The MV does it again

 It wasn't until after mid-day that I got around to seeing what had been attracted to the 125w MV Robinson Trap overnight. The first priority of the day was a trip to our local pharmacy, for Bev's medication, then, joy of joys, a wander round Tesco for the weekly shop! Still, these things need to be done, so it's better to grin and bare it, in and out as quick as possible, as opposed to delay plus moaning and groaning every trolly push along a crowded aisle! So on that philosophical note, I return to my garden moth trapping and the continued inability to align myself with those, mainstream "moffas", who are happy with the use of lethal techniques in order to secure a positive id, thus their name in an annual report or, even more repulsive, another worthless tick on a personal list. County moth recording is conducted under the umbrella of "Butterfly Conservation"? With this in mind, I "Google'd" the meaning of conservation to find this definition as the base line. A CAREFUL PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF SOMETHING.  Somehow I'm struggling to understand where dissection or sticking pins into moths actually fits with this ethos?  Still, it's for every individual to make their choices and I know that all the time this is accepted practice amongst the mothing community, I won't be supporting their efforts by placing records into any data base.

So this morning did produce a very special moth. A garden tick, no less, and probably only the third record for Thanet? Clouded Buff is a moth which I first saw whilst birding the Kent coast (around 1994/5) between Langdon and South Foreland. I'm pretty sure it was Tony Greenland, although it might have been Ian Hodgson?, who pointed out one of these splendid moths, saying that they were very localised and habitat dependent along the Kent coastline. They were very happy times, indeed, and those two guys inspirational in my Kent  birding journey. 

Male Clouded Buff

What is it about moths that make it such an amazing hobby anyway? As an answer, I can only offer the ridiculous diversity of shape, size, colour and that added dimension provided by them being creatures of the night. My thoughts being that over 95% of people will never bother to look at that "bloody thing" which has been drawn into their living space by a light bulb and, instead, just swat it with a rolled up newspaper. Living where we do, Bev and I are extremely fortunate to be part of a lovely community who appreciate the situation and are very willing to offer assistance if someone requires it. Six of the bungalows provide Hedgehog feeding stations, and the vast majority of the others have some type of bird feeders on offer. It isn't hard for me to share my moth captures, however common, and promote the use of eco-friendly gardening techniques because of people looking at a creature they've never seen before. The following images have been taken during this past week and hopefully serve to demonstrate the ridiculous diversity of moths which are sharing the same space as my neighbours?

Tree Lichen Beauty

Pebble Prominent

Orange Swift

There have been so many Jersey Tiger Moths around this part of Thanet that my neighbours are now telling me about their sightings. I've been recording double figure counts over the past few nights, although the majority of individuals are happy to perch up outside the trap, rather than visit the egg-trays. Two Gypsy Moths, yesterday, were the first of the year and there has been a very obvious upturn in geometer activity, of late. All the regular suspects involved but, happily, a couple of species which aren't annual visitors to the garden.

The Peacock

Tawny-barred Angle

Gypsy Moth (male)

Still, with the next generations incapable of looking at anything other than an i-phone or X-box, does any of this really matter? Unless conservationists are able to enthuse, inspire, the kids of today, it won't matter a toss what we have, and haven't, recorded because it's no longer relevant!  So, on that happy note, I'll get down off the soap box and return to the quiet backwater that is Dumpton!

Wood Marble (Lobesia reliquana) another good Thanet record?

Poplar Hawk-moth - this is the species which kicked off the adventure in 1994