Yatton Moth Trapping : Mid August weekend part 2

 As if Saturday's trip out to West Somerset and a wildflower field wasn't enough, at 8.30 am on Sunday I found myself driving the 8 miles or so to a friend of mine's garden in North Somerset, where, despite the rain and the wind the evening before, a moth trap had been set up the previous night. 

Higgy (for he is a man of one name) had long been trying to organise a moth trapping event for the local conservation group YACWAG (Yatton And Congresbury Wildlife Action Group) of which he is a member. This planning had been going on for weeks, but with the recent run of wet and windy weekends all attempts to fire up the moth trap had been cancelled. However this weekend despite the weather forecast being at best 'iffy' Higgy informed me the trap would be lit and come-what-may it is going ahead so come to the garden at 9am when all will be revealed. I arrived at ten to 9 in the morning, the only person at that point.

Now, I have been to moth trapping set ups before but in every case I'd been there for work. Fascinating though they were at the time, I was there to record radio programmes so having to concentrate on that I always left having absolutely no idea what I'd seen. This then would be my very first participation moment for the reveal, and I wasn't disappointed, though as 9am came and went for a while I feared no one else would turn up.

Higgy's garden is a wildlife haven - the width of a 1960's house, the garden is long, and beyond the fence he also owns a slice of the field at the back. In fact this is where YACWAG are interesting, as not only are they an excellent conservation group who run events, provide advice and can undertake surveys, but YACWAG own parcels of land around the two villages in North Somerset and once in their ownership that land is managed solely for wildlife. That alone makes it a remarkable local conservation organisation.

Not only had the trap been set up the night before but Higgy had been up since first light emptying the trap and placing examples of the 283 individual moths caught that night into specimen tubes and arranging them for us to peer at.  It was now well after 9am and I was still the only person and that made me feel sad for Higgy over the work and effort he'd put in, but eventually we swelled to a group of 4 other plus his daughter who was asked to be chief moth releaser, as all moths were released once identified. Enough people really otherwise it would become unwieldy, and as a group we set to flicking through the books and listening to Higgy's hints and tips while gazing manically at an as yet unidentified brown moth in a specimen tube. 

Some I recognised immediately like this Jersey Tiger [Euplagia quadripunctaria]. This year has been phenomenal down south for these fabulous looking moths, who seem to be exploding northwards due to climate changes. Five were caught overnight, which is interesting given they are a day flying moth. We quickly got through the easy ones, elephant hawk-moth, box bush moth, and then came the difficult ones. I was hopeless, and at one point resorted to Google Lens to identify a moth. I may end up being ex-communicated for that, but I was intrigued to see how accurate it was - as it turned out 100% and in less than 2 seconds. Impressive. But that's why I'd come, to learn. Everyone was helping each other while helping themselves to scones or flapjack made by Higgy's wife. There were far too many moths to photograph but my particular highlights were....

Uncertain moth [Hoplodrina octogenaria] - 45 caught overnight. What a beast to identify for a beginner. Scanning the books there are about a 100 near identical moths. [Update - this is a Common rustic agg. Thanks Stewart - turns out this is also how it was identified on the day - I messed up with my notes] 

Grey Dagger - [Acronicta psi] - 3 caught overnight. I loved this moth, don't think I've seen it before but its markings just say its name.  I've long loved moth names, they're so flamboyant.

Flame Carpet - Xanthorhoe designata - just the one caught overnight and it took us a good 30 minutes to work out what it was. There are so many similar species, it's going to be a while before I get my knowledge, and eye in.

Now this was my all time favourite of the day - Gold Spot - [Plusia festucae ] of which 11 were caught overnight. What a moth with it's triceratops looking shoulder plate, and burnished gold spots, it was like an art deco jewel. Loved it.

These two were interesting - I identified them as September Thorn - [Ennomos erosaria] on the right and a Dusky Thorn - [Ennomos fuscantaria] on the left. Just one of each caught overnight but Higgy was impressed I worked out they were different species of thorn moth, which is why they're photographed next to the book. In a later write up of the day for the YACWAG group I get a mention..

" I should mention Andrew J Dawes who is now my official 'September Thorn Moth & Dusky Thorn Moth' expert!"

Which fails to recognise that next week if I saw anything like this I'd fail to even recognise it as a thorn spp.

Now this beauty had us all foxed, I could see Higgy enjoying our discomfort of scratching heads and endless flicking through the identification books. After many attempts (and more than a little help) we finally got to Setaceous Hebrew Character - [Xestia c-nigrum] of which 12 were caught. Another stunning moth. I was getting quite into this.

And finally this one had us all completely stumped. Eventually we gave up and Higgy let us know that it was a Swallow Prominent - [Pheosia tremula] of which there were 2 caught. A lot of discussion took place over whether this was actually a Scarce Swallow Prominent, and in the end why it wasn't, none of which I remember writing this. 

