02 August - Muston moths

Minimum temp 12.0 Centigrade
Number of moth species 40
Total number of moths 89

This is a lifer for me, a micromoth called
Agapeta hamana. It is fairly common throughout most of Britain, where it lives on waste ground and other places where the foodplant, thistle (Carduus spp.) is found.


New for the year was a blood-vein, a rosy rustic, a magpie and a lesser yellow underwing.

Rosy rustic (Hydaecia micacea)
This is a common moth in August to September, occuring throughout Britain in gardens, fields, hedges and open woods. It is usually this colour but can vary.

Dipleurina lacustrata
This micromoth is found between June and July in open country.

Acleris forsskaleana
Another micomoth which is common in July and August is this striking one. It is only 15mm.

Large yellow underwing (Noctua pronuba)
The commonest moth at the moment, these photos show the variation in the species.

02 August - End of Muston scarecrow festival

It's finished!

This was meant to be humpty dumpty but some thief took the star off the wall on the first day - how sad some humans (?) are! Two youths were caught vandalising another exhibit - playing football with the head of one of the calves off the green. Luckily they were frightened off by one of the farmers and the calf was reassembled so no-one could tell.

Just this evening we witnessed some children 'playing' with the above display. Their parents stood and watched. Parents should teach their children to respect others property - what hope have they in life if they are not taught standards now?

01 August - Field near Burton Fleming

One of my current projects is to photograph the local farmland, so in between showers I was to be found in this field listening to a quail singing it 'wet my lips' song. As usual it didn't show itself though.