The week that was at the Old Vic

It's been pretty steady here over the last week. Lots of Chiffchaffs in the garden this morning, Ebird list HERE and a few Mips going over. Grey Wagtails are daily again and it looks like the local hirundines may have moved out. Tawny Owl and Barn Owl from the noc-mig recently and a female Tawny Owl was calling at dusk and I actually saw it (only about the third time I've actually seen the resident Tawny Owls). The garden year bird list is stuck on 63 (all time 96). 

Once again it was the moths that stole the show with a stunning Convolvulus Hawkmoth this morning, another Delicate, Clifden Nonpariels and some lovely Sallows. The garden year moth list is now on 449 (all time still 633).

The biggest news this week from here was the buyer has pulled out of the sale so it looks like we might be heading into the Winter Economic storm aboard the Old Vic. House prices are falling at their fastest rate since 2009 according to the Halifax, interest rates currently at 20 year highs (on unprecedented loan sizes) could well go up again next week, Environmental authoritarianism is due to be rolled out even more (through the new Energy Bill and mandatory EPC ratings etc), there is still talk of a looming recession and from the result of the surveys etc of the Old Vic it looks like there's quite a bit of modernisation which is necessary. So instead of one set of problems i.e. sitting out the storm in rental and hoping the banks don't all crash again we've got a different set of problems- paying the taxes and costs of keep living here. Certainly not many better places to be trapped than here so not too disappointed and if the Global Unsustainable Economy does decide to implode this winter (like it did in 2008) or another set of Pandemic/Lockdowns/Carbon Totalitarianism restrictions are rolled out- we've got our self sufficiency and off grid capabilities up and running already.  It's actually probably safer here all tied up in land and bricks rather than on the rental road with piles of cash that could get restricted. So all good really. 

Convolvulus Hawkmoth- only the second record for the garden 

Nice to get a brace of these- Clifden Nonpariels 

Sallow- NFY

Pink-barred Sallow- NFY

Centre-barred Sallow- been up to 15 or so a night of these 

Frosted Orange is another gorgeous autumn moth- up to 4 of these a night. Also Deep Brown Dart has now appeared on the scene, Black Rustics are increasing as are Lunar Underwings and Brown Spot Pinions. No Bearded Chestnuts yet. Large Yellow Underwing is still the most numerous species alongside Setaceous Hebrew Character, Willow Beauty, Square-spot Rustic and smaller numbers of Vine's Rustic, Common Wainscot and Pale Mottled Willow. 

Delicate- the third one this year. Despite two excellent migrants last night (Convolvulus Hawkmoth and this Delicate) there was no supporting cast - no Silver-Y, Rusty-dot Pearl, Diamond-back moths, Rush Veneer etc. To be honest I wasn't expecting much last night as it got pretty cool and regionally the moth migration has dropped off. 

I went for Grey Pine Carpet on this but not sure (could be a Spruce Carpet) 

Rhomboid Tortrix- get one or two a year around now of these. Also had another Carnation Tortrix this week. 

Speckled Bush Cricket- a few of these around. Also had a cricket chirping from the compost pile recently- sounded more like a house cricket.