Sunday 3rd May is International Dawn Chorus Day. Many events have been organised across the UK so that people can visit sites to hear the wide variety of our bird life signal the start of a new day. More information can be found on various web sites including Wildlife Trust and the IDCD site.
Camouflage
There are gradually more small moths appearing around the garden. These two are doing their best to blend in with the mortar between the bricks making up the garage wall.
Garden Carpet Xanthorhoe fluctuata
Early Grey Xylocampa areola
Over the decades many moths have changed their appearance so as to blend in with an ever changing man made world. During the days of the industrial revolution, when coal was king, and through to the 1950s when the Clean Air Acts were introduced it was found that some moths had gradually developed darker markings which blended in better with soot grimed buildings and trees.
Thanks
Thanks to Bennyboymothman on Flickr for identifying the above moths.
My thanks to Greenfingers of Cabinet of Curiosities and Beyond the Human Eye who suggested that the flying insect in my Invaded section might be Ichneumon speciosus.
This is a large group of parasitic wasps which lay their eggs in butterfly and moth caterpillars. I looked through many pictures of this group of wasps. Though I couldn't spot the one I had there were several similar and at least one site said that there were so many in this group that it was very difficult to identify an individual.
Also thanks to ShySongbird for suggesting that my unidentified bird in the Walkies entry may be a Willow Warbler.
Once I had an idea where to look in my books I could check through and that certainly seems the best match.
It is so nice when people are willing to help out when I am at a complete loss - which is quite frequently at the moment.
Those moths certainly are masters of camouflage.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to International Dawn Chorus day, and will probably visit one of my local reserves to join the fun.
I find it incredible how so many creatures have the inherent ability to camouflage themselves. Nature never ceases to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind mention John, it's always a pleasure to try and help. Hope the weather is good where you are today, every time I think about tackling some gardening we have a downpour : - (
Yes Keith, you only see them if you are very close or looking for them.
ReplyDeleteI think IDCD will be International Dusk Chorus Day for me.
Jan: You can send a bit of that rain this way if you want, preferably over night. Parts of my back garden are cracking and I have to keep watering some of the many containers, especially the Blueberries and patio fruit trees and my water barrels need topping up.