The Third Wave

The temperature is up to around 28 C today and set to rise to around 30 C over the next few days marking the third heat wave this year (I missed the first one that caused the epic insect migration including record numbers of Eastern Bordered Straws). This one is more of a slow build rather than a sudden wave as it's been high pressure and warm for a couple of weeks. 

Have spent the last couple of days round the lodge doing paperwork and garden work. Highlight was a Little Ringed Plover flying around calling yesterday morning- a garden tick. Unfortunately no sign of any significant moth migration round here during this heat wave. There have been over 50 Small Mottled Willows recently but these are probably a generation of adults from earlier migrants as not associated with other migrants.  128 species last night of a few hundred individuals so a nice selection. 

Matt is in today doing the meadows, its been several weeks since his last visit due to various reasons and things got a bit too wild so good to get things under control again.

Sallow Clearwing was a lifer. Attracted to lure recently aquired from ALS. Also got Dusky Clearwing lure but no luck yet. Now on 676 for the garden. I think Sallow Clearwing is a new species for the Selsey Peninsula as no records shown HERE. 

Drinker was one of the other moth highlights- a NFY. Now 413 for the year. 

Dog's Tooth- a bit of local speciality.

Lots of Common Rustic agg at the moment which seemingly each one being uniquely patterned. This was one of the more extreme variants.

Despite it being early July, been getting a few autumn moths including Six-striped Rustic (above), Square-spot Rustics and Canary-shouldered Thorn.

Variable Tortrix, Acleris hastiana (according to obsidentify)

Green-viened White. Lots of butterflies enjoying our meadows, hedges and butterfly borders at the moment with Green-viened, Small and Large Whites, Red Admiral, Peacocks, Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Brown Argus, Common Blues, Small Coppers, Small/Essex Skipper, Commas and the odd Painted Lady. 

Common Blue

There are hundreds of insects on the Wild carrot and Lovage. This Javelin wasp was striking. Mostly Red Soldier and Thick-thighed Beetles but lots of solitary bees, sawflies and true flies too. 339 pan speices recorded now HERE. 

Had four moth traps out last night, from left to right, the actinic Heath trap, the Lepiled, the MV Robinson and the twin-actinic Robinson. I had them spaced out around the garden but brought here for processing. 

In the two years we've been here it's been great seeing all the hedges, meadows, borders and garden wildlife population growing. Meanwhile these two wildlings are also growing well- Isaac trying out his new school uniform with a taster session of 'big school' with his brother.