But what a fabulous morning, three hours in the end and what I didn't realise until later was this event was being run as part of a YACWAG's "wellness-walks programme" aimed at getting people out into nature. Well we certainly did get involved and I absolutely loved it. In total 53 species were identified, which Higgy mentioned was quite low for his garden due to the weather, he can regularly collect 400 individuals and near 100 species. Amazing really from a garden that is no bigger than a cricket wicket. 

After everyone had gone Higgy and I had a chat and he invited me back one night to see the trap running and identify the moths as they come in, while having a few beers. Now that sounds like a good moth trapping experience to me. I can't wait.

YACWAGS website  https://yacwag.org.uk/

Chipping away at the weekend.

Well what can I say. Who is this fine figure of a man in fetching garb? Notice the chiseled good looks, the racing snake physique. Improvement will be impossible I'd say. The epitome of man in human form. But I digress. So dear reader, please relax for a while as further derring-doo into this wayward movement into sartorial elegance will be later in this posting.

Before that a plethora of activity on the birding and moth front. Saturday morning saw me with a few hours to fill, as Julie had gone to a walk plus pub lunch near Calne. So I popped into Hungerford, via the country lanes around this part of East Wiltshire.

I like this part of Wiltshire. Big dramatic skies over unspoilt agricultural land. A landscape which undulates as if with the breeze as it flows and ebbs over the chalk uplands and into the greensand lowlands below. Pastoral southern England at its finest. And on Saturday morning it was breezy and fresh, dramatic clouds scudded across azure blue skies in patterns of movement only nature can conjure up with so little effort, but so much emotion.

I'd hardly driven a mile of so when out of my eye, I spied 3 birds of prey using the wind as a thermal balance, near to Wilton Windmill. I knew instantly what they were but got out of the car to check anyway; three red kites. Sadly as I didn't have my camera with me, just my blackberry, no photos, even after watching them for over 10 minutes gliding and soaring around the aforementioned windmill. It was while watching these that a male bullfinch also popped into view. A good start to my shopping trip.

On the way back from Hungerford, another red kite hoved into view over these fields not far from the village of Great Bedwyn. I love watching red kites as their tail manoeuvres in the wind while they elegantly flap and glide on the updraft. My guess for what it is, is that this red kite was one of those seen earlier at Wilton a few miles away, but who can tell? While watching the kite, a male yellowhammer sang its "little bit of cheese" song from a hawthorn, a female kestrel hovered over the field, a chiffchaff and a large flock of blue, great and long tail tits flitted back and forth amongst the conservation headland and finally 3 linnets twet tewwet'd across my line of vision.

That was the afternoon. Later that same day, Julie returned from her exploits and I offered to create something interesting with a packet of vegetarian mince, a brambly apple and some custard. I make no apologies for the following photograph, save that it was taken along with much mirth by a blackberry wielding female. It's slightly blurred, as Wiltshire's answer to Heston Blumenthal could not remain still, so much to do, so little time to do it!! So I whizzed and hurtled spoons and whisks across the kitchen to produce a vegetarian lasagne, with wholemeal bechemel sauce, followed by apple and blackberry crumble, and sadly sans wine, as we'd drunk it all on Friday. Geordie men are renowned for their tough northern lifestyles, a lifestyle which would exclude any domestic activity, and a true Geordie would never be seen in the kitchen wearing an apron - sadly 17 years living down south have softened me to a remnant of my hard man image .... there is no going back now..... the shame of it all.....!!

Following the meal, we went for a little drivette. The sole reason of this was for me to show Julie the shortcut back to our house I'd taken on Friday evening, which resulted in an additional 8 miles being driven trying to save time (please no comments about men and map reading). But it was a lovely view though, both ways. The sun was far too bright for a picture the other way, so just this view, this time.

And as we came back towards the village, the sun set and one last photo on the blackberry. Readers may be interested to know I have now located my camera and so slightly better photos should follow on the blog from now on (the camera was in my work bag - had been there for 3 weeks and I couldn't find it!)

Later that night leaving the lights on in the house, we had a Silver Y, a Willow Beauty and a common wave inhibiting the smallest room in the house. Last week I tried an impromptu moth trap and trapped no moths at all. I think from now on I'll just leave the bathroom window open.

Sunday:

Okay, grab a chair and sit back. One of the things which took me to Hungerford was to go to the Antiques Arcade and whilst there I purchased 2 wood carving chisels. For a while now, since doing my stone carving course in November, I've wanted to get back to hand on arts and crafts. I've done a bit of woodwork in the past, mainly green-woodwork, and even demonstrated pole lathe turning at the Peat Moors Centre in Somerset a while back, but woodwork hasn't been part of my life for quite a while now.

The need for compost necessitated a trip to the garden centre and while there we perused a kitchen workshop, festooned with wooden objects including wooden bowls. Rashly I offered to make a bowl using a chunk of spalted beech I just happen to have had about my person. Spalting is the process of fungal attack of deadwood, producing "marbling" pigments in the wood. One can never predict what will be inside a piece of wood until it comes out in the woodworking process.

So here is the original piece of wood as collected from a forest. I'd sawn the bottom off so we had a nice squarish piece for Julie to carve herself. But the main body of the trunk lay undecided. Initially because of the two pointy bits, I had wanted to carve a free form sculpture, but a bowl it will become.

