Autumn has arrived

There was a Greenshank over the other day but today produced a juvvy Crossbill (nearly collided with me whilst I was doing the moths), a Siskin, and a Whimbrel over (and more Whimbrel later), mind you the Snipe was still drumming from the Shunan.

On the moth front nothing much new, the Pinion-streaked Snout from the other day was the best of the bunch recently although the two plumes that I've asked for help with may yet turn up trumps.

I've caught and photographed a few hemipterans recently and with help have a couple of identifications, this one is the Potato Capsid, Closterotomus norwegicus.

I've just finished reading The Forensic Record Society by Magnus Mills. For anyone unfamiliar with Magnus there is an interview with him here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ksc8s
Very funny and very clever. I got a hardback copy, wonderfully produced as well.

You can tell I'm on holiday, I find it very hard to read for pleasure during term time. Now embarking on a playscript All My Sons as daughter No1 has to read it for her Advanced Higher English, anyway Arthur Miller has always been one of my favourite playwrights.

Oooops

 Drama at the bottom of the track, if I'd looked up I would have seen it happen.

The farm soon sorted it out though.

 

 Cheilosia illustrata

 Hemipteran to be identified - Leptopterna ferrugata (see comments below, thanks Gibster)
Female, (part-winged) so 2nd antennal segment broader than base of front tibia, which seems correct.

After midnight looking north

Garden

Home from the Arran hols and mothing straight away. (A decision to post on here what may, a month is a long break.) This is a bit of a disjointed post already.

 Some for a crumble and some for the freezer.

Herbs and salad, the herbs went into herb baps to go with lasagne.

Quite likely a Brown Plume, getting it checked.

A favourite of mine, Gothic.

Eucosma campoliliana, a smart wee micro.

Arran was excellent for insects, quite a few NFM moths, hopefully I will get around to posting some things on here. Great views of Badger, Otter and Red Squirrel - one Pine Marten on the Scottish mainland, sadly a road casualty, I must make the effort to see a live one. A Weasel whilst we were broken down for nearly three hours on the way north again (many thanks to the technician from Stag Garage who finally got to us, via a traffic accident down the road, and provided a patch up which just about survived all the way home) and a brilliantly acrobatic pod of Common Dolphin by the Old Man of Hoy as we finally got here again.

All sorts of Arran photos to post, perhaps I'll make an Arran page....

 From the garden this evening.