The good news is that last night was the best moth night so far this year. On previous nights, the number of species had just about crept into double figures. This morning, I had 29, 7 were new to the garden and 14 were new for the year which was quite a haul. The bad news was that I didn’t have time to take photos as I was off to help Lesley and Trevor Bourgaize with a Nature Guernsey day. I knew if I tried to identify the moths it would take me all morning so I put the egg cartons into a holding cage which went into the boot of the car. Trevor was able to reel off the IDs which I scribbled into my book. I noticed a Swallow Prominent in with everything else and have chosen a photo from last year to head up the blog.
The Portland Ribband Wave was new for the year for myself and Trevor. The Lime-speck Pug was the first I’d seen this year.
There were two Pale Tussock moths – very handsome and furry grey but sadly no photo. One other which escaped the camera was the Peppered Moth – a striking good-sized moth, speckled black and white. I just hope that last night was not a flash in the pan and I will have the opportunity to photograph some of these over the summer.
It won’t be tomorrow as I’m off to Herm as a volunteer to help a study of habitat for possible breeding sites for Manx Shearwater. I moved some furniture a few days ago and my back is feeling rather tender – not helped by the steep steps at the Silbe which we visited this morning as part of the Nature Guernsey day. I hope I shall feel a bit more limber tomorrow. Photos will follow.
Natural history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey 