Still Around

Not had a chance to do much lately; busy at work, back into hospital for another op (last one I hope) and then some indifferent weather. So not a lot to report, but I have managed to pull in some new for garden moths ... although only one of them looked nice!

Tree-lichen Beauty - 29/07/2019

Still a good rarity in VC55, first was recorded last year and there was one this year prior to mine in Rutland. First time I've recorded it anywhere, though I have seen one before when we trapped in Suffolk and one was taken up the road.

Also a couple of NFG micros, but neither were very attractive!

A moribund Small China-mark - 16/07/2019

A worn Eana incanana - 16/07/2019, with one even less well marked the night before

Aside from running the moth trap, I've been attracting a range of species to rotting fruit and sugar, as well as to my pathetically small garden buddleija. But mainly I've been luring Old Ladies.

17/07/2019

22/07/2019

03/08/2019

A walk down the lane on Sunday brought a few expected larvae, and an unexpected orthopterid .....

Various instar Small Ranunculus on Prickly Lettuce

A load of Cinnabar on one Common Ragwort plant that they'd stripped

Never seen Roesel's Bush-cricket anywhere near here before

Aside from all that I've been setting up and getting to grips with a new family PC, almost exactly nine years since the last time I went through this. Of course that means having to accept the inevitable Windows 10, but so far all good and I've got all my software working (including MapMate, a new version of Photoshop Elements, my USB microscope, and I've got all my music and synth software working). It's not the best on the market but the best for a reasonable price; 2.9GHz hex-core 9th gen i5 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, 2TB HDD, more USB ports than I know what to do with. Should last the best part of another decade ..... perhaps!

Anyway. I'm back up to full physical functionality just in time for a beer n balti night at the T20 blast cricket tomorrow and the start of the Premier League at the weekend.

Recent Random Stuff

Parent Bug on Silver Birch, Abbey Park, 12/08/2012

Birch Shieldbug nymph, Abbey Park, 12/08/2012

Balclutha punctata, attracted to the garden moth trap on 13/08/2012

Linnavuoriana sexmaculata, again attracted to the garden moth trap on 13/08/2012

Pinalitus cervinus, making a trio of bug ticks from the garden moth trap on 13/08/2012

Brown Hawker, lots of these around at Watermead CP South on 14/08/2012

Roesel's Bush Cricket, Watermead CP South, 14/08/2012

Helophilus trivittatus, Watermead CP South, 14/08/2012

Nettle-leaved Bellflower, Watermead CP South, 14/08/2012

and finally, a full blown micro tick for me from the garden - Blastodacna atra which I initially mistook for being an odd Momphid. Currently trying to determine the actual status of this species in VC55, though certainly no VCH records or specimens in the county collection.

Fungi and Forgotten

As I quickly surveyed the garden lawn this evening and contemplated getting the mower out, I noticed an odd orange shape in the grass. A closer look revealed it to be a smallish toadstool, though it appears that one of the kids (or their football) found it first as it was snapped off at the base and tipped over. It was a gonner anyway as I did mow the lawn.

Anyway, I'm no expert but after reference to my newly acquired spotters guide (Collins Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe) I think this is probably Hygrocybe nigresecens which appears to be mildly poisonous.

I used the family happy-snappy Cybershot to get the above, and when I browsed the memory card on the PC I found a few images from the Birdfair back in August that I'd completely forgotten about - including more fungi that despite reference to the book I have no idea about (LBJs of the fungal world I guess).

Also found this on the card which I've just realised is (one-legged) Roesel's Bush-cricket ...

Whilst I'm uploading images, here's the Blair's Shoulder-knot from the last garden trap outing.