Odd bits

No garden trapping last night, I anticipated what a waste of time it would have been. After clear skies and a very cold start, today has perked up quite a bit and we've had some bright sunny skies again though not as warm as in the week. I decided to head down the lane using the farm shop to stock up on fat balls as an impetus. Two pairs of Buzzards wheeling overhead, calling Yellowhammer, singing Chiffchaff, yaffling Green Woodpecker and flyover Great Spotted Woodpecker were all noted, but the avian highlight was a single Swallow over low heading north and chattering as it went. I pointed the camera at a few things, and also potted a few bits up to check out.

Every Dandelion flower scrutinised for inverts ..

Found a load of mullein in a gateway that I normally walk past oblivious - hopefully a few Mullein moths will be knocking about if the plants survive any ruthless mowing/destruction by the farmer ..

Shepherd's Purse - tell me if this is not right ..

Small Tortoiseshell - a better shot but a more worn individual

Pretty sure this is Sphaerophoria scripta ..

Aren't Starlings brilliant?

Here's the list from the Launde Park Wood trapping on Friday night - 99 of 14sp.

0663 Diurnea fagella 27
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 2
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 5
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 7
1919 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) 1
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 2
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 14
2185 Lead-coloured Drab (Orthosia populeti) 3
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 8
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 13
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 5
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 8
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 2

Whilst there I found a small black beetle with four orange/brown dots on the elytra - subsequently identified as Glischrochilus hortensis, a new one for me. The blighter just would not pose for a decent photo - this is the best I got (where the beetle is in focus but its antennae and legs aren't).