBcrlDCM5tk7yqFOLnMI03erfWWGx9tjxUzpRSMJcAHzKEJgsfZDP6Dk/w640-h468/Eye-browed%204%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye-browed Thrush<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A couple of folk quickly arrived for the twitch but all the time the light was failing and the bird, having presumably stuffed its wee belly with berries was showing more intermittently and briefly. Last seen a bit before 5ish.</p><p>Well that was a bit of a do. And I didn't see a Greenfinch all day (again).<br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-40155455605814628572023-10-06T00:18:00.002+01:002023-10-06T14:43:20.512+01:00Seek and you may find...<p>And if you don't look you won't find anything!</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisbBA44cTf-kx2zuOsyFgcL-slmRVWUF6I3E8UAMtEc-CPRzGbYVo0o8UOn3nIEAHv8MXkLPkKjYfts7IZtoXDOVBjMfB151Si9AYKniiEbwuIl5SIV3Ynk1Ho8pluSR_FViZvcf1gd4fQSiCB9Y6mVefNW9jjNIaMNtyZ5uCuZb_yV2E03H3OhUvInI/s1080/Hawthorn%20berry%20holes.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisbBA44cTf-kx2zuOsyFgcL-slmRVWUF6I3E8UAMtEc-CPRzGbYVo0o8UOn3nIEAHv8MXkLPkKjYfts7IZtoXDOVBjMfB151Si9AYKniiEbwuIl5SIV3Ynk1Ho8pluSR_FViZvcf1gd4fQSiCB9Y6mVefNW9jjNIaMNtyZ5uCuZb_yV2E03H3OhUvInI/w640-h480/Hawthorn%20berry%20holes.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite dissecting a good few berries I couldn't find the culprit that appears to be burrowing into them.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOvRkIpd3kUWcDMXmN7HwBcV8Zk8v6815ZZV330qshB6q3RY8shA082ZS44lVuwgI7ff78FHIW3OQnWFnadZ-oGa4yWBNj593b4brJeGfiqPWWp_gESvRzkBgo1vWBnyXHRasGMlJfCBgyYMJqtmnTspGQ7e6hH3B2uP-U5dCrs9OZQdCEWgHNotSn5E/s1024/Hawthorn%20berries.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1024" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpOvRkIpd3kUWcDMXmN7HwBcV8Zk8v6815ZZV330qshB6q3RY8shA082ZS44lVuwgI7ff78FHIW3OQnWFnadZ-oGa4yWBNj593b4brJeGfiqPWWp_gESvRzkBgo1vWBnyXHRasGMlJfCBgyYMJqtmnTspGQ7e6hH3B2uP-U5dCrs9OZQdCEWgHNotSn5E/w640-h442/Hawthorn%20berries.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hawthorn hedge, where there are a few berries to check.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><div style="text-align: left;">The damp fields below the house are full of <i>Juncus effusus</i>, Soft Rush. Last year I found the case bearer <i>Coleophora alticolella</i> for the first time, after I'd been given the heads up to look. Just examine the seed heads and you should see little "rice grains". I've looked for this year in the last few days and found them again, in their hundreds. Examination has again, so far, just found the one species of moth <i>C. alticolella</i>, there is a congener that behaves in a similar manner, the caterpillars are separable with careful examination.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1kWRFrHUeZaD3MF_4FsAyBlqQT7S2Ub0PruIfm3adlC3Lo5pozYr0ACbuTv0cNT6CrS7QwdxoY3LGEwfQZ1YGQ40fSSAaRHPTFhFlcOT9OOyDTW_9tmFhpKxGWpcoTxeXlwYpVy4L8OLxxu9JHoZoosdIwPt7aui0_WBc3atnNGtYZKOjQMAkordzf8/s1080/A%20c%20case%20in%20situ%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL1kWRFrHUeZaD3MF_4FsAyBlqQT7S2Ub0PruIfm3adlC3Lo5pozYr0ACbuTv0cNT6CrS7QwdxoY3LGEwfQZ1YGQ40fSSAaRHPTFhFlcOT9OOyDTW_9tmFhpKxGWpcoTxeXlwYpVy4L8OLxxu9JHoZoosdIwPt7aui0_WBc3atnNGtYZKOjQMAkordzf8/w484-h640/A%20c%20case%20in%20situ%20lo.JPG" width="484" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gpEQ2D-JdF-rdEfGRB0F5Dudp2jw0iHNOrlYfYMjLWb263J7Ey8BjpNXy6L8-g8La7bcwCX_jrr-JVLh3-ZFiReBE6OihFwEgmMico0PhE5p7I63unPIdHK9mZEUTkqdrah-nG7Cko-As9PyfxtySIesRdS19ryDI-VObEvxETZ89ErfRaO2XiIvOC4/s1080/Coleophora%20alticolella%20+%20egg%20maybe.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gpEQ2D-JdF-rdEfGRB0F5Dudp2jw0iHNOrlYfYMjLWb263J7Ey8BjpNXy6L8-g8La7bcwCX_jrr-JVLh3-ZFiReBE6OihFwEgmMico0PhE5p7I63unPIdHK9mZEUTkqdrah-nG7Cko-As9PyfxtySIesRdS19ryDI-VObEvxETZ89ErfRaO2XiIvOC4/w640-h480/Coleophora%20alticolella%20+%20egg%20maybe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That may be a Hymenopteran egg on the case. A number of species parasitise these caterpillars. I was led to a Durham University PhD paper about the development and parasitisation of <i>C. alticolella</i> which was an interesting read.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlakRBmpgBv0_Jvg13JD0jYCHRMYGC1LJyR6KyMhfBHopTM_ebh579sHPMZFEGNEgfujfeMOjzLTyp4vmSU9gBAt94UeFHGis8HfG6WUVdrMpxnE3gCYKtEfDFMJKL4WZ9X82fZr-A-q3cB2P0SMFc1hI0ZcUD3ePup8MF2qlWshL3muwAIIcVJlK6H8/s1080/Coleophora%20alticolella%20cat%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlakRBmpgBv0_Jvg13JD0jYCHRMYGC1LJyR6KyMhfBHopTM_ebh579sHPMZFEGNEgfujfeMOjzLTyp4vmSU9gBAt94UeFHGis8HfG6WUVdrMpxnE3gCYKtEfDFMJKL4WZ9X82fZr-A-q3cB2P0SMFc1hI0ZcUD3ePup8MF2qlWshL3muwAIIcVJlK6H8/w640-h480/Coleophora%20alticolella%20cat%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Coleophora alticolella</i>, lateral scleretised spots reduce in size S1 to S3, oddly this one did not have a sceleretised spot on abdominal S9.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>These flies, big and buzzy, have been around the entrance to the moth trap at night. Eventually, I managed to catch some and with help, thanks SW, got to the identification of <i>Polietes meridionalis</i>, a species only identified in the UK in 2015. There is a congener, <i>P. lardarius</i>, but I haven't found that yet. To be honest they're a bit of a pain, buzzing around the entrance to the trap, and they are large. Identified by the yellow face and yellow front thoracic spiracle, those bits are grey on <i>P. lardarius</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_fRuenggTKVLRoMqy_WiqMVh97w0GJu9Wv1rTQb_3Mt9M8FG5_kdNQjoFPfZXD1p3i11nkv6hQYWF1NP1cGxFPN0cuA2wdRxZ0CjB7wMPz5HsjpPCobtL3ap-lzGNKIVECVfUEBXIlHosJnHkH0lL0SBwRcSj1FPLy0Dj-PI9P_QD5KHuF-njSG1NVE/s1080/Polietes%20meridionalis%20dorsal.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1080" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_fRuenggTKVLRoMqy_WiqMVh97w0GJu9Wv1rTQb_3Mt9M8FG5_kdNQjoFPfZXD1p3i11nkv6hQYWF1NP1cGxFPN0cuA2wdRxZ0CjB7wMPz5HsjpPCobtL3ap-lzGNKIVECVfUEBXIlHosJnHkH0lL0SBwRcSj1FPLy0Dj-PI9P_QD5KHuF-njSG1NVE/w640-h486/Polietes%20meridionalis%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiTibnqkgcKtneM5esblqWqcA6x81fXbFfaONnpgGL62O5dwJbMO8yT_Zi_F9Ye87N90EUk2Gfq2Ff2YbZvuh8OqJbTf-VZFEsS2PzaL4XW3oMUex-lxnmflyBBDrnuseevnz_ZlgUe0kC_UqUyaZgAx0k8LYC3D8MUGS_t1Dcdb18hLrke-VCiT8nQY/s1263/Polietes%20meridionalis%20head%20on.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1263" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiTibnqkgcKtneM5esblqWqcA6x81fXbFfaONnpgGL62O5dwJbMO8yT_Zi_F9Ye87N90EUk2Gfq2Ff2YbZvuh8OqJbTf-VZFEsS2PzaL4XW3oMUex-lxnmflyBBDrnuseevnz_ZlgUe0kC_UqUyaZgAx0k8LYC3D8MUGS_t1Dcdb18hLrke-VCiT8nQY/w640-h500/Polietes%20meridionalis%20head%20on.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0yKIoWfB5uz8J6jqG9m7MvtDONxSQEgihP-GThEzi02SagBPpewM9_sAP4RXKv65saS7TUDo1cUFzks6AvLZA0toUkY1jnUTQPYJGza-m72ujlBb_gYLmLHydpzmWjYzjtGC3ITivNjYXuBS0h0bpMmERh9xnHRT9rgnXTslqYQvTUyMiziUFHfJcdk/s1080/Polietes%20meridionalis%20lateral.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="1080" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0yKIoWfB5uz8J6jqG9m7MvtDONxSQEgihP-GThEzi02SagBPpewM9_sAP4RXKv65saS7TUDo1cUFzks6AvLZA0toUkY1jnUTQPYJGza-m72ujlBb_gYLmLHydpzmWjYzjtGC3ITivNjYXuBS0h0bpMmERh9xnHRT9rgnXTslqYQvTUyMiziUFHfJcdk/w640-h502/Polietes%20meridionalis%20lateral.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polietes meridionalis</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Another light trap intruder, found when I was cleaning it up later on was this Psocoptera (barkfly).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97x5fd9omibIEzYIj4cHARdnrI1k-bZuv5qmHNnmOYnaInIlgtRvFJgo3yWU7OcAGy8-e8_t8DQRthn5r5IhtcXK_WyYrMEoPYlLK12nPZkySg9exfaOEby2PWd5yWAzg8fwkB2UhCXTLSuFcCois5g5yW5HnP05G6fXMitPKkGsRbXvDjygtOsRlZrU/s1500/Psocidae%20sp%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1500" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97x5fd9omibIEzYIj4cHARdnrI1k-bZuv5qmHNnmOYnaInIlgtRvFJgo3yWU7OcAGy8-e8_t8DQRthn5r5IhtcXK_WyYrMEoPYlLK12nPZkySg9exfaOEby2PWd5yWAzg8fwkB2UhCXTLSuFcCois5g5yW5HnP05G6fXMitPKkGsRbXvDjygtOsRlZrU/w640-h500/Psocidae%20sp%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulTtWizQ70LHM8jecbgklByTosch4IVUrVfA3TQ72v6pvsHbWcX6vIShcpozHmU5gQRXNuKebgBu5WQdvbbdtNPn4NkM4sIGmvkIiQafTs2-4VOzHEK6nOpqMbbuN2416nRqQhWacETiH5jtu_XXftHTnQs2fKecF27VXAAPi0hIVPJWk5jOVUseyGQs/s983/Psocidae%20sp1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="983" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulTtWizQ70LHM8jecbgklByTosch4IVUrVfA3TQ72v6pvsHbWcX6vIShcpozHmU5gQRXNuKebgBu5WQdvbbdtNPn4NkM4sIGmvkIiQafTs2-4VOzHEK6nOpqMbbuN2416nRqQhWacETiH5jtu_XXftHTnQs2fKecF27VXAAPi0hIVPJWk5jOVUseyGQs/w640-h486/Psocidae%20sp1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Graphopsocus cruciatus</i>,</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The last new insect of the week, well there will be more once I get around to all the Hymenoptera, and there was a beetle in these Gorse pods as well as this caterpillar of <i>Cydia ulicetana</i>.