I set too with power saws and so on to cut the main shape, always the hardest part. A golden rule in all carving is let the shape of the wood, and the wood itself dictate the shape of the finished article.

And hey presto, a basic outline slowly emerged. It got a lot more messy after that, but eventually after a few hours I had managed to get the basic shape I wanted. Quite a long way to go, but I've set myself to the end of August to get it completed. I won't be using power tools from now on, so everything from here on in will be chiseling and hard graft. I'm hooked, not to mention developing muscles in places I didn't know muscles existed.

In case anyone is wondering, the smaller piece of wood with a candle in it is an off cut with 3 holes drilled into it. Just something for the outside table I knocked up. What I love about working with natural materials is that, such as in this piece of spalted beech, it began as a tiny sapling, grew, then somehow died. I've no idea how old it was, but probably older than me, and now, by creating something permanent, it will live on in another form. True regeneration of wood and woodlands.

I just hope I haven't set myself up for a massive fall with this carving of a bowl malarkey - watch this space.........!

An inconsequential weekend....

What is it about weekends? Friday evening promises much and within a gnats crotchet of time I'm driving back down the M4 from Wiltshire on a Monday morning to begin another week at work.

Friday : Or more accurately Friday evening

After a day at the coal face that is Wildlife Broadcasting in Bristol I arrived at my weekend retreat in Wiltshire ready for an experiment. Following a shower and fresh clean clothing we ventured out into the garden for sustenance and clutching a fortifying bottle of alcoholic grape juice. My plan over the weekend was to build and have a play with a home made moth trap (being far too mean to buy a proper one). I am absolutely hopeless with moths and as many bloggers and friends are now becoming expert, I feel I should improve my knowledge.

However on Friday night; possibly something to do with the inbibement of pino grigio, a mellow thought wafted over me. I wonder what will happen if I just place a bright light outside, given the garden is surrounded by fields? Moths will fly in in their hundreds and I can sit there identifying them to my hearts content. Well I have to say it was a dismal failure. Over an hour a handful of micro - moths aimlessly flew by and then we went to bed, with a plan to build a proper device on Saturday. Which Saturday I'm not saying, needless to say though, it's a plan unburdened by activity so far.

Saturday: Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire

Julie had a noon appointment in Berkshire on Saturday, so we planned to have a leisurely start and then quickly pop to one of her gardens for me to help her with a bit of tying up then on for a coffee, perusal of antique shops and the afternoon stretching before us. At the garden in question we were met a terrifying guard dog of gargantuan proportions. He's a terrier puppy, full of life and bounded across the lawns to play with us. A peaceful morning it was not, as he has the energy and enthusiasm only puppy's have. He just never stopped. He's lovely though.

The garden however is huge and includes fields and a wildlife area. This made up for the mothing fiasco the evening before. Julie left me to check on the greenhouses and I wandered through a wealth of wildflowers awash with butterflies. Sadly I don't have a good macro camera at the moment for photos, but the following were in abundance. Common blue, and 2 Adonis Blue, Brimstone, Large and Small White, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell. Hundreds of hover flies and bees buzzed about and grasshoppers churred everywhere. I'd love to go there and spend the day identifying them.

All too soon though we headed to town. After a coffee, Julie went for her appointment and I strolled through the myriad of antique shops the town had to offer. There I spied in one of the book shops Highways and Byways in Dorset by Sir Frederick Treves (1853 to 1923) who I've since found out was also the author of the Elephant Man. This was a second edition, 1935, in reasonable condition for £8. Julie had joined me by this time and she found for herself a Ladybird Book "What to look for in Autumn" book, which reminded her of her childhood, so that was purchased along with the Dorset guide and we left Hungerford a happy couple. I was especially happy as Julie bought me the Dorset book. A nice surprise.

We hadn't eaten so found ourselves by a method only we appreciate in a wonderful Organic Farm Shop just outside Cirencester called strangely enough The Organic Farm Shop. I've not been here before, but I'd recommend it for the food and the feel of a real organic farm shop and not somewhere selling organic products. Fed and watered we wound our way home via the Wooton Basset area, so we were back in Wiltshire. Julie has a client here called Barbara, more of a friend really. So on the spur of the moment we popped in, and after tea and cakes, I cut her large lawn and we left. Barbara is a wealth of knowledge and has a very sprightly mind for a 91 year old. We love talking to her and her past as she has lived all over the world and still has a mind which is looking forward. I hope I am like that in my dotage. Positive and fun to be with.

I'm also hoping as she has a huge wasps nest being built in a clematis that when the wasps leave later in the year, I can detach the nest and photograph it for the blog. Wasps are natures good guys with a bad press and their nests are absolutely stunning inside with their airflow regulation chambers.

Sunday - oh dear, it was all going so well too !!

A quiet day in the garden. Julie asked me if I'd sharpen her tools so as I sat there she suggested I needed some protection on my head from the sun. The resulting photograph is slightly disturbing. I can only apologise.

All in all a very relaxing weekend...... that photograph does worry me......... !!!!