It’s a pleasure to be up early on a Sunday morning in May to empty the moth trap. Today was peaceful and leisurely and it was good to welocme the first Poplar Hawk-moth of the season, a second Small Elephant Hawk-moth (the first didn’t hang about for its photo) and a Gold Spot (New For Garden). This was a bit of a surprise as their favoured habitat are damp areas where sedges grow. My garden is dry and sandy athough there is a douit at the bottom of the field next door. Hearts and Darts are starting to show in good numbers as are the Shuttle-shaped Darts
A very fresh Poplar Hawk-moth showing lilac tones and just a little of its burgundy patch on its hindwing. These are normally held forward of the forewings which gives it an unusual appearance.
The Small Elephant Hawk-moth has white legs and antennae with striking pink and olive green colouring on its wings any body. The adults visit honeysuckle where it will be well camouflaged.
Tawny Shears – it usually takes me a while to identify this moth although I get quite a few in the trap – not surprising as it comes to Campion and Wood Sage and I have both growing in the garden. The Red Campion can get a bit out ouf hand but it really helps to knit the other plants together, is easily removed if it’s in the wrong place, and is great for pollinators.
The surprise? Two hedgehogs! Up to last night only one was showing. The second one was unsure so I wonder if this was his/her first visit. I stopped feeding last July as rats were visiting. I no longer scatter the food for the hogs to forage, but put it well inside their house. I only ever put down a small amount as a top up. The water bowl has clean water every day and is also appreciated by the garden birds – even after one of the hogs stepped into it backwards.
Natural history of the Bailiwick of Guernsey 