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruejoOm40G3gTFHo8i7m4_RikWYwVvHDVVHMENDarYSIK8OiMBWzf5nQ2MAKBCsl2HJuysL9TnOGGcUuMBqGwgN79aGRwcCIaWldLW3WuHUzyLfjA3Df_loyu67FkbX1b4X6B1e4fXaFh2ciZKLv9alJ5g9nJ6eJ4VSnYFv2dTSHJWXsiZ3ABDP3Po_M/s1824/Cydia%20ulicetana%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1354" data-original-width="1824" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruejoOm40G3gTFHo8i7m4_RikWYwVvHDVVHMENDarYSIK8OiMBWzf5nQ2MAKBCsl2HJuysL9TnOGGcUuMBqGwgN79aGRwcCIaWldLW3WuHUzyLfjA3Df_loyu67FkbX1b4X6B1e4fXaFh2ciZKLv9alJ5g9nJ6eJ4VSnYFv2dTSHJWXsiZ3ABDP3Po_M/w640-h476/Cydia%20ulicetana%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn8JyD_pZ7YlSCidO4zg-psrLHJwxYp7ZYYTj2d3GwxRIdU9-PPrVMQjyWlc1mpA3u2R2q8nK0ME5ZYz7BqWPpiI0HdkncE1om210ZFm0IWeNDizvPGTfJ3DrYLv1HDyn8ehDMDSh93gq7cZfx7kPVzC_oKYeIyJudNK-aLZA9O_XVnsARJIqh4HnOeE/s1024/Cydia%20ulicetana%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1024" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSn8JyD_pZ7YlSCidO4zg-psrLHJwxYp7ZYYTj2d3GwxRIdU9-PPrVMQjyWlc1mpA3u2R2q8nK0ME5ZYz7BqWPpiI0HdkncE1om210ZFm0IWeNDizvPGTfJ3DrYLv1HDyn8ehDMDSh93gq7cZfx7kPVzC_oKYeIyJudNK-aLZA9O_XVnsARJIqh4HnOeE/w640-h512/Cydia%20ulicetana%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0qEDu9Q2tC4H_tw9AaSkwCsvF4AZYWjMptH2lXMjxKkFOuPre_WjlxqEPbZh3x4ylfj2_9kxTNLGDy1fEwvXmrTTYXTCF__CqqhwxGCTHV0WZgHjhciEBb8XDd9hkaoR-RioMS8BTFWsJs87dOItgLedCxyL2XPQKrtf4Czt2UNke-5hE0kMBw8VuWk/s2004/Cydia%20ulicetana%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1552" data-original-width="2004" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0qEDu9Q2tC4H_tw9AaSkwCsvF4AZYWjMptH2lXMjxKkFOuPre_WjlxqEPbZh3x4ylfj2_9kxTNLGDy1fEwvXmrTTYXTCF__CqqhwxGCTHV0WZgHjhciEBb8XDd9hkaoR-RioMS8BTFWsJs87dOItgLedCxyL2XPQKrtf4Czt2UNke-5hE0kMBw8VuWk/w640-h496/Cydia%20ulicetana%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2V4gH8aEbGXuLbQZtefso6I5dD_SmmxfPte6uAUFQ9vVX0EVvEvEslGo1hTR524fVhpVdpJCWD8qZMLLuvP48nYX4apBBUNf-CZ8t1eUONwCknkqCa5wxBJlPOrRWUC16TnI98SiSrqJz0bJqqWGnVDs_ZfIMUhccm0cM-p8eKYW6vJxUkxHfDt_8SE/s1024/Cydia%20ulicetana%204%20pod.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2V4gH8aEbGXuLbQZtefso6I5dD_SmmxfPte6uAUFQ9vVX0EVvEvEslGo1hTR524fVhpVdpJCWD8qZMLLuvP48nYX4apBBUNf-CZ8t1eUONwCknkqCa5wxBJlPOrRWUC16TnI98SiSrqJz0bJqqWGnVDs_ZfIMUhccm0cM-p8eKYW6vJxUkxHfDt_8SE/w640-h462/Cydia%20ulicetana%204%20pod.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cydia ulicetana</i> in Gorse seed pod.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On the bird front the Pink-feet are arriving, flocks on three days in a row.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8MWY2LUQOJzUGlV1EWTDaEy4lWHUJqraDf_HuEw20WWvrpGmVo8w4kodW_ozqGDDdlx1MN1uZi3HvhUG6eSbHi1IrSZyd9SQeu6YHYxgBWgCJcqVpU1CWZ0X8u8xwKyKtx6GEAlE52fko-gbzNkRDxpIo-Y71rQRSmpsiMV5c-gPx57Lr1K9xtm3Lxg/s1024/Pinks%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="1024" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8MWY2LUQOJzUGlV1EWTDaEy4lWHUJqraDf_HuEw20WWvrpGmVo8w4kodW_ozqGDDdlx1MN1uZi3HvhUG6eSbHi1IrSZyd9SQeu6YHYxgBWgCJcqVpU1CWZ0X8u8xwKyKtx6GEAlE52fko-gbzNkRDxpIo-Y71rQRSmpsiMV5c-gPx57Lr1K9xtm3Lxg/w640-h194/Pinks%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROp2xaRStdhRYD0gOufhtvp05xuWMuQkdA73xEg6HZ9UoOD8Pja-1C1dprSiYXq22UAufkNHXntdTSHTg8VaRkgagELs-cePdmamUZDUNgh-H7j_YK5fNWtL-mTv8q1Nt5N6hsoylSuBsd_ytl0AbsSJ6eOPk979ez1Sy4pjHtglgTUXrtMJn71dh73A/s1024/Pinks.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgROp2xaRStdhRYD0gOufhtvp05xuWMuQkdA73xEg6HZ9UoOD8Pja-1C1dprSiYXq22UAufkNHXntdTSHTg8VaRkgagELs-cePdmamUZDUNgh-H7j_YK5fNWtL-mTv8q1Nt5N6hsoylSuBsd_ytl0AbsSJ6eOPk979ez1Sy4pjHtglgTUXrtMJn71dh73A/w640-h458/Pinks.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink-feet arriving.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEvV2K1fQhfLXHv8BfWdubQec_X-Gwla-aix98xkAqwYdx9FDIY3k7rITi5RW3B7o2hR_0xEg0_CCo_LzXSFysgq7WdcGxGPMSCxt4lQEzdtI3PyKa4uPJTvXoeGBFZPCRIrfOaJnI_xQUpSck7smzyq9-7YheJKynq36iYqaBajbotqdLWzKNVmSiRg/s1168/Reed%20Bunting%202.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1168" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEvV2K1fQhfLXHv8BfWdubQec_X-Gwla-aix98xkAqwYdx9FDIY3k7rITi5RW3B7o2hR_0xEg0_CCo_LzXSFysgq7WdcGxGPMSCxt4lQEzdtI3PyKa4uPJTvXoeGBFZPCRIrfOaJnI_xQUpSck7smzyq9-7YheJKynq36iYqaBajbotqdLWzKNVmSiRg/w640-h490/Reed%20Bunting%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmF62hXW1ArPW79RgFAVsuO95WJKeQS1DDXCp0BCOYKbK_Bu7hQprB-5GWyul8HY3At6TKjCb70UtwW87IdMtQBsl2vH2Izkw7Gcu7mYB63DXToEEkoumfgX3KaGa2dN2O0fby5EZFGQ6zmdt7AmN_xvSqy3S6lBZWC92SAo-qSbK59UyPRIo0Y-SHZk/s1168/Reed%20Bunting%203.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="893" data-original-width="1168" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmF62hXW1ArPW79RgFAVsuO95WJKeQS1DDXCp0BCOYKbK_Bu7hQprB-5GWyul8HY3At6TKjCb70UtwW87IdMtQBsl2vH2Izkw7Gcu7mYB63DXToEEkoumfgX3KaGa2dN2O0fby5EZFGQ6zmdt7AmN_xvSqy3S6lBZWC92SAo-qSbK59UyPRIo0Y-SHZk/w640-h490/Reed%20Bunting%203.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting, numbers increase in October with some migrants arriving.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTmyXMTnP369TI6wi9CVF-dAK5KFGUpSmvxdQHrqoccShLvO-BD-3fNtVdz6Hkk4GjH-Q-f26P9SOQbO2TlFYBdXbxhrZJdsIGRtJhZPoSopQ8WdvR9uOzeUde4lndeywdmmu-YdZJNCI9HAgPaNJ9OHGX0xwqaaHLO_Sv9V3PCtXhGjeXziQlKqaR8c/s1406/Pied%20Wag%203.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="1190" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFTmyXMTnP369TI6wi9CVF-dAK5KFGUpSmvxdQHrqoccShLvO-BD-3fNtVdz6Hkk4GjH-Q-f26P9SOQbO2TlFYBdXbxhrZJdsIGRtJhZPoSopQ8WdvR9uOzeUde4lndeywdmmu-YdZJNCI9HAgPaNJ9OHGX0xwqaaHLO_Sv9V3PCtXhGjeXziQlKqaR8c/w542-h640/Pied%20Wag%203.JPG" width="542" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EtpvFKwI3ejVDjfoCjS6Ju2d1LdV9L3vywbVjoizMUuaOrznO15FZlcg3gSKZwp2i6JUMDGUvgpEeNYwqi7J_0M0wNo8IXnLfSfbJ3qf3GF-oFiDEXT43InoPiNegY2CJ18RWSku0me2hgNoBsR3TXaFFqdiuT8NllA4Mt8AozouPXdLiRm5VaBW7QY/s1024/Pied%20Wag%201.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="1024" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EtpvFKwI3ejVDjfoCjS6Ju2d1LdV9L3vywbVjoizMUuaOrznO15FZlcg3gSKZwp2i6JUMDGUvgpEeNYwqi7J_0M0wNo8IXnLfSfbJ3qf3GF-oFiDEXT43InoPiNegY2CJ18RWSku0me2hgNoBsR3TXaFFqdiuT8NllA4Mt8AozouPXdLiRm5VaBW7QY/w640-h482/Pied%20Wag%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Wagtail, birds moving through and numbers decreasing through the month.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The moth traps have been having some long overdue maintenance. Checking wiring, replacing connections etc. I temporarily swapped the 20W Wemlite, which I've used for a long time and is rather wobbly for a newer model. It didn't last long.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRTmPIAfwwDswNTTiC5z1bfh5wK2WT5k9HFe1UEmd1NJGk3PtWmLn7wobXrzouGUmFXYrmSNh49AuCD4NH1lNaqHjGKpslIj5gyY7SLodoCSODQ8hmEhpEWpZRFb0fyqctwUbCYewzP8c_b0z1e1nbp8G1312ogiaufp-0CqQfwumjZuIhL6ehWim4S0/s1024/Blown%20bulb.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1024" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtRTmPIAfwwDswNTTiC5z1bfh5wK2WT5k9HFe1UEmd1NJGk3PtWmLn7wobXrzouGUmFXYrmSNh49AuCD4NH1lNaqHjGKpslIj5gyY7SLodoCSODQ8hmEhpEWpZRFb0fyqctwUbCYewzP8c_b0z1e1nbp8G1312ogiaufp-0CqQfwumjZuIhL6ehWim4S0/w640-h468/Blown%20bulb.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhYUHKQlMYX_8sfWfd7eltQqk3ojVW76yKG8iD4_s5J838_aGVzkpai4R3W_VWdCIrtoc6Yluuu3zzU7E-QGvdk0IR3KQnTTDtSxd0WdvQBUpX0etG7_xd5hp3Rk6bjzV-K561diD3t0Cz_kokT687799ZtkXe8OQhy13PHKfVhggaX-CksSL7JVOhms/s1024/Bulb%20kaput.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhYUHKQlMYX_8sfWfd7eltQqk3ojVW76yKG8iD4_s5J838_aGVzkpai4R3W_VWdCIrtoc6Yluuu3zzU7E-QGvdk0IR3KQnTTDtSxd0WdvQBUpX0etG7_xd5hp3Rk6bjzV-K561diD3t0Cz_kokT687799ZtkXe8OQhy13PHKfVhggaX-CksSL7JVOhms/w640-h476/Bulb%20kaput.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water most likely the cause.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>So I ordered some new bulbs from Paul Batty - <a href="http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/">http://www.pwbelg.clara.net/mercury/</a> and a new bulb holder, a ceramic one just in case I do want to run an MV. I managed to get the last 20W Wemlite in stock and a 13W version to test. But I also thought I'd have another go with an LED, my previous one I used years back was not a great success but these 9W ones look as if they may be the business. The plan is to have a bulb holder by the back wall that I can keep an eye on, as well as the usual traps. A 9W LED will go in combo with a synergetic in my Robinson.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNvPdAOKPlt1LsyXwUwAeSk-7WqRVeMLV0rfwieHTlYbaQBWVp0NoH__7jO9OE5r3kKEALQOsBOhKZ53VcJGqq3S31f7_NPWsIKT9tiyhz6Z1WovadadccXw2FbaAu__oFg0XeaHY_BSKewOVMDS2vmBq1bvOGdzX70sZPNM8IMI3o9kdH-E4F1uFUyo/s1024/New%20lights.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1024" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNvPdAOKPlt1LsyXwUwAeSk-7WqRVeMLV0rfwieHTlYbaQBWVp0NoH__7jO9OE5r3kKEALQOsBOhKZ53VcJGqq3S31f7_NPWsIKT9tiyhz6Z1WovadadccXw2FbaAu__oFg0XeaHY_BSKewOVMDS2vmBq1bvOGdzX70sZPNM8IMI3o9kdH-E4F1uFUyo/w640-h504/New%20lights.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">9W LED, 20W Wemlight, bulb holder and 13W Wemlight.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>And here's the Sun partially obscure (not by clouds!) but by North American smoke.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEUQlYq4gxNixlsXVklgDllwPODYsf473uuQSE_SVDgSCEyOrwpsb0FZJfguQ5gaICbw1hX_OkdUO5Ojwi_2eEef0NxkDBvV1Vpi-Ayd-l6eaL5IT-29SqWHNASHfmKma-nj5Ilx4iUSXLxVEf7D5in37DS9HmB5OXg2oZKQg3mabMrPW1v9WXJznJGE/s2060/Sun%20thro%20smoke.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2060" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEUQlYq4gxNixlsXVklgDllwPODYsf473uuQSE_SVDgSCEyOrwpsb0FZJfguQ5gaICbw1hX_OkdUO5Ojwi_2eEef0NxkDBvV1Vpi-Ayd-l6eaL5IT-29SqWHNASHfmKma-nj5Ilx4iUSXLxVEf7D5in37DS9HmB5OXg2oZKQg3mabMrPW1v9WXJznJGE/w640-h436/Sun%20thro%20smoke.