Fathers Day wild highlights

As my fathers day treat I got some mindfullness time alone with a camera. First was time to try out the new birdhide ably constructed at the last volunteer weekend by David, Paul and Anne. Beckhithe was very damp and a bit grey but there was soon a splash of colour with a Jay visiting the feeding station but he or she didnt stay for a photo. The next slightly smaller chap was a male chaffinch.

Male Chaffinch

Despite the damp the meadow was full of birdsong with blackcaps, chiffchaffs and whitethroats all attempting to out sing each other. Next to the feeders were the resident blue tit, great tit and a young robin. The next visitor to pose for photos was a young magpie.

After the bird watching I took a stroll through the meadow to check on the orchids which are all coming into bloom.

Common Spotted Orchid.

Marsh thistles are also starting to bloom and provide nectar and somewhere to hang out for soggy bumble bees.

Tree bumble bee on marsh thistle

Buff tailed Bumblebee on Marsh thistle

The meadow has been alive with moths on recent evenings and today I managed to grab a quick record shot of a day flying moth that caught my eye which was the relatively common yellow shell but first one I have seen here.

Yellow shell moth

Back home I remembered I hadn’t checked the moth trap for some Hethersett garden moths. The week had started well with a small magpie moth in amongst the common brown jobs.

Small magpie moth

Fathers day was to bring one more wild first for me out of the moth trap with a stunning elephant hawk moth. This moth is relatively common at this time of year and gets its name from it body which resembles an elephants trunk when viewed from above. Presumably a pink elephant.

Elephant Hawk moth