I don't just do Moths!

You may not believe me, but I don't just do moths!
I started off my life being a birder, and though I'd happily say I've only been a proper birder these last few years, I've been a birder a lot longer than a moth-er. To prove it, here are some pics from the past.

A Cuckoo at Radipole Lake in 2011, I have a much better (in my opinion) photo here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/qwertyqwertyqwerty/5789281157/in/photostream/)

This little Snow Bunting took up residency at Ferrybridge in January this year, and though it took me several attempts to see him, I did finally manage him eventually.

 

 

I also do try to do other insects, mammals ect ect, so ought to be posting some other bugs n' stuff about. As proof for that, have a bug record from last year. Caught in the moth trap last year, it is the only leafhopper I have been bothered to identify, and I was rewarded with Zyginella pulchra. Anyhow, I sent the record in at the start of the year to DERC, and recently emailed with any proof of confirmation (which I sent 2 pics), and then told it was "as far as I'm aware this is the first record for Dorset". Not bad if I say so myself. Still, it was a tiny thing.

Zyginella pulchra - Weymouth 14th September 2012

 

 

 

Anyhow, looking back over the week. Not bad, mothing wise. After getting a Nut-tree Tussock as new for garden, managed 2 Shears and a Scalloped Hazel over the next few nights, both new for garden, and the Scalloped Hazel being new for me. Unfortunately, the wind did pick up nearing the weekend, but in the shelter of valley near Hardy's Monument, managed a Speckled Yellow, which was new to me. Much smaller than I thought it would be, being considerably smaller than a Brimstone Moth. Still, it was well behaved, and sat still on a log for me. Also of interest was the longhorn beetle Rhagium bifasciatum, which was new for me.

On Sunday, went to visit Morden Bog, where the wind dropped, and managed 2 'new for me' species, which were Small Purple-barred (larger than I thought it'd be, similar size as Speckled Yellow, and Ancylis apicella, which was nice.

Speckled Yellow - Hardy's Monument 7th June 2013

Small Purple-barred - Morden Bog 9th June 2013