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sun<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-15314668167173244372023-10-03T22:06:00.002+01:002023-10-03T22:06:27.244+01:00Autumnal(ish)<p>Warm yesterday, sitting outside with tea and home made scones in the late afternoon, without a coat.</p><p>It is autumn though, there was a Yellow-browed Warbler in the garden the morning the day before. It happened to have a burst of calling from the clump of trees where I see most warblers in the garden, and I managed to glimpse it. Not much else of note though, there are ducks on The Shunan, a tagged Buzzard hanging about, a Shortie the far side of Bosquoy from my bike ride and a flock of 52 Linnets.</p><p>Moths have been few and far between, but in perfect conditions last night, other than rather a lot of rain at some point, I got something interesting. At first glimpse in the trap I thought it was a 2nd gen Common Marbled Carpet, but more careful examination of the images later proved otherwise. NFM and this for the site Grey Pine Carpet.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6Jg2UvxIq440D5ssz1H55sIIEZ_0RabPThMb_jotVdpYbIjfgSjX4aXlZm6slL3hvYDEsJtjA9i3DguwLCURZpi09-jIMj4QMS_9_ZyZipuC9oBgKyXcaOt06SkcPikEDAtyJat1mjrhU0PWUXzIgVibSfcIBcDLS6ieIDm1Il7gOEuIB2Pzka7i23I/s1024/GPC%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1024" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6Jg2UvxIq440D5ssz1H55sIIEZ_0RabPThMb_jotVdpYbIjfgSjX4aXlZm6slL3hvYDEsJtjA9i3DguwLCURZpi09-jIMj4QMS_9_ZyZipuC9oBgKyXcaOt06SkcPikEDAtyJat1mjrhU0PWUXzIgVibSfcIBcDLS6ieIDm1Il7gOEuIB2Pzka7i23I/w640-h460/GPC%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykZeG2GrZ1FRBRlJgMi5wVnTF3_q2LC0sm6lu9IYGfyEQmREIafRz-t9P6AbfgMrX0jWwuCdwauVJF9wVk7O2a-JIBLp4Z0xafwaWdQBBKAXSro0N6mJ6DKtjGPCWgRUXpWmJFz6ZWsaQ8-V6zs29A3bnaz7707sTbAjCnijubzfhx2pmPQI5fA7TcIg/s1024/Grey%20Pine%20Carpet%20lateral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykZeG2GrZ1FRBRlJgMi5wVnTF3_q2LC0sm6lu9IYGfyEQmREIafRz-t9P6AbfgMrX0jWwuCdwauVJF9wVk7O2a-JIBLp4Z0xafwaWdQBBKAXSro0N6mJ6DKtjGPCWgRUXpWmJFz6ZWsaQ8-V6zs29A3bnaz7707sTbAjCnijubzfhx2pmPQI5fA7TcIg/w640-h474/Grey%20Pine%20Carpet%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Pine Carpet, <i>Thera obeliscata</i>.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;">This species can be a bit of a tricky ID, I think mostly in it's grey form, it can be almost indistinguishable from Spruce Carpet, and dissection of the genitalia apparently doesn't help. However, <i>T. obeliscata</i> males,have plain antennae with symmetrical segments whilst <i>T. britannica</i> males have asymetric antennal segments. Unfortunately this was a female when I checked, I had initially thought it to be a male. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Fortunately a number of folk came to the rescue and especially SS who very kindly annotated a number of his photographs of both <i>T. britannica</i> and <i>T. obeliscata</i> and confirmed the above as <i>Thera obeliscata</i>. Excellent!<br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-53104930515855759542023-09-28T11:19:00.000+01:002023-09-28T11:19:02.971+01:00Muddy.<p>We were staying in Grinton in Swaledale near relatives and a short
walk from the Dales Bike Centre. My Specialized Rockhopper Comp didn't
come with us but was in Kirkwall for a service, I thought I'd have a day
out on an eMTB. I've been admiring the Trek Powerfly range in Inverness
recently as we've passed through and DBC have some Powerfly 5s for
hire. Orkney is relatively flat and the trails I cycle are not steep and
only occasionally slightly technical. When we lived in North Yorkshire
it was so steep around our house that I barely went out on my bike (the
faithful Kona Lavadome I've owned since the 1990s), the Grinton area is
similarly challenging with some steep, long climbs to get on the tops.
One of the thoughts around the eMTB plan is to dispense with one of our
cars and replace it with an ebike. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXBtnA87J-U2XN41_gkMevyRcdBcMS1wrhOIFaXKidrsVlFm1xUnXw1Tz9UYLuhCJiH4cYE5MvSu0Uf_QJpjMQ4w4t9DzC1dDvgu045k85L4Rn14jwIkl0EtdrnPLpUa1CauzjMpczgI4S7PCRgt65kExRherov70U8pgSNfPxFfIkUwWRPbO/s1024/Selfie%20bike%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1024" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXBtnA87J-U2XN41_gkMevyRcdBcMS1wrhOIFaXKidrsVlFm1xUnXw1Tz9UYLuhCJiH4cYE5MvSu0Uf_QJpjMQ4w4t9DzC1dDvgu045k85L4Rn14jwIkl0EtdrnPLpUa1CauzjMpczgI4S7PCRgt65kExRherov70U8pgSNfPxFfIkUwWRPbO/w640-h446/Selfie%20bike%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie, on the tops.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Briefly:
going uphill is a revelation. I stayed in the lowest two settings all
morning, used very little battery (a fifth), climbed everything I
attempted and went miles and miles; the Trek is a heavy beast at 22.5ish
kg; nipping from Grinton to Settle and back for the shop was a short
breeze; it was a hell of a work out, 5.5hrs on the bike, and some really
decent climbs which the motor takes the edge off; descending was body
battering, especially the upper body and on steep descents the bike is
almost uncontrollable due to the weight and the brakes locking (Canyon
make a bike with ABS which would be handy).</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc6iyAcAy-rrwhpgQBYYeEgDWoC-kCuNWW_xcQOnFTvNBmT7K3a4bQ8lswm4WxUqbycLGOgVOE1-cSS8p1tWw5-UKHZJs4xehaPe_DinVTjS2pVq7PocbbFSvnIPCfA0yC48bGKLSHX80Py3LL_N0TCjR48OQ8Vv3aap-8NWfxn_f324hhkZK/s1024/On%20top%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjc6iyAcAy-rrwhpgQBYYeEgDWoC-kCuNWW_xcQOnFTvNBmT7K3a4bQ8lswm4WxUqbycLGOgVOE1-cSS8p1tWw5-UKHZJs4xehaPe_DinVTjS2pVq7PocbbFSvnIPCfA0yC48bGKLSHX80Py3LL_N0TCjR48OQ8Vv3aap-8NWfxn_f324hhkZK/w640-h480/On%20top%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>On top.<br /><p></p><p>Conclusion:
I'd like one, but if in North Yorkshire I'd go for full suspension
(more control, less hammering of the old body). A hardtail eMTB would be
ideal in Orkney and would comfortably replace a car, the extra weight
being handy in the wind. Not many eMTBs have fittings for racks etc,
Trek and Specialized do. The Bosch motor and easily removable battery
are big pluses for the Trek, Rockshox fork for the Specialized. </p><p>Whilst
on the tops I found a pair of Ravens, I really can't remember when I
last saw Ravens in North Yorkshire, but they do wander at this time of
year. There were also Red Kite and Buzzard in one spot. However, the Red
Grouse situation was mad. Many, many flocks of 15 to 20 mostly
undersized birds, I saw hundreds during the morning. Most of the
moorland is just a giant Red Grouse farm, like the fields around our
house in Orkney for sheep and cattle but instead Ling kept short. I
don't remember it being like this before, twenty years ago. I came
across two shoots. I can't see the "sport" in this, the flocks come up
from under the wheels, some individuals you can almost pick up. Aside
from the aforementioned species there were lots of Meadow Pipits but
otherwise one Kestrel and one Golden Plover made up the whole list for
the morning on the tops. It all stinks of money and privilege. This in
the Yorkshire Dales National Park, a complete travesty, the moorland
should look nothing like this. And I do not have a "problem" with
shooting per se, I do have a problem with environmental devastation,
particularly in the light of the plight of most of our native species
and the climate crisis. (I could also have a rant about the Pheasant
industry and the impact of that but...) Most of the trails I rode have
been "improved" for shooting access, scars on the landscape from my
point of view.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU95cvb3uON6kxeo4j8QckWP7pR3CMG_-JB6qZyN5jokdfg2gtDA8vEdtdsnqFkQKMtEsZXbODf5ma3VrZr9qqy2tJfEG-Bwksk-ZTP3XY0xFbcagxjNuxUnj-IecHOOz_djKIcXLYnGYdyhp2Mfo2eLJyhHnPDvwjTTErGa1Gotd1IuLvZh85/s1024/Lime%20kiln%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU95cvb3uON6kxeo4j8QckWP7pR3CMG_-JB6qZyN5jokdfg2gtDA8vEdtdsnqFkQKMtEsZXbODf5ma3VrZr9qqy2tJfEG-Bwksk-ZTP3XY0xFbcagxjNuxUnj-IecHOOz_djKIcXLYnGYdyhp2Mfo2eLJyhHnPDvwjTTErGa1Gotd1IuLvZh85/w640-h480/Lime%20kiln%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCaWH4QXgpaoA87bD9EMXJN25sMvQJcdU1pCBhWZTPTri0JZmm9cvG96Mi5git_rh-fAC4bQSm_eaG6AWuXdNjliq0yv2lAewqx9nqORIekjYvM4Nd6kewjFt170-zedpI30MgiGDgkjwR2uOCrCzjknoHFCplmolNlLrkQz79-B1K9mzTyD6/s1024/Swaledale%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCaWH4QXgpaoA87bD9EMXJN25sMvQJcdU1pCBhWZTPTri0JZmm9cvG96Mi5git_rh-fAC4bQSm_eaG6AWuXdNjliq0yv2lAewqx9nqORIekjYvM4Nd6kewjFt170-zedpI30MgiGDgkjwR2uOCrCzjknoHFCplmolNlLrkQz79-B1K9mzTyD6/w640-h480/Swaledale%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p>In
the afternoon, following meeting up for lunch at the DBC's rather good
cafe, I toodled off to the other side of the dale and to the old lead
