WARM FOR MOTHS

The hot weather continued through Wednesday 7th, providing ideal conditions for many insects such as this colourful six-spot burnet moth feeding on a knapweed flower in the country park. These flowers have been a magnet for the burnet moths, growing in a handful of spots amongst the long grass.


This hot spell is turning the grass brown with the yellow flowers of the ladies bedstraw clumps providing a bit of colour in one or two places in the park. At the moment anything that is yellow or bright white is being set upon by masses of tiny black pollen beetles, as in the picture above.

There's not been much to report about birds at the park over the last few days. The nightingales have been calling to each other regularly at times but usually staying deep inside bushes. On the pond the two pairs of little grebes are both busy feeding their young chicks, while the lone cygnet is still being kept company by the two adults. A pair of tufted duck is the only other bird of interest other than the mallards, coots and moorhens.

On the grazing field pools, at least ten lapwing have been present along with the redshank family, whose chicks are nearly adult sized. Unfortunately a crow was seen to attack a presumed lapwing chick, which was then stolen by a fox which dashed out from the nearby hedge to snatch it.

There are still 50 sand martins circling over the cliff but a further 70 birds have been flying around the grazing fields and also swooping back and forwards over the sea on one occasion.


This privet hawkmoth came to the moth-trap over Tuesday night. Although the wings looked as though they were showing signs of being worn, the pink banding on the abdomen still seemed clear enough. This privet hawk was the first one to be recorded at the trap this summer.



The buff arches pictured above, has the rather unusual markings which include masses of intricate lines on the wings. There seemed a good showing of buff arches a week ago when about 25 were noted one night.


This striking dot moth caught the eye with its near black colouration and the bright white dot on each wing. The moth is a widespread moth being recorded each year here although only with one or two individuals being noted.