Gifts ..

14 September 2024

A bright moon, almost full.

MV moth light deep in the Cedar Walk. Tawnies vocalising earily.

We’re little over fifteen minutes from the city. Distantly emergency vehicle sirens. Car engines.. The thrum of music. 

Very close by there is a male muntjac barking.

Common pipistrelle is the only bat species I record tonight. Jill persuaded me to buy an Echotouch bat detector gizmo. I predict fun.

 

Snout

The mothing clock is hovering between late summer and early autumn. 124 moths of twenty four species including twenty five delightful and skittish snout moths) Hypena proboscidalis). Cute and fresh with upturned noses. Their larval food plant is nettle and this part of the garden is quite blessed with these.

Another nettle-feeder is Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum).

Setaceous Hebrew Character

Eighteen last night, another portent and surely contender for the most-unusual name. Setaceous means bristled. I’m picturing dusty sinecured clerics of the Victorian age gathering to share their moth knowledge by candlelight and gifting to us these obscure, time-trapped names.

My team beat Liverpool at their place yesterday. First time since 1969. Another gift. Rejoice.