mines. More shooting going on which I managed to avoid.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nc_bTKbccsLy_cla6lL39-yUKoS4I3BtN4EQhMJ_pg5ui6GJiVVJgtZUNBhKKqULviDYUjiKhN66Os9V3TPl_Gw94V6ar7qNs9refZLwqJMd4P38IOjCY2f3AMFa-eOjXyRPivNa25e3innEekka-XregdTaQcVASV5Evu1EgYuV9zw_znX7/s1024/Broken%20gear%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Nc_bTKbccsLy_cla6lL39-yUKoS4I3BtN4EQhMJ_pg5ui6GJiVVJgtZUNBhKKqULviDYUjiKhN66Os9V3TPl_Gw94V6ar7qNs9refZLwqJMd4P38IOjCY2f3AMFa-eOjXyRPivNa25e3innEekka-XregdTaQcVASV5Evu1EgYuV9zw_znX7/w640-h480/Broken%20gear%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQcpsf8ZyYz3a112SmXy5aL8FCbpIPs3fn9NSUiNMmD0cEu04PucNLkibj6s96G4Xt23Vrgz9uIEqswB_CfmOtYy3poZBxvZZKhmM9yEPa6Ys8HhLu6msmiuDuW6-LXmSVs3JRGoQlEsZY0jwGpUbLsa-Jppv6hBmGQOu3G4pUKV1qUMTLXQa/s1024/Chimney%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="817" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQcpsf8ZyYz3a112SmXy5aL8FCbpIPs3fn9NSUiNMmD0cEu04PucNLkibj6s96G4Xt23Vrgz9uIEqswB_CfmOtYy3poZBxvZZKhmM9yEPa6Ys8HhLu6msmiuDuW6-LXmSVs3JRGoQlEsZY0jwGpUbLsa-Jppv6hBmGQOu3G4pUKV1qUMTLXQa/w510-h640/Chimney%20lo.JPG" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44nS7biBbCCFF2q7x1epcZz-Jqf3UVwgJ0QEiwjSvEf7rFSzVGeJEZGIKbrf8AM-nefeVgAdI2ybBEtq-P5luqIiF34T4dE_yD-nuqwnKx9tot7XtDyUIxcy5nS8fZtXMtOH2IrMeXfxD76BZUAtCJHORKOde11qdd71hhYnn8DYZixGUmhV4/s1024/Lead%20mine%20all%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44nS7biBbCCFF2q7x1epcZz-Jqf3UVwgJ0QEiwjSvEf7rFSzVGeJEZGIKbrf8AM-nefeVgAdI2ybBEtq-P5luqIiF34T4dE_yD-nuqwnKx9tot7XtDyUIxcy5nS8fZtXMtOH2IrMeXfxD76BZUAtCJHORKOde11qdd71hhYnn8DYZixGUmhV4/w640-h480/Lead%20mine%20all%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Here
I did find some more natural trails and got muddy on some very claggy
bridleways. Also, nearly came off on a very, very steep piece of
downhill road with loose surface. So Trek Powerfly 5 = 8/10, Yorkshire
Dales National Park (Government) management of this fabulous place =
3/10. Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-3834410464865476842023-09-26T23:52:00.004+01:002023-10-05T23:03:02.222+01:00Yorkshire Moths.<p>We went to Yorkshire for a week. I took two Heath traps with me and trapped in the two gardens that I used in October 2021. The first night the garden in the village did well with NFM Shuttle-shaped Dart and Light Brown Apple Moth, which I don't think I've seen previously. Brown-spot Pinion were in both gardens and also new I think. Earlier in the day a leaf mine in a cherry (Prunus), in the garden up the hill, was from a <i>Stigmella </i>species I thought, feasibly,<i> S.oxyacanthella</i>. And a small brown job eventually turned out to be Beaded Chestnut. So a good do!<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ0dAyljSIshyq-WUAsKWWJZI5HvNmJsapdNrpdKDPMZDZAuokmUXZRWEGvO2GWDWwtVvoYeHXRIooAIVg7mfV-sVsVhVhuUkMc6NpFw20kFqZvwzIpMAD5wOxGLoEjjLzX5pVaSFjmvqJayuhC-70_pHvDcnhgvmbZPbrz6Kob17Dv__etJLKNLjaHE/s1024/Beaded%20Chestnut%202.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1024" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZ0dAyljSIshyq-WUAsKWWJZI5HvNmJsapdNrpdKDPMZDZAuokmUXZRWEGvO2GWDWwtVvoYeHXRIooAIVg7mfV-sVsVhVhuUkMc6NpFw20kFqZvwzIpMAD5wOxGLoEjjLzX5pVaSFjmvqJayuhC-70_pHvDcnhgvmbZPbrz6Kob17Dv__etJLKNLjaHE/w640-h408/Beaded%20Chestnut%202.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beaded Chestnut.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHg7r4CWUqZv4Heorr_IsvKxR6HdFtiM0YdLJ4jfgchcGUkgano7ewn7MN4Veb5AOtP9lJ4U6Fni0ZiXHeMsuvkPPXMYMRld8F21w7fhyd1Bkg0LQyB0tnnmXAl-y9rqnDBQKhiuuTHSHilsjNtQRlFSmWwFQqYA5a4Mm7mpzNt4OMnWgKgSml3l2DVs/s1024/Brown-spot%20Pinion.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHg7r4CWUqZv4Heorr_IsvKxR6HdFtiM0YdLJ4jfgchcGUkgano7ewn7MN4Veb5AOtP9lJ4U6Fni0ZiXHeMsuvkPPXMYMRld8F21w7fhyd1Bkg0LQyB0tnnmXAl-y9rqnDBQKhiuuTHSHilsjNtQRlFSmWwFQqYA5a4Mm7mpzNt4OMnWgKgSml3l2DVs/w640-h456/Brown-spot%20Pinion.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-spot Pinion<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNiGtWRrkEFUA6URBYDjvhIpYaBq6sBy4zMGf8t62NfQuSsPftnPyn1j2LqmPwEafZ2Ci3TxycxEzQ4zAEUr_T8SQOQlhZwNYme5oXaXfQ-7imv_tJiFpkz5F4b2Ifz3I5ZLT9J4_eOS7GsxaHWqaS9D479pie9QFb43XmL73NhReTO9Jye836yyNgLw/s1024/Leaf%20mine%20cherry%20top.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1024" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNiGtWRrkEFUA6URBYDjvhIpYaBq6sBy4zMGf8t62NfQuSsPftnPyn1j2LqmPwEafZ2Ci3TxycxEzQ4zAEUr_T8SQOQlhZwNYme5oXaXfQ-7imv_tJiFpkz5F4b2Ifz3I5ZLT9J4_eOS7GsxaHWqaS9D479pie9QFb43XmL73NhReTO9Jye836yyNgLw/w640-h522/Leaf%20mine%20cherry%20top.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry leaf, upper.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LKnMWoIqIiC50um5kj3Xe6kG4ROerC9FBg6MrcA_Fr6_fKDxOhnzdmvzwmI_Tg2fPwI4hmyBiHDzqnDXaxKE5uzQWMGQhzc-1xY73qlJgobUqEFB-v4L-KTG-IVfU3GFGp0f_RxYLymKaR8y4AVogbQTrs_rClB-Alms4rJUwFTpLZMdpfYc-3xGkug/s1024/Leaf%20mine%20cherry%20under.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1024" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LKnMWoIqIiC50um5kj3Xe6kG4ROerC9FBg6MrcA_Fr6_fKDxOhnzdmvzwmI_Tg2fPwI4hmyBiHDzqnDXaxKE5uzQWMGQhzc-1xY73qlJgobUqEFB-v4L-KTG-IVfU3GFGp0f_RxYLymKaR8y4AVogbQTrs_rClB-Alms4rJUwFTpLZMdpfYc-3xGkug/w640-h522/Leaf%20mine%20cherry%20under.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry leaf, under, mine <strike>maybe </strike>from <i><strike>Stigmella oxyacanthella</strike></i>, re-identified, thanks CC, as <i>Lyonetia clerkella</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmKc8yC4lEajH6wfzqZ9RPk98CYJpdTYirBSxkMWagcIq9unFmEO5F0j5JNSeYdE1VKplm3yc3X887X0PH7nYb4-kqOCBd-8Q1NCxuMYF6rc8mEwLuY-ANyPXuhfdW1LbeVh0VYvnGgMhoo70BHyqP9wqhi11LL1lDSgaHrx-oTJGJa1VS8YKj0eAS1I/s1024/Light%20Brown%20Apple%20Moth.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmKc8yC4lEajH6wfzqZ9RPk98CYJpdTYirBSxkMWagcIq9unFmEO5F0j5JNSeYdE1VKplm3yc3X887X0PH7nYb4-kqOCBd-8Q1NCxuMYF6rc8mEwLuY-ANyPXuhfdW1LbeVh0VYvnGgMhoo70BHyqP9wqhi11LL1lDSgaHrx-oTJGJa1VS8YKj0eAS1I/w640-h474/Light%20Brown%20Apple%20Moth.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light Brown Apple Moth, <i>Epiphyas postvittana</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3zbityWBIqFAVAahwByeWIa2cVyDbE0qGPYTQ-egOT1JfFl-KHJZw_pz_0FW70rnDSACfTxIA12witMMBjShEu5cjKC3v_NvQzpkvN52LciclYeFl9bc0Sfaf-ydZTUxh-dEGJanzaKnEukiuOZAc393-s-RJbKXfrFDeGskgUPZ4nkPZapP8hvaDpQ/s1418/Shuttle-shaped%20Dart%20lateral.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1099" data-original-width="1418" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3zbityWBIqFAVAahwByeWIa2cVyDbE0qGPYTQ-egOT1JfFl-KHJZw_pz_0FW70rnDSACfTxIA12witMMBjShEu5cjKC3v_NvQzpkvN52LciclYeFl9bc0Sfaf-ydZTUxh-dEGJanzaKnEukiuOZAc393-s-RJbKXfrFDeGskgUPZ4nkPZapP8hvaDpQ/w640-h496/Shuttle-shaped%20Dart%20lateral.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKAcJOPHYpbkJKURFtixKbrqdy7Cic9o0Xj-E8ZD_HEZcRT_7CCOML9t4_2b7nHmT1E9-1FFS_JeuG0gd6lz3v_lGv1uLzEhQr67K49_s-9BGkbzD0rfsRC51Wc96epqoHjS7IuvH3M8eCOfFVkt8APlUdWAeyXpEZ20NFZy7zWesqcn355s6_N8DC6o/s1024/Shuttle-shaped%20Dart.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKAcJOPHYpbkJKURFtixKbrqdy7Cic9o0Xj-E8ZD_HEZcRT_7CCOML9t4_2b7nHmT1E9-1FFS_JeuG0gd6lz3v_lGv1uLzEhQr67K49_s-9BGkbzD0rfsRC51Wc96epqoHjS7IuvH3M8eCOfFVkt8APlUdWAeyXpEZ20NFZy7zWesqcn355s6_N8DC6o/w640-h476/Shuttle-shaped%20Dart.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shuttle-shaped Dart.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Other species seen or captured included: (up the hill) Red Admiral, Nettle-tap, Silver Y, Setaceous Hebrew Character, <i>Blastobasis adustella</i>, Large Yellow Underwing, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Dark Arches, Large Wainscot and Common Marbled Carpet; (in the village) Green-brindled Crescent, Yellow-line Quaker, Red-green Carpet, Autumnal Rustic, Diamond-backed Moth, Common Wainscot, <i>Blastobasis lacticolella</i>, LYU, DA.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xRty1DlhDLhZ2llM8UhBrZs1O-2PPQQ4ffbAE7D4wTq1NhOtI-trbTEe1-ZjpsN6Pks64U7hIGAn-whvIWgbYRf9pF1Z4ily3aXRBSydpqYcs9CI8DUdJobL7xAxSu9gW6jOueDBXuuV-0lAcoA2S68z6XD_AFFY30MrkL9BEoB6-6CcmiQdv9qPvao/s1024/Common%20Wainscot.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xRty1DlhDLhZ2llM8UhBrZs1O-2PPQQ4ffbAE7D4wTq1NhOtI-trbTEe1-ZjpsN6Pks64U7hIGAn-whvIWgbYRf9pF1Z4ily3aXRBSydpqYcs9CI8DUdJobL7xAxSu9gW6jOueDBXuuV-0lAcoA2S68z6XD_AFFY30MrkL9BEoB6-6CcmiQdv9qPvao/w640-h476/Common%20Wainscot.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Wainscot - upperside of hind wing examined and was pale.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg524758H-cgnqQvp8SIABcYFC8k4XzT8Y1l1QLkXsop3BMAPl_JJuOPvNvFZ7fdtB7CDFlhWx8uHhvQJkB8rXCKdYKRqThVHp4Kl5Q2KjGAdUjJemMnOJ6_4NBCww5o6auOHNkUCFSNSQLgnq4ukwM1DdonKZcyeTLhYR72wFaxxgkIT5KhfRIK6BgO2c/s1024/Green-brindled%20Crescent.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg524758H-cgnqQvp8SIABcYFC8k4XzT8Y1l1QLkXsop3BMAPl_JJuOPvNvFZ7fdtB7CDFlhWx8uHhvQJkB8rXCKdYKRqThVHp4Kl5Q2KjGAdUjJemMnOJ6_4NBCww5o6auOHNkUCFSNSQLgnq4ukwM1DdonKZcyeTLhYR72wFaxxgkIT5KhfRIK6BgO2c/w640-h476/Green-brindled%20Crescent.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brindled Green Crescent.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tHpgU3lOWmzG3ajzUo63VAHpN7WZ2GVxj1WrPQXEE3Ony-nKhTc3sl1Lm4TJpRwMTbfPmCONFn1xeLfe3ldbxuhlDOl4mfmiCFei7goBf9LDgPkcLbE-4Xd0h_-ZEsxEnn3r1WY6GrPH6GYOh0oWNJlPn--eHK2Pex19QODoAhcEIqQNXizH2KT_BlI/s1024/Red-green%20Carpet.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tHpgU3lOWmzG3ajzUo63VAHpN7WZ2GVxj1WrPQXEE3Ony-nKhTc3sl1Lm4TJpRwMTbfPmCONFn1xeLfe3ldbxuhlDOl4mfmiCFei7goBf9LDgPkcLbE-4Xd0h_-ZEsxEnn3r1WY6GrPH6GYOh0oWNJlPn--eHK2Pex19QODoAhcEIqQNXizH2KT_BlI/w640-h456/Red-green%20Carpet.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Red-green Carpet) or maybe Autumn Green Carpet - thanks SS. Unfortunately I didn't photograph the hind underwing. I did photograph Red-green Carpet on another date, to be added.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ_nQz5w4UlMEV0H9Y2YqrP5PZINe1Ze9DYtyFGzoKGyg-QdM6HbAgTkK4rywSoEDNqei6eBDDLbIKqUno7zD5ydeWTPg5FZNXKeLEzJuMnp_Timw0swVLhb2eBl2mafV0N5lm_ocnHz4K1GHvGBsBthSisyvtWdUT3xAWMfc0x3-lEphAHL1OxwMcUA/s1024/Silver%20Y%20nigricans.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1024" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQ_nQz5w4UlMEV0H9Y2YqrP5PZINe1Ze9DYtyFGzoKGyg-QdM6HbAgTkK4rywSoEDNqei6eBDDLbIKqUno7zD5ydeWTPg5FZNXKeLEzJuMnp_Timw0swVLhb2eBl2mafV0N5lm_ocnHz4K1GHvGBsBthSisyvtWdUT3xAWMfc0x3-lEphAHL1OxwMcUA/w640-h536/Silver%20Y%20nigricans.