Birthday Birds

 

yellowhammer

beautiful skies

kestrel

fieldfare

Waxwings

 

Here's a bird I've wanted to see all my life. Finally caught up with a flock in Oswestry.

More Cool Fungus, plus Snipe and a Stoat

 

Very recently dead stoat, unmarked.

Honey fungus surrounding a tree.

Stinkhorn

Dead Moll's Fingers

Lots of snipe at Venus Pool.

Some Cool Fungus

 

waxcap

pestle puffballs?

fly agaric

candle snuff

purple jelly disc

amethyst deceiver

common earthball

Woodmouse in the Garden

 

Merveille du Jour

 

Had to pop back to show off this tremendous green moth, a Merveille du Jour. Having never seen one before, I suddenly had three in my trap last night, together with 5 other new species.

In the centre pic are two Red-green Carpets, superbly camouflaged.

End of Season Moth Round-up

 

Coxcomb Prominent

Lime Hawk and Eyed Hawk moths

Silver Ys and an Angle Shades

Centre-barred Sallow

Small Blood Vein

Hummingbird Hawk moth

Maiden's Blush

August Thorn and Purple Thorn

Small Yellow Wave and Mint moth

Purple Thorn and Poplar Hawk

Canary-shouldered Thorns

A Pebble prominent, well-camouflaged in the top pic.

Eyed Hawk

It's been a stunning year for moths in our garden, something I put down to the fact we turned 3/5 of our garden over to wildflowers. I've had six species of Rustic, five of the Prominents, four types of Thorn, and three different Wainscots plus a lot of firsts like the Small Elephant Hawk moth, the Hummingbird Hawk, the Eyed Hawk and the Lime Hawk. Many Angle Shades, too. I will do the same next year, so let's see if the trend continues!

Meanwhile, this blog will go into semi-hibernation over the winter, as usual. See you in the Spring.