A day at the lodge

It was another blistering day. The temperature got up to 30 C this afternoon so I decided to spend the day tidying up the garden and getting a bit of paperwork done. I was in London working yesterday but managed to get back in time to view the eclipse. What with the blistering heat, regional wildfires, all the doomsters on the internet and now an eclipse- it's all rather biblical out there.  

102 species in the moth traps last night so clearly this heatwave is boosting moth diversity. Highlights included Large Thorn and Flounced Rustics which were NFYs with a nice selection of migrants including another Silver-spotted Veneer and a Scarce Bordered Straw. There were 5 Rosy Knot-horns and a cracking Clouded Buff (by day in the grass) so looks like moths are dispersing from the chalk grasslands.

Did a bit more on looking for garden inverts today with a few new interesting species. Latest obs HERE. Now on 388 species on this front. 

The garden birdlife has been pretty elusive and quiet- laying low in the heat presumably. A Yellow Wagtail over the garden during the eclipse was about the best thing. 

Clouded Buff- a nice moth to have flying around in the meadow during the day. Also a few Silver-Ys in the meadows. 

Holly Blue- a few of these along the edges. Also Small, Large and Green-viened Whites, Peacocks, Red Admirals, Comma and a couple of Painted Ladys around.

Large Thorn

Silver-spotted Veneer- unrecorded here previous to this year and this must be the sixth or seventh now

Dog's Tooth- a bit of a garden speciality

This Common Sedge-sawfly was the highlight on the invert hunts

Blackberry seasons means plenty of Blackberry crumble. Holly is also using the Elderberries this year for crumble and syrups. Good times. 

Managed to get a nice view of the partial eclipse yesterday evening by using Kyle's welding mask but the phone camera failed to pick up any detail.