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Y<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbcM02nZowsgUguEUmnfbQgWxyqppaeDp-6Rjpfxi345AUOecQLbSzeqtFcqJgqPkIw2rRFaj9XU8bDQ9X8cASqoKjhS64Y-fOPmrNEtjofyMRbi1Z0rHm3OfQP7geM1AjvYHxWonPgi9pvT0DwNldY1kw-zUOz9HfqBY9henWcIx5YRnazpNRnSMqnI/s1024/Yellow-line%20Quaker.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbcM02nZowsgUguEUmnfbQgWxyqppaeDp-6Rjpfxi345AUOecQLbSzeqtFcqJgqPkIw2rRFaj9XU8bDQ9X8cASqoKjhS64Y-fOPmrNEtjofyMRbi1Z0rHm3OfQP7geM1AjvYHxWonPgi9pvT0DwNldY1kw-zUOz9HfqBY9henWcIx5YRnazpNRnSMqnI/w640-h476/Yellow-line%20Quaker.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-line Quaker.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The next night it rained a lot, late on. I brought the moor side trap in very early, and the village trap a few hours later. The moor side trap produced a very nice Least Yellow Underwing, <i>Noctua interjecta</i>. I took a specimen of this as the ID required good views of the upper side of the hind wing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eJKnfFxUoTyWGSsNw1HlWOvEFoniAVH88ouxjs8C72dKGmACDsfKs3_iF7sVRK_fLq02iGnetN2S8H1QnX3WDYQIol1pc2OmQh89o9Olo3PUwnelc2BIfuVw5p24UEVgocgPfvy03lPR36cz5DqC5YlrKwJdGFhyb2M47Il8SRZ9D_RYk8lv85iAR6s/s1024/Least%20Yellow%20Underwing%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eJKnfFxUoTyWGSsNw1HlWOvEFoniAVH88ouxjs8C72dKGmACDsfKs3_iF7sVRK_fLq02iGnetN2S8H1QnX3WDYQIol1pc2OmQh89o9Olo3PUwnelc2BIfuVw5p24UEVgocgPfvy03lPR36cz5DqC5YlrKwJdGFhyb2M47Il8SRZ9D_RYk8lv85iAR6s/w640-h476/Least%20Yellow%20Underwing%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItfYP0ADef3QwR7SI84M60tYfqknwxpRcI3JLir2ziNgFPYz-sJTGe-Kcx1ioNdE9Uv-Si8A-S-g38OF4TBuTHnQaLTSyAf03GpAOv0v3jDXtZzk_AOzGAjncbLHr1Bf0noBOz2ZxstiBhxGRQOPlPFsp5xT17yJnmJu9qmIP8IzuUTIYTL-QHhEJya4/s1024/LYU%20f%20gen%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="841" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItfYP0ADef3QwR7SI84M60tYfqknwxpRcI3JLir2ziNgFPYz-sJTGe-Kcx1ioNdE9Uv-Si8A-S-g38OF4TBuTHnQaLTSyAf03GpAOv0v3jDXtZzk_AOzGAjncbLHr1Bf0noBOz2ZxstiBhxGRQOPlPFsp5xT17yJnmJu9qmIP8IzuUTIYTL-QHhEJya4/w526-h640/LYU%20f%20gen%20lo.JPG" width="526" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female genitalia<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SNTI0fgT0SNhiF8ZUyQHKh2MCmtmS_oDHQzzfkRe1dJ06F2Q8Bbm3S3-BOQLt1IceIyA4wG2-NczNNb7On2tM6xooKVgxzfJ9YTrLzV0JRbJbjymuJrYZYC50fsbYOU-vR64_PMsP3Vf_nZXfP5uVxAVDA7gDfq8EfXXwoZq1vRYnkYlYauAY0GxGE0/s1024/LYU%20wings%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SNTI0fgT0SNhiF8ZUyQHKh2MCmtmS_oDHQzzfkRe1dJ06F2Q8Bbm3S3-BOQLt1IceIyA4wG2-NczNNb7On2tM6xooKVgxzfJ9YTrLzV0JRbJbjymuJrYZYC50fsbYOU-vR64_PMsP3Vf_nZXfP5uVxAVDA7gDfq8EfXXwoZq1vRYnkYlYauAY0GxGE0/w640-h466/LYU%20wings%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wings, uppers, fore (top), hind (below). The hind wing confirms the ID. Fore wing length14.4mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>Pretty chuffed with this, a decent record and NFM.</p><p>However, more good stuff to come as when I brought the village Heath in there were some moths in the mouth of the trap and on the wall, nearby.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ml2hGhqrRV_7WSsxPpNhpDZAYi0sVwYVPM_-tudYm2pvU_e13o03um7-DhqysmH1XmZqVXJZiid22wVsZi0pmtgtPTGvVQXpi-AhIenD5j_u98LG5xIXafXhSD4NfF4q2ekvAJJpIDwD5qQjMv_7f1xeFDOz5tydgbCyX2dtXaaFXZjY0WwuQkytp8g/s1135/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%202%20close.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1135" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ml2hGhqrRV_7WSsxPpNhpDZAYi0sVwYVPM_-tudYm2pvU_e13o03um7-DhqysmH1XmZqVXJZiid22wVsZi0pmtgtPTGvVQXpi-AhIenD5j_u98LG5xIXafXhSD4NfF4q2ekvAJJpIDwD5qQjMv_7f1xeFDOz5tydgbCyX2dtXaaFXZjY0WwuQkytp8g/w640-h474/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%202%20close.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz5-dHvT0y7jBOIt571CWlJMdh4Jd_z9eMt6UbVbHxhCPqg0HWV26ons7O2HBSF1DhsDgX4nq1mqRxMZn_eqw7rBfy5MjrvhbxZjRmo8Ur1NCD6TOqDewrywX5xycCfLIv9qC9KT1mwD13etleCQ7bEcLgDNi4HcwIsMpgqJSZC0V9vpj_kxajStsJOk/s1024/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz5-dHvT0y7jBOIt571CWlJMdh4Jd_z9eMt6UbVbHxhCPqg0HWV26ons7O2HBSF1DhsDgX4nq1mqRxMZn_eqw7rBfy5MjrvhbxZjRmo8Ur1NCD6TOqDewrywX5xycCfLIv9qC9KT1mwD13etleCQ7bEcLgDNi4HcwIsMpgqJSZC0V9vpj_kxajStsJOk/w640-h462/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canary-shouldered Thorn, male, very nice, it was in the mouth of the trap.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>And, there were three Copper Underwing agg on the nearby wall. One escaped but I captured two rather worn ones. A bit of a tricky determination these, especially as I'd not seen one before. I took the specimens and brought them back home for some dissection.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qdrdbB9wTfACiFloHmyygMNUfZoIKzV4EVQe6_HGH9cMQbrQLfNVuRw6AXx_jNTLPMBwwbKQtG9gnM1rX7N6LYWI-slshAHZWUY_znn2LM_UQ3BLrEUQpmKE-Yjh8mXvxJfHcyhzejoUrQBMoDP5lwDkydGltK9g2GZI4eEFlwxXaXTnHiffbUcMEyA/s661/Head.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="661" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qdrdbB9wTfACiFloHmyygMNUfZoIKzV4EVQe6_HGH9cMQbrQLfNVuRw6AXx_jNTLPMBwwbKQtG9gnM1rX7N6LYWI-slshAHZWUY_znn2LM_UQ3BLrEUQpmKE-Yjh8mXvxJfHcyhzejoUrQBMoDP5lwDkydGltK9g2GZI4eEFlwxXaXTnHiffbUcMEyA/w640-h482/Head.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Head to show labial palps, which were pale below.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1D1ltFz5_FxnYnNkEBshUnUMiTdDXghwfFC-0FxxKldoLjm_XCW4wcnOJ7DnQWUQozrzjA7zghTO1-ORxTp5nNMgy3njvD5x6OIluVzPJsJIls3r71my4DuoV0d-YfClYnDt_VMmpQMS8xnBJk5wQBTH1Mk0qRwSZlAT-F1RKzRTKmBzKNcLuy6kSjs/s1024/Small%20m%20cornuti%20lo%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1024" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1D1ltFz5_FxnYnNkEBshUnUMiTdDXghwfFC-0FxxKldoLjm_XCW4wcnOJ7DnQWUQozrzjA7zghTO1-ORxTp5nNMgy3njvD5x6OIluVzPJsJIls3r71my4DuoV0d-YfClYnDt_VMmpQMS8xnBJk5wQBTH1Mk0qRwSZlAT-F1RKzRTKmBzKNcLuy6kSjs/w640-h480/Small%20m%20cornuti%20lo%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I broke the aedegus whilst opening it and the top lot of spine-like cornuti should actually be under the lower set, anyway, there are just 11 or so of them and not 30 so that makes this moth <i>A. pyramidea</i>, Copper Underwing<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevHa3e4FE3tfQTGyXgm5CFHrr0dxLEAmTWsqFVeGXvsOwGl_fGsFQUVG_7CfUTg5MfJ2FwsriVdsS_TgdmVYNvkJYTdgg0_hohSJ9bcyVefQO8SEAZXBz4s8crduiN2-bkKIS9VtBV02n7SdtNwF0ysdCWGyTW9Haevkrt7j_vXbxDRZ3ZMzJ9rY9lo8/s1024/Small%20m%20gen%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1024" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgevHa3e4FE3tfQTGyXgm5CFHrr0dxLEAmTWsqFVeGXvsOwGl_fGsFQUVG_7CfUTg5MfJ2FwsriVdsS_TgdmVYNvkJYTdgg0_hohSJ9bcyVefQO8SEAZXBz4s8crduiN2-bkKIS9VtBV02n7SdtNwF0ysdCWGyTW9Haevkrt7j_vXbxDRZ3ZMzJ9rY9lo8/w640-h486/Small%20m%20gen%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male genitalia with the aedegus in place.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YjhbaMzhmHtxFH8ZyhuGy3r5dsAg2GvtrFN6Qv729MvB_omP-UTAINPtnx1pO3eL7Nw_QCN4TDVsAuJiKlvaXUnNUtXGz2waoIIJzI90xWWqp7i9JA4MkKwk1QLwr1bFEwjnFA8RoscTr3ZxnRz_QHOd2hPazo5xqJOwo_DRtUbf8zTPk9jOrk2nl7U/s1024/Small%20m%20uncus%20lateral%20lo%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1024" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YjhbaMzhmHtxFH8ZyhuGy3r5dsAg2GvtrFN6Qv729MvB_omP-UTAINPtnx1pO3eL7Nw_QCN4TDVsAuJiKlvaXUnNUtXGz2waoIIJzI90xWWqp7i9JA4MkKwk1QLwr1bFEwjnFA8RoscTr3ZxnRz_QHOd2hPazo5xqJOwo_DRtUbf8zTPk9jOrk2nl7U/w640-h462/Small%20m%20uncus%20lateral%20lo%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The uncus is the top bit that is hanging down, this is a lateral view.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheXwMenbb2puI_Y0-nsOH4-Eka3_7Yze4iSkuDc8bZ_ubYAp23Bihd_uqp8Xerwu8_M4JNjOrML_zPZJjfDlyFM4A7zc5LjDUgUeO6ldN7BIEQpgo_dI9QVoQvl1oKwD5dfWgzrcXqc8T-6hQdyU-19s-B0Cd464Dnm2DfV53QBGVBb1zWHTtssYRFeI/s1024/Wings%20s%20m%20lo%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="1024" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheXwMenbb2puI_Y0-nsOH4-Eka3_7Yze4iSkuDc8bZ_ubYAp23Bihd_uqp8Xerwu8_M4JNjOrML_zPZJjfDlyFM4A7zc5LjDUgUeO6ldN7BIEQpgo_dI9QVoQvl1oKwD5dfWgzrcXqc8T-6hQdyU-19s-B0Cd464Dnm2DfV53QBGVBb1zWHTtssYRFeI/w640-h404/Wings%20s%20m%20lo%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">So this all adds up to this one being <i>Amphipyra pyramidea</i>, Copper Underwing, as opposed to <i>A. berbera</i>, Svensson's Copper Underwing. Again, good result.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The second moth was a female, on this one the wing colour was a bit more helpful, handy as I wasn't gentle enough with the genitalia dissection and distorted the crucial bits.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wdiauaLhfsADFwqo4WirPP13sBOatV79Sq-1944DDUAa2nmDpN2CprC-VXVEXfl5tTcpNisABRd2JkMUXjQC0gFrInNI9DbHAbE65W8WlssXAo6b4zf4S4ihDKl2tysG_sHkrrqgyolGqsMsgcMaI1rDV82G1LSPrTMdz4XstJQKl_Ya_4ZBXZABKXw/s1024/Forewing%20f.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="1024" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wdiauaLhfsADFwqo4WirPP13sBOatV79Sq-1944DDUAa2nmDpN2CprC-VXVEXfl5tTcpNisABRd2JkMUXjQC0gFrInNI9DbHAbE65W8WlssXAo6b4zf4S4ihDKl2tysG_sHkrrqgyolGqsMsgcMaI1rDV82G1LSPrTMdz4XstJQKl_Ya_4ZBXZABKXw/w640-h434/Forewing%20f.