Drowning

I'm properly struggling with trying to get back to a normal work-life balance. I was intending to ease myself back into work, but three weeks in and my innate desire to have everything 'right' has almost tipped me right into a work-work mentality and I'm drowning. I've barely had time to log on to the home PC, let alone get out and do anything. I've been feeling knackered when I do get home, and given that the conditions have improved I've been compelled to run the garden light trap more which means earlier starts compounding the fatigue. I'm not complaining, I needed to get back into working for a living and I will, eventually, strike a balance and make time for R&R.

In the meantime, I did manage to get out into the square and find lots of stuff at the weekend, and as mentioned the light trap has started to produce some proper diversity - both lepidopteran and 'bycatch'. But I'm not going to offer anything like a comprehensive roundup, or even half-arsed summary. I'll share a few photos now, and I'll make some effort to get my records and lists up to date over the weekend.

Toadflax Brocade

Rhinocyllus conicus - swept from Spear Thistle

Epinotia bilunana

Ptinus sexpunctatus - light trap

Scorched Wing

Bordered Shieldbug - found by chance in garden

Rustic Shoulder-knot

Magdalis armigera - uncooperative individual swept from Ulmus sp.

Broken Barred-carpet

Orange Ladybird

Flame Carpet

Red-necked Stint, River Warbler etc etc - no intention of driving all over the shop for year ticks. Sulphur-bellied Warbler - meh.

Lazy

A quick post today, a bit of a lazy pre-meat aperatif. Not been anywhere and not intending to do anything other than fire up the barbie, enjoy the evening and crack open some bottles of Doombar. Oh, and then fire up the moth trap.

First up though, I spotted and potted this beetle yesterday and although I recognised it I checked it out. I then realised that whilst I recognised it, and think I've seen it before, it's not on my list so happy days!

Poecilus cupreus

There were a couple of these in the moth trap last night, though they can't be taken to species from a photo ....

Psallus varians sl

And otherwise here's a few moths taken over the last few days ....

Maiden's Blush

Siver-ground Carpet

Heart and Dart - first of the year was abberant, and I've had three or four like this over the week

Scorched Wing

Freyer's Pug

Small Phoenix

Coronet

Hell, I can't even be arsed to think of a musical interlude that matches the post.

One for the Treble

The garden traps were, relatively, bulging this morning after a humid and overcast night. Luckily the cat woke me up at around 4:30 so I managed to go through them before the pair of Robins that have been knocking around. For the first time this year (I think) I ran both the synergetic combo and a 125W MV, with the former knocking the spots off of the latter. To be honest I don't think I'll bother running two traps much this year; the usual spot for my MV is now too sheltered with an overhanging sallow from next door. We're likely to get the garden sorted this year so I'll try and factor in a new trap spot during that.

Thought I had a garden tick with Treble Lines in the synergetic trap, but on checking I found I'd had one before in May 2009. Other highlights were an Alder Moth (a garden tick last year) and the 6th garden records and individuals for both Treble-bar and Maiden's Blush.

I'm quite possibly the only moth recorder in Leics. that is glad the conditions haven't held today. It's still warm and overcast but it's also very windy and wet. I've got an early start for work so no trap tonight.

Here's a selection of rushed shots.

Treble Lines - one of two

Alder Moth

Treble-bar (note protruding claspers helpfully confirming male of this species)

Peppered Moth

Scorched Wing

Cherry Bark Moth

Ne ne nana new new ....

A garden tick from Thursday night .......

Cochylis nana - the 668th moth, 356th micro and 105th tortrix for the garden

And here's a few from last night. I've found it quite therapeutic getting back into moth photography, especially now I've got an indoor set-up I'm getting more comfortable with.

Sandy Carpet

Clouded Border

Eudonia mercurella

Figure of 80

Scorched Wing

Cherry Bark Moth - now annual after the first in 2013

Seraphim

These are the 4th and 5th individuals for the garden, and the first time I've had more than one in a night/year. I had one last year whilst on a blogging and photography, and mentioned the first two here.

From the garden trap, 30/05/2009

Similar numbers to the previous night. Total catch 87 of 42sp. (125W MV 40 of 25sp., 80W actinic 47 of 30sp.) First for year in garden: Bucculatrix nigricomella 1 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana) 1 Bramble Shoot Moth (Epiblema uddmanniana) 1 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1 Scorched Wing (Plagodis dolabraria) 1 Miller (Acronicta leporina) 1 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1 Highest counts (>5): Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 14 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 6 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 6 Scorched Wing - a superb looking moth Brown Silver-line - a real garden rarity here (first one since July 2001), though very common in the right habitat (feeds on bracken) Miller - very nice