Emptying the moth trap is the post breakfast ritual, another interesting and frustrating session. Frustrating because of the unfamiliar - and interesting for the same reason. Not many Micros to-day. My favourite Agapeta Zoegana because it's both beautiful and easy to identify.
Several of to-day's moths were newly caught by us but not lifers. Beautiful Golden Y, more Heath Rustics, Sharp-angled Peacock and Small Waved Umber (yesterday's flew before I saw it.
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| Ni Moth |
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| Sharp-angled Peacock |
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| Small Waved Umber |
Oak Eggar - female - one of my favourite moths,
Very little on the outside, a family of Pied Wagtails got there first.
The moths are too lively to risk transfering onto a more attractive background - no room in the fridge for a calming rest. Eggboxes it is !
The moths are too lively to risk transfering onto a more attractive background - no room in the fridge for a calming rest. Eggboxes it is !
Josh and Sara went off to visit the pottery just down the road before driving to Mumbles, Pam and I drove to lovely Rhossili Bay.
When young, this was a family seaside destination, carrying chairs, lunch, games, windbreak etc in a slow procession down the cliffs and dunes.There's a flat path round to Worms Head these days and an enormous National Trust car park, well filled to-day. £5 flat rate for the day - or the hour we sat happily looking at the sea creaming in below and the constant stream of visitors.
Oxwich Bay, part of the Penrice estate was the real favourite.
It has a large, two and a half mile long sandy beach, sand dunes, salt marshes and woodland and is a popular spot for swimming and watersports.
A wetland site at the rear of the dunes forms Oxwich Burrows National Nature Reserve. The car parking is on unmade ground lining the beach. We had an entertaining time watching the rib that Sara hopes to do a trip on launched, and the traditional seaside hole digging, castle building, barbecuing and general chaos. My father famously proclaimed it as 'not hot enough to melt butter' as he sat in a three piece suit and hat.The sea is very shallow making it safe for swimming. I once walked miles out until it was deep enough to swim and turned round to find the dog had followed me. I had to carry her back, she was exhausted.
Wrong time of year for the nature reserve, too may people too. Looked good for moths.........
Time to drive home via the moorland wehere we watched insects on a bramble bush yesterday.
Wild living Welsh ponies loitered on the road where we made a wrong turning.
A good mistake. The view from the top was stunning, both west and east coasts of the peninsula in view.
A good mistake. The view from the top was stunning, both west and east coasts of the peninsula in view.
Again, we parked near the bramble bush seeing several of the commoner butterflies and insects.
Another wild flower swathe looked good in the sun.
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| Gatekeeper (Thanks Mike) |
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| Common Blue |
This is a lovely area, we are all enjoying our time exploring it.
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