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fore wing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmEHuPSY8Tcv5y4z5UhOB0cTc0yQuEQWNrTSGTs-3Sbjo3M62JZxD-UzMv6ioAswZ45fwXUBZwV5zmnDjnWlJFi_PxrWlmOTNp1Zxu_xZpAYHiAXJq1n1-ocAin_QpJ-6fpYMO_d-Niexy0H8Xfkv7eL17M1rRB0_TM6w8C4VZTw_qo4yMnZdGQJNs3U/s1024/Gen%20f%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="818" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmEHuPSY8Tcv5y4z5UhOB0cTc0yQuEQWNrTSGTs-3Sbjo3M62JZxD-UzMv6ioAswZ45fwXUBZwV5zmnDjnWlJFi_PxrWlmOTNp1Zxu_xZpAYHiAXJq1n1-ocAin_QpJ-6fpYMO_d-Niexy0H8Xfkv7eL17M1rRB0_TM6w8C4VZTw_qo4yMnZdGQJNs3U/w512-h640/Gen%20f%20notes.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5PS0kQ7oVUjUr8qKkyzJOXfr_INL5i_MVY_vyK0xNXHI8-_vMaDsiHMcwDU7_7bONXg4heqGwW3lqatvEYR5-1ok8BpeXEO3JiYdQvbWVa_GD4WCD1UJYxy5FbC7dfbbqyiuzu4OXn-7jJc3DbtJs3NFGtyDpsNV3qZJUubqfWz8dLxEOt1rA9kP3NY/s1393/Labial%20palp%20note.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1393" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5PS0kQ7oVUjUr8qKkyzJOXfr_INL5i_MVY_vyK0xNXHI8-_vMaDsiHMcwDU7_7bONXg4heqGwW3lqatvEYR5-1ok8BpeXEO3JiYdQvbWVa_GD4WCD1UJYxy5FbC7dfbbqyiuzu4OXn-7jJc3DbtJs3NFGtyDpsNV3qZJUubqfWz8dLxEOt1rA9kP3NY/w640-h478/Labial%20palp%20note.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ_18YkH8HYf_HsiWA1aZ9DFznwoLcZfZF2LzyRLi_FMncAh4ebZdW2Q_q4SQ8uK36x_IpeeHNZr12rHtrdzItTD-6XBRej-FEgIPxO76MnvlCv_u8z1oC8EGdIABIHJN83LnB4Fbcb2AGeBz1liGJ3TZ9lmNnv5Kz63e7hd5Ap6z7p-gD-xnGKFQ0M4/s1024/Underside%20hind%20wing%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ_18YkH8HYf_HsiWA1aZ9DFznwoLcZfZF2LzyRLi_FMncAh4ebZdW2Q_q4SQ8uK36x_IpeeHNZr12rHtrdzItTD-6XBRej-FEgIPxO76MnvlCv_u8z1oC8EGdIABIHJN83LnB4Fbcb2AGeBz1liGJ3TZ9lmNnv5Kz63e7hd5Ap6z7p-gD-xnGKFQ0M4/w640-h466/Underside%20hind%20wing%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh6If1LlTanajAacf92Qbf2FWCcyEtnNySBKpBj4skvZoIrQq182KYgXm9B-_kB5pnbNLF7Xvy8kEcHxWNj95CPs46SBmmMxjn5MemZsNh96E7qTzV8r5TCorocnQLMxeVsxYHq8GlqTvMd2Za3nbsR_8cNpl82TdyulVg0Ep9TqjZmIiJCp54vuUhHg/s1024/Copper%20Underwing%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxh6If1LlTanajAacf92Qbf2FWCcyEtnNySBKpBj4skvZoIrQq182KYgXm9B-_kB5pnbNLF7Xvy8kEcHxWNj95CPs46SBmmMxjn5MemZsNh96E7qTzV8r5TCorocnQLMxeVsxYHq8GlqTvMd2Za3nbsR_8cNpl82TdyulVg0Ep9TqjZmIiJCp54vuUhHg/w640-h464/Copper%20Underwing%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copper Underwing.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Also in the trap A Yellow-line Quaker, two LYUs and a Common Marbled Carpet.<p style="text-align: left;">I didn't trap the following night but on the night of the 20th the moor side trap produced, Red-green Carpet, Yellow-lined Quaker, 3; a Canary-shouldered Thorn, Spruce Carpet, Common Marbled Carpet, and a Feathered Thorn, plus another Copper Underwing, another male.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAmHrgJaKZ49qLesqrg_CCXsGNQL8l5iCfbQzKH8UdbInHkNu8Kiahjnh3Jhr4KozKUNHjR3d35PoUz9sT_iuApDDTLAcgKYURBXZkrERLU6dYObjbT4uAADRERa8xNwW_-ff5DiRnnRyP6IzsHI3wBOkgBQ1OGyvjz2th4-B5t8FBzkVOtQCDA5aya4/s1024/Aedegus%20cornuti%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1024" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZAmHrgJaKZ49qLesqrg_CCXsGNQL8l5iCfbQzKH8UdbInHkNu8Kiahjnh3Jhr4KozKUNHjR3d35PoUz9sT_iuApDDTLAcgKYURBXZkrERLU6dYObjbT4uAADRERa8xNwW_-ff5DiRnnRyP6IzsHI3wBOkgBQ1OGyvjz2th4-B5t8FBzkVOtQCDA5aya4/w640-h442/Aedegus%20cornuti%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8ZFESAlnHBhPygmLSw05onDva8RwA5PpFDLHlGp-IpR5f3ISV1PNmtJ014Fmwcd3dSEG6bO7gKxQdKspy9-G2mpVVLzwQcZn9Fe-BoOqwbzH8NY8tFEicHcTx6HtZOQMdb_TOkR2bfqKJLvHOw2sN_7adNC-0o50bFUoCh2u1s39wK8Nga4SGKN8JvY/s2042/Geb%20m%20lateral%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2042" data-original-width="1591" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8ZFESAlnHBhPygmLSw05onDva8RwA5PpFDLHlGp-IpR5f3ISV1PNmtJ014Fmwcd3dSEG6bO7gKxQdKspy9-G2mpVVLzwQcZn9Fe-BoOqwbzH8NY8tFEicHcTx6HtZOQMdb_TOkR2bfqKJLvHOw2sN_7adNC-0o50bFUoCh2u1s39wK8Nga4SGKN8JvY/w498-h640/Geb%20m%20lateral%20notes.jpg" width="498" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhVyMMCvBVt1ZrKjS571xbYhfafb07pzivyemDIH08rZ80bYHhW_9z3FBghFiek4-mV3k14RTryL4mWaY4xo56HvRKQJr9LpJuDWbb1nmfZPhziHoD0L2sP1_G8QXWvgyHzViq5VchrXjhRpmC--4OqvYbdBXeJ2sH2SMf2KjvwgXNKecS6ml_NXQWY4/s1380/Labial%20palps%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="987" data-original-width="1380" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhVyMMCvBVt1ZrKjS571xbYhfafb07pzivyemDIH08rZ80bYHhW_9z3FBghFiek4-mV3k14RTryL4mWaY4xo56HvRKQJr9LpJuDWbb1nmfZPhziHoD0L2sP1_G8QXWvgyHzViq5VchrXjhRpmC--4OqvYbdBXeJ2sH2SMf2KjvwgXNKecS6ml_NXQWY4/w640-h458/Labial%20palps%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqIO0_wD6neihXzRzEAm2XeWoG5Tk6unY7E6gLaVIHwBLrccBACwia9Sp7MO4c8uIylcdsPQjtQIf7j2xDHeZW16pHtxXRJETAgfA3507BJi_Dp89Mm99p-6hCaYXQTiPYVHUg4eO-YuV7FDdUWOy-jlW4al_oIokfC-myMflF7l008DktD1F6LD6qek/s3460/Wings%20m%20notes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2331" data-original-width="3460" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqIO0_wD6neihXzRzEAm2XeWoG5Tk6unY7E6gLaVIHwBLrccBACwia9Sp7MO4c8uIylcdsPQjtQIf7j2xDHeZW16pHtxXRJETAgfA3507BJi_Dp89Mm99p-6hCaYXQTiPYVHUg4eO-YuV7FDdUWOy-jlW4al_oIokfC-myMflF7l008DktD1F6LD6qek/w640-h432/Wings%20m%20notes.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the wings being inconclusive, the other factors allowed identification as <i>A. pyramidea</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8A7RVAWSymVjGlI-R1-pRSLLQOI8YyYWPJSr8uz-iemt_7B7VqoKEpAl2zQBLBhvkgI0tXP9D_fN2kGsURukk6sP1LYhOGTZW4mSmjDWobW7cS7LHZQm_cTEclk2okja9UeDyTx9iaY-hbe7VAHUBv96gFIrBnzE1qZVh44rZ4ApPDUdy7AsdvvTG7I/s1024/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="1024" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8A7RVAWSymVjGlI-R1-pRSLLQOI8YyYWPJSr8uz-iemt_7B7VqoKEpAl2zQBLBhvkgI0tXP9D_fN2kGsURukk6sP1LYhOGTZW4mSmjDWobW7cS7LHZQm_cTEclk2okja9UeDyTx9iaY-hbe7VAHUBv96gFIrBnzE1qZVh44rZ4ApPDUdy7AsdvvTG7I/w640-h474/Canary-shouldered%20Thorn%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canary-shouldered Thorn<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguESdFEgQX1vq-D1aZQbacXJSTnP5EDHlHYrwuAbBWbet4SHZuJCnhkyqulrILczeF0DBo0Grf3LG52LdG-XT2mhWfHig_bhEobqTadzYHWfk264vtsWrh5z3JSlZUwhyC8GIJLq8yNv3H2bmtrdSFvBDdtwiSspBwDyj4AdH2ikdLC8Ia7u7JEleY3S4/s1024/Spruce%20Carpet%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguESdFEgQX1vq-D1aZQbacXJSTnP5EDHlHYrwuAbBWbet4SHZuJCnhkyqulrILczeF0DBo0Grf3LG52LdG-XT2mhWfHig_bhEobqTadzYHWfk264vtsWrh5z3JSlZUwhyC8GIJLq8yNv3H2bmtrdSFvBDdtwiSspBwDyj4AdH2ikdLC8Ia7u7JEleY3S4/w640-h470/Spruce%20Carpet%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spruce Carpet.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-EeYg59tbCg-7uLbCE3hjzHVo5I2pJW9WndEhX2d0c8MnxIdzeQNMDlb7K4faQi-v8YyZOYKkaJDfLwfOUcE7uu3NfHgegIuDAVfl7r0sFCkI8WueavilHZYmyNFMF450b4MMzmILpP1lt6iObJ6PyHMzLeZ-A7Sw_sawJEx5GwzGg45KmaE46saYw8/s1024/Feathered%20Thorn.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1024" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-EeYg59tbCg-7uLbCE3hjzHVo5I2pJW9WndEhX2d0c8MnxIdzeQNMDlb7K4faQi-v8YyZOYKkaJDfLwfOUcE7uu3NfHgegIuDAVfl7r0sFCkI8WueavilHZYmyNFMF450b4MMzmILpP1lt6iObJ6PyHMzLeZ-A7Sw_sawJEx5GwzGg45KmaE46saYw8/w640-h476/Feathered%20Thorn.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feathered Thorn<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF_nU4-y6nY4wwfKHqPsFsGH4PsvkMcAAn4RUFNz9P2QrdJmnhokYkcy7nqHyYFj6aJIyYalfcY2hGGsvqVQ63LVk7GtRZdrc6VXiHLX4YLQeJftJYYGKDnWaVRsozpGKpTMA3qICu_ldkPpWy2U2PXkWq92gp4wyzmNHd0c8BGSw82ej4NbrWuSvTIA/s1024/Yellow-line%20Quaker.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1024" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF_nU4-y6nY4wwfKHqPsFsGH4PsvkMcAAn4RUFNz9P2QrdJmnhokYkcy7nqHyYFj6aJIyYalfcY2hGGsvqVQ63LVk7GtRZdrc6VXiHLX4YLQeJftJYYGKDnWaVRsozpGKpTMA3qICu_ldkPpWy2U2PXkWq92gp4wyzmNHd0c8BGSw82ej4NbrWuSvTIA/w640-h456/Yellow-line%20Quaker.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-line Quaker<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2712147484824828885.post-26495334384641513282023-09-14T16:01:00.006+01:002023-09-14T19:00:41.255+01:00Fossils, not.<p> A very low tide at somewhere we walk fairly often, mooching about on the rocks, looking at life in rock pools. I looked at my feet and I was pretty much standing on these.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0PEJOHuRioTu5GWf83pHp08Mu_AdpSSPwpL9cLcFAi-potIcjSsSNEni9YeZzYjGdnr9YW6t5we4eTF2DdXnFUgGTev4eYdvLl_uplZY5Qx0j2fSKz-UtVwIJQml2AGg95qU6SiHPkEFrrO38EnEzMhtlXHM4wtNWthFb41ny_AsvUA2TiGnCF1Vfs/s1024/Plant%20fossil%201%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1024" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0PEJOHuRioTu5GWf83pHp08Mu_AdpSSPwpL9cLcFAi-potIcjSsSNEni9YeZzYjGdnr9YW6t5we4eTF2DdXnFUgGTev4eYdvLl_uplZY5Qx0j2fSKz-UtVwIJQml2AGg95qU6SiHPkEFrrO38EnEzMhtlXHM4wtNWthFb41ny_AsvUA2TiGnCF1Vfs/w640-h520/Plant%20fossil%201%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ewxYI91iuY_FDQQD9MMS1CydTGjwBkc9SW_HjhKRP0pztaFLyBNhGADMqWFbnAKM_YiJ-BQz8282PsPYfr4isXEnLxnOGB9PgcDiNFdwsLynmli-sjWBADqd3rzCbAHitCKlUJrxy_NSdeW9VST2G1_7VDGbOQrd3JnOliKE7hNDe5HukfKHUpIcts/s1024/Plant%20fossil%203%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1024" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6ewxYI91iuY_FDQQD9MMS1CydTGjwBkc9SW_HjhKRP0pztaFLyBNhGADMqWFbnAKM_YiJ-BQz8282PsPYfr4isXEnLxnOGB9PgcDiNFdwsLynmli-sjWBADqd3rzCbAHitCKlUJrxy_NSdeW9VST2G1_7VDGbOQrd3JnOliKE7hNDe5HukfKHUpIcts/w640-h506/Plant%20fossil%203%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not plant fossils.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I'm very ignorant about such things, geology and paleontology are a mystery to me. However, KF at Stromness Museum knows a thing or two about such stuff so I mailed her. And back came - "I think you have found examples of where the seaweed <i>Desmerestia </i>has
burned the algae (and lichens) off the stones with its sulphuric acid. You see it at
Birsay quite often. There is a science festival talk on seaweed from a
few years back with Andrew Want, Rebecca
Marr etc where they explained it and that's where I learned about it."</p><p>This made a bit more sense to me as I couldn't understand how the "fossils" showed through the lichen <i>Verrucaria maura</i> (Tar Lichen, the black stuff in the images). If you google there are various papers in Research Gate. Interesting and quite beautiful as well.</p><p>What else this week? Well I went twitching. Something I do about once a year. Was it a rare passerine on Papay, or seabirds steaming past NRon? Nope it was this...</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3puF2yee6QynylM6_8t1pTZtGYXE1wK1X0RtOr4VKYAOiQWw2GgjOoilXHrGXkoYoa-I_hlFNBMduDdB3Pub6odWGVwd5Dr-cPpi54zkPR5tWrsUDAY-QOBe7tK_e2rshz63RAPFJgPD7nUoyWXvD_BCeUgPaNMJG0c3oeVOS_WwdO_Zdc_UaP2qu7SE/s1659/Platycampus%20luridiventris%20dorsal.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1659" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3puF2yee6QynylM6_8t1pTZtGYXE1wK1X0RtOr4VKYAOiQWw2GgjOoilXHrGXkoYoa-I_hlFNBMduDdB3Pub6odWGVwd5Dr-cPpi54zkPR5tWrsUDAY-QOBe7tK_e2rshz63RAPFJgPD7nUoyWXvD_BCeUgPaNMJG0c3oeVOS_WwdO_Zdc_UaP2qu7SE/w640-h490/Platycampus%20luridiventris%20dorsal.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Platycampus luridiventris</i>, a sawfly, and a larva at that.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">A smart wee beastie, quite different from most other sawfly larvae and well worth the drive down to Westshore, Burray where it was in BH's garden. The usual hospitality was enjoyed and Louise and I had a tour of the garden, thanks LH. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We also saw another sawfly, <i>Hemichroa crocea</i>, which I'm not sure I've seen previously. It's one of the species where lots of the larvae aggregate. They do this weird synchonised waving, I presume as a defense mechanism.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnbIfmzFClQ2spROCF6-3WjxUPeKgZmyBmuTuEa1WyRkGtqHISov4EZCiKh2mFIjkIT_77Qo1X9G-dOi7yb5xo6TlUV068Y0ern-F2bmCRX88m_OxetRUZn2T2y02RN5QBqHlkOComjuqqIj54iS9trOLhhUawU7d-ZPK93AHn-8whyh3t7hVhPDkMrw/s1024/Hemichroa%20crocea%201.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnbIfmzFClQ2spROCF6-3WjxUPeKgZmyBmuTuEa1WyRkGtqHISov4EZCiKh2mFIjkIT_77Qo1X9G-dOi7yb5xo6TlUV068Y0ern-F2bmCRX88m_OxetRUZn2T2y02RN5QBqHlkOComjuqqIj54iS9trOLhhUawU7d-ZPK93AHn-8whyh3t7hVhPDkMrw/w640-h466/Hemichroa%20crocea%201.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqtxf5u9jiGntQQe8T2KgwM9SwO8eHaqKOrPO7msXMGlwhpgt7O0eon6oEKsxzyG2meQ8D8ZUAF1XfibTWsZHfTVjPHfex1-BzUGtamOWWPnI3neDPMuD9Yq0o_MpnzZkVQfKMKfwvqTzIFUWumyxohPzRd-oAVj83gWVQWfMECMxp4quLWs-Cqy6ta8/s1024/Hemichroa%20crocea%20%202%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqtxf5u9jiGntQQe8T2KgwM9SwO8eHaqKOrPO7msXMGlwhpgt7O0eon6oEKsxzyG2meQ8D8ZUAF1XfibTWsZHfTVjPHfex1-BzUGtamOWWPnI3neDPMuD9Yq0o_MpnzZkVQfKMKfwvqTzIFUWumyxohPzRd-oAVj83gWVQWfMECMxp4quLWs-Cqy6ta8/w640-h466/Hemichroa%20crocea%20%202%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Hemichroa crocea</i>, also on <i>Alnus glutinosa - </i>not the best images, wind and lack of light, my excuse<i>.</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I then had a poke around the roses, which were clearly being, or had been, mauled by something. Eventually, on a nearby Mullein (<i>Verbascum sp</i>) I found this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZgnrzWlyigT0Q1dDoMCTNmWS3tcH23rZOdLBWV3fUKCdTDKYUt45I35ea3DsaHO53pdpXulzsXj2bHEyh5Y-FrK4YUe3nBGsQkyLjr_mp1hU1rO_w6FNywHgdoLshzj-6uySkGpc0_OGfCNtuk23Lv0HNgKoLMgg-gwnen5p3JnJvNr_NoZr77iaaXg/s1024/Pachyprotasis%20rapae%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZgnrzWlyigT0Q1dDoMCTNmWS3tcH23rZOdLBWV3fUKCdTDKYUt45I35ea3DsaHO53pdpXulzsXj2bHEyh5Y-FrK4YUe3nBGsQkyLjr_mp1hU1rO_w6FNywHgdoLshzj-6uySkGpc0_OGfCNtuk23Lv0HNgKoLMgg-gwnen5p3JnJvNr_NoZr77iaaXg/w640-h466/Pachyprotasis%20rapae%20dorsal%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqXVQNTT42B0vQuBdr4CKxxlEnxU-NImeEimlRn8pzjdakD3C_OwdMRssupZdGBY5ChMrf0T54x3SOWdt2OiQX5KtFWO1bKJlUyNHcDzzbwMJFl1hHfWJ0MLrhX9azUMCY-UpwKuvaanv8y6VXj1mK1QeJ3EfFAYtuWrclknKbHrF75hTwiCLcRQdNj0/s1024/Pachyprotasis%20rapae%20ventral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1024" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqXVQNTT42B0vQuBdr4CKxxlEnxU-NImeEimlRn8pzjdakD3C_OwdMRssupZdGBY5ChMrf0T54x3SOWdt2OiQX5KtFWO1bKJlUyNHcDzzbwMJFl1hHfWJ0MLrhX9azUMCY-UpwKuvaanv8y6VXj1mK1QeJ3EfFAYtuWrclknKbHrF75hTwiCLcRQdNj0/w640-h466/Pachyprotasis%20rapae%20ventral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Pachyprotasis rapae</i>, which I have photographed here before as an adult (if you search the blog - box top left - you'll find the pictures).<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>By being a tad too slow I missed photographing a male Vapourer which we noticed on the living room window whilst drinking tea, darn! More on Vapourer in a bit.</p><p>Some days earlier I had visited another garden, going to fetch some moths to dissect. BR lives off grid up a long track, so the RAV4 was employed to make the journey. When we arrived, well, not quite at the house as BR was ringing Meadow Pipits and had his vehicle parked in the road, with a mist net set across the way too. Mist net furled we headed up to the house for tea and a chat. It wasn't a blizzard of Vapourer Moths but there were a lot of them, 30 or 40 flying everywhere. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a settled one to photograph.</p><p>The moths collected, a couple of Ears agg. and a Common Rustic agg.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS12rZ8YjQeCaTPf7wOYm3hg6lCiYMxQAcVkgwtNivj049H2cFW-b3ZKbWUhggle1F2VMYRoefAsDzIfqoPIGOzqsgKNQIuNSoDfUCbt9426b7vm88BAZbvlYoa5r_mhnmZmrMOhg9EzlzOEjwtaGpL1FT9Qko5aAoXeRScgovqVV5TRIwCRDzDn1xoaA/s1024/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20bits%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS12rZ8YjQeCaTPf7wOYm3hg6lCiYMxQAcVkgwtNivj049H2cFW-b3ZKbWUhggle1F2VMYRoefAsDzIfqoPIGOzqsgKNQIuNSoDfUCbt9426b7vm88BAZbvlYoa5r_mhnmZmrMOhg9EzlzOEjwtaGpL1FT9Qko5aAoXeRScgovqVV5TRIwCRDzDn1xoaA/w640-h464/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20bits%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl3OqrXWeSfv9VNpDKpXm2vY2XwyU9ms9A9l8ShPeBUqP7j9PdumgBn8JxYIFOa1vaPYsPLtBTrZpygyFo-pVRWeagvQMHQcv6E0qvPdar1jEO66Dj7hOZWoiyvfyEncOaTrnrEVmj_kU1sL7nhxWejmWzQFN5B7gu--lXS1jPSwVy9M3W7R7WJpGbuE/s1024/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCl3OqrXWeSfv9VNpDKpXm2vY2XwyU9ms9A9l8ShPeBUqP7j9PdumgBn8JxYIFOa1vaPYsPLtBTrZpygyFo-pVRWeagvQMHQcv6E0qvPdar1jEO66Dj7hOZWoiyvfyEncOaTrnrEVmj_kU1sL7nhxWejmWzQFN5B7gu--lXS1jPSwVy9M3W7R7WJpGbuE/w640-h458/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR2BzII5wUcDyR0UAoB6V8cgrmXV_9BbLxFc--Dy9uYYNHO1PMJP5FsufLdIXdtvd7lnmPsi3Uy52bitNY72oQcNIPtFSEAu0UAPv8FRzzoqEG3WN_fxtPwPYmk2ujD4Mro4rJTFmnIP3FmqLJlQuVKSX5G4jPh3AmXcKrq_syBg-P0Uf189jYcZJJVM/s1686/Clasper%20cuccular%20spines%20noted.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1686" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDR2BzII5wUcDyR0UAoB6V8cgrmXV_9BbLxFc--Dy9uYYNHO1PMJP5FsufLdIXdtvd7lnmPsi3Uy52bitNY72oQcNIPtFSEAu0UAPv8FRzzoqEG3WN_fxtPwPYmk2ujD4Mro4rJTFmnIP3FmqLJlQuVKSX5G4jPh3AmXcKrq_syBg-P0Uf189jYcZJJVM/w640-h458/Clasper%20cuccular%20spines%20noted.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Amphipoea lucens</i>, Large Ear, with <i>A.fucosa</i> the spines on the clasper should overlap. However, whether these two are really separate species is questioned. <i>A.fucosa</i> is associated with sand dune and salt marsh habitats, <i>A lucens</i> is more catholic in its habitat preferences.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-aPaRsKgBsE4UV3FY3Jp45L0hlk9F1yYqxUExhTwMOxBS35dvhFyGH1m5cUx5AdAM2O9vZFXaWwXfZxrD4b_4y3-6fW4YWfEF4AOEeRg7T6ItxNW3sIVEb_r5cSQQmj5wxPE-SAR-c6le4iB4dQmZcww3hQH-TJ0tsSxwbH5Wd3AfYOpqBiyK0HVmj8/s1024/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20bits%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1024" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-aPaRsKgBsE4UV3FY3Jp45L0hlk9F1yYqxUExhTwMOxBS35dvhFyGH1m5cUx5AdAM2O9vZFXaWwXfZxrD4b_4y3-6fW4YWfEF4AOEeRg7T6ItxNW3sIVEb_r5cSQQmj5wxPE-SAR-c6le4iB4dQmZcww3hQH-TJ0tsSxwbH5Wd3AfYOpqBiyK0HVmj8/w640-h464/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20bits%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBTLhOnmZsYG5fQyhnPBYUZZ__uhsOTYaul7ieCh1oPCz6mOjgiXAKGkaS7Sx8tOdw9J38Cm2FaZUs3RPlHPjvZAYrEgrswSIT6PBPl4lICWRD4ICWZktdzgNWZQ9qL65UGak1bfSHiJrb68AwB1Nu5RfUZUP6RF3ZUyJ4PpW3FRuz8cecjzv_qpzZ4U/s1024/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1024" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBTLhOnmZsYG5fQyhnPBYUZZ__uhsOTYaul7ieCh1oPCz6mOjgiXAKGkaS7Sx8tOdw9J38Cm2FaZUs3RPlHPjvZAYrEgrswSIT6PBPl4lICWRD4ICWZktdzgNWZQ9qL65UGak1bfSHiJrb68AwB1Nu5RfUZUP6RF3ZUyJ4PpW3FRuz8cecjzv_qpzZ4U/w640-h458/Amphipoea%20lucens%20m%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second <i>Amphipoea lucens</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>I nearly made a mistake with the rustic though. As I almost presumed it was Mesapomea secalis, that's what I was expecting. Fortunately, I dissected out the cornutus and then realised on looking at images on the websites that I'd got a male M. didyma. So of seven or eight dissections I've found two M. didyma, it's clearly much more common than was thought previously.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07A4UjW6jk5w932lJEU17-YTlzcRA5XOOTz78ecGZ1CE6kXSVNGuCu9EtlWkDsuECBDpRDJDd-chImEIOu12FRoLeYAx3OUtqXNk313hp-WzmS8_DGOiC22SUDvmpog06UDsXbBthX00pM50Ufg4QDJr33ox3mpGxthN38LbmCg_Lm7cPuW882j3SUI8/s1650/Mdidyma%20cornutus.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1225" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07A4UjW6jk5w932lJEU17-YTlzcRA5XOOTz78ecGZ1CE6kXSVNGuCu9EtlWkDsuECBDpRDJDd-chImEIOu12FRoLeYAx3OUtqXNk313hp-WzmS8_DGOiC22SUDvmpog06UDsXbBthX00pM50Ufg4QDJr33ox3mpGxthN38LbmCg_Lm7cPuW882j3SUI8/w476-h640/Mdidyma%20cornutus.JPG" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cornutus</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CJxCbXtZoitsEL8fwueGL3lI8XSZD4NZjE2Fd7iyKZ5-IWkhCgptw3H_95Tme16mJEVeq8lYzsleK0ycoM_9AYP6xHLTDXKOMtsZ9mpi0vfh21_KgFtw-SveucXWhv6kZQXJ-Yn_GDLseU17p5lTnh8xNazjYf7QCp_siy4W5v_v8DcGGpti4HkRESc/s1024/Mesapamea%20didyma%20%20m%20bits.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="1024" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CJxCbXtZoitsEL8fwueGL3lI8XSZD4NZjE2Fd7iyKZ5-IWkhCgptw3H_95Tme16mJEVeq8lYzsleK0ycoM_9AYP6xHLTDXKOMtsZ9mpi0vfh21_KgFtw-SveucXWhv6kZQXJ-Yn_GDLseU17p5lTnh8xNazjYf7QCp_siy4W5v_v8DcGGpti4HkRESc/w640-h538/Mesapamea%20didyma%20%20m%20bits.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2yAsEuN2INO9kL9OSU-ix1g8yyh3UmspMWVCkA8DEMUCyaTV-vCCb3DvaX5z3kxc2a653zTvQLnSYGkW3aokjqy6UMktiwz_DgIHZioWrQNKshbq_c36bF51xrh8oYqb7qrP2zv_wrSRgsMXT9FHtI7jzFmOL18jCw6u4dDwEmVeH96mbN02pzBt3Ec/s1392/Mesapamea%20didyma.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1160" data-original-width="1392" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2yAsEuN2INO9kL9OSU-ix1g8yyh3UmspMWVCkA8DEMUCyaTV-vCCb3DvaX5z3kxc2a653zTvQLnSYGkW3aokjqy6UMktiwz_DgIHZioWrQNKshbq_c36bF51xrh8oYqb7qrP2zv_wrSRgsMXT9FHtI7jzFmOL18jCw6u4dDwEmVeH96mbN02pzBt3Ec/w640-h534/Mesapamea%20didyma.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mesapomea didyma</i>.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>On the bird front, the first signs of autumn are with us. This week Grey Wagtail has flown through the garden a couple of times and a female Merlin shot by yesterday afternoon. The Whooper Swan chicks are now nearly as large as their parents. Teal and Mallard have reappeared on The Shunan in numbers with twenties, approaching thirties of each.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCuvEaVTurf2ZeoIKZAKVWH4zaEJ6wy7M2VlZPGW4IjmFd0WFwYaytwdVKMgA6rc6nGw4q3I8aGqrb-U--6kKqggkzRTOAkJYb25LHqoDQKNSDed6Y8en2fsCLzjEcjW3ovOyGYxAXcYgDdJsxrDa_r3YW5iVvKcCaBYNaCWDV3iYZjSWa5Sso49LruI/s1625/Shag%20sandeel1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="1625" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCuvEaVTurf2ZeoIKZAKVWH4zaEJ6wy7M2VlZPGW4IjmFd0WFwYaytwdVKMgA6rc6nGw4q3I8aGqrb-U--6kKqggkzRTOAkJYb25LHqoDQKNSDed6Y8en2fsCLzjEcjW3ovOyGYxAXcYgDdJsxrDa_r3YW5iVvKcCaBYNaCWDV3iYZjSWa5Sso49LruI/w640-h496/Shag%20sandeel1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shag with sandeel, Evie.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>A few autumn moths have put in an appearance, nothing spectacular, just the standard fare of wainscots, Silver Y and Pink-barred Sallow.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfVFMDZrfQney0IckukXH-sWU34Ng9s2yehEVSOLBg0TG7qd3E5GDhGE9ww7D-hA5FrS88kqTDPpGQqQjIa0HRFdejZqCJpEoEte5O0dQcuQpiak2zwqKJnSmXou5T9r6qmqyFfU4hay_h3qBWdv2c1-h71owAGil0Q55ZCny5PKqgNEro1aHh-r_zts/s1672/Double%20Striped%20Pug.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1276" data-original-width="1672" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfVFMDZrfQney0IckukXH-sWU34Ng9s2yehEVSOLBg0TG7qd3E5GDhGE9ww7D-hA5FrS88kqTDPpGQqQjIa0HRFdejZqCJpEoEte5O0dQcuQpiak2zwqKJnSmXou5T9r6qmqyFfU4hay_h3qBWdv2c1-h71owAGil0Q55ZCny5PKqgNEro1aHh-r_zts/w640-h488/Double%20Striped%20Pug.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-striped Pug, a nice surprise.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLeLqEgZQQOJc4CJzH911GRK1eqW4tmUW11YPDkiAiYpjB5esSEY6jw-dqixgJ8CRY3YIC6aTd3ofszfqqCBbKyI5ODpxS0GEm53_C9tAChO_UaTIGIb0qB2AiMtnAq4oaQZ0mWK3Y6UGl1eqLIyZYiaZGSLztExYGqHv42NfHAfNTHKw_EhRnC6Xwoo/s1080/Large%20Wainscot%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1080" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLeLqEgZQQOJc4CJzH911GRK1eqW4tmUW11YPDkiAiYpjB5esSEY6jw-dqixgJ8CRY3YIC6aTd3ofszfqqCBbKyI5ODpxS0GEm53_C9tAChO_UaTIGIb0qB2AiMtnAq4oaQZ0mWK3Y6UGl1eqLIyZYiaZGSLztExYGqHv42NfHAfNTHKw_EhRnC6Xwoo/w640-h488/Large%20Wainscot%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Wainscot.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXmrjLvh4kRR9YhiACjMUVfs9rlCryEDN4I_k3-X3HiYh83RKiyKIdpdDwN50uK1nwg00WPI9FTt1pVlYQ1mhxhD6iVWA3ROLF3abVQYZ3cLO7kKKbpA3dAkIQWn0wlr-KZU4A8GsN6KPh2_LY08tjjOR-3Tp9pxizRxMyMkwralIEfyTKDrgVtjR6b0/s1080/Small%20Wainscot%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1080" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXmrjLvh4kRR9YhiACjMUVfs9rlCryEDN4I_k3-X3HiYh83RKiyKIdpdDwN50uK1nwg00WPI9FTt1pVlYQ1mhxhD6iVWA3ROLF3abVQYZ3cLO7kKKbpA3dAkIQWn0wlr-KZU4A8GsN6KPh2_LY08tjjOR-3Tp9pxizRxMyMkwralIEfyTKDrgVtjR6b0/w640-h488/Small%20Wainscot%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Wainscot.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The most exciting moth of the week escaped before I could photograph it, just as I reached for the camera, it flew over the house and away. I think it was Marbled Beauty, but it was gone.<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">My hunt for additional Calliphoridae species proved successful with a small bluebottle being identified as <i>Protophormia terraenovae</i>. It keyed out pretty well, which was handy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6SH8DoAMpgPnjVY5ql0MBQTnRWGfh6jI_oFRYSDT2X13VLmOUNKs3btbh_M1e8IJTHtD-CoZ4AVy_UEOtUD14WnggfaTSpEn7aqT-CZtDfT0QvsK1b3qjexCbn37aaZKMwVihMAxdjdtFyzO5pQpTaPcrddUeuiEyVuzu5gMkeW0aLY9S7AXIF-wVOw/s1024/Archrostichal%20bristles%20missing%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6SH8DoAMpgPnjVY5ql0MBQTnRWGfh6jI_oFRYSDT2X13VLmOUNKs3btbh_M1e8IJTHtD-CoZ4AVy_UEOtUD14WnggfaTSpEn7aqT-CZtDfT0QvsK1b3qjexCbn37aaZKMwVihMAxdjdtFyzO5pQpTaPcrddUeuiEyVuzu5gMkeW0aLY9S7AXIF-wVOw/w640-h470/Archrostichal%20bristles%20missing%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pre-archostichal bristles absent.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQdEjMl2ZjuwQBgmyjlE23sTb5PNho_HLVi8gEEur5v20TfttKo5OtLtNERTJ5atBhc-Uud6tUZVMYjr72VSPEjjfaARLgxTgxdIKjuQ0nbRdSzMdikjQT-PsCkyAidE-ZZrUOlvhivzAEC0rfbIkkH9AEhx3pbAMg5wH5Az1wnF6PeRORBDEbuyHhTg/s876/Calypters.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="876" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQdEjMl2ZjuwQBgmyjlE23sTb5PNho_HLVi8gEEur5v20TfttKo5OtLtNERTJ5atBhc-Uud6tUZVMYjr72VSPEjjfaARLgxTgxdIKjuQ0nbRdSzMdikjQT-PsCkyAidE-ZZrUOlvhivzAEC0rfbIkkH9AEhx3pbAMg5wH5Az1wnF6PeRORBDEbuyHhTg/w640-h464/Calypters.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypters dark brown, upper one with black hairs.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFlQ0WLh_ElAPK7lPV5UWuS0JUBauJNG69t9kybdJnl0CCTdz9G68ItkMcAx3NRXw_Rf3SrHFkM92FFP5uWvZliJayloX5E2zozsh1nZVxwUwbiHMIons-GISxbYxqldJp2reb2aYiEBmuj6BnTAgu_qab2uPNsNZy6M2j45DT0bx8cz9Tknt6L7q5Wk/s1161/Face%20front.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1161" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFlQ0WLh_ElAPK7lPV5UWuS0JUBauJNG69t9kybdJnl0CCTdz9G68ItkMcAx3NRXw_Rf3SrHFkM92FFP5uWvZliJayloX5E2zozsh1nZVxwUwbiHMIons-GISxbYxqldJp2reb2aYiEBmuj6BnTAgu_qab2uPNsNZy6M2j45DT0bx8cz9Tknt6L7q5Wk/w640-h472/Face%20front.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Face.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxBNRYwTfpxNJnL1WVzSwExIKX89b0gD8lVdGhE5_HfEyHqqalDzzJ6_km6X0rqC4o8h8SyKIobgD8a6pE-zHxfFMNAsOG4OpV4z422C22HAE3xl5uaDhlXyEgr2_65CPJ5pDJaEVo-niUFk0qxzEmsNcN37LElcT4glzHVuSzpooj1WTCAVyAlL9hZw/s1024/Hypopleural%20bristles%20present%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="1024" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxBNRYwTfpxNJnL1WVzSwExIKX89b0gD8lVdGhE5_HfEyHqqalDzzJ6_km6X0rqC4o8h8SyKIobgD8a6pE-zHxfFMNAsOG4OpV4z422C22HAE3xl5uaDhlXyEgr2_65CPJ5pDJaEVo-niUFk0qxzEmsNcN37LElcT4glzHVuSzpooj1WTCAVyAlL9hZw/w640-h470/Hypopleural%20bristles%20present%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hypopleural bristles present.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyob1VPaJOKmrguZacuO7PNCmICAVipkUof7nlUgvmmFqT1hiw6UOUMoXQtxWSrggYU6SBXsVNG4XMvQ09Eb0khAG8ClY0j8vyB29r1gUvE5pP3dZqkivamiu0lPX874U8QGce3w1dsRvr8vgVctJejdvLL3zhuQfwuektCJaQUfLo2X1jOsVAZlTDWBU/s1024/Protophormia%20terraenovae%20lateral%20lo.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="1024" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyob1VPaJOKmrguZacuO7PNCmICAVipkUof7nlUgvmmFqT1hiw6UOUMoXQtxWSrggYU6SBXsVNG4XMvQ09Eb0khAG8ClY0j8vyB29r1gUvE5pP3dZqkivamiu0lPX874U8QGce3w1dsRvr8vgVctJejdvLL3zhuQfwuektCJaQUfLo2X1jOsVAZlTDWBU/w640-h602/Protophormia%20terraenovae%20lateral%20lo.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Protophormia terraenovae</i>, face doesn't extend forwards, body and head 9.7mm, wing 8.4mm.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>First catch your Calliphorid, not especially easy. I've found sneaking up on them with a sample tube to be the best technique.<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Alastairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17129076714821313669noreply@blogger.com2