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Moth Quiz 23
Beat-up and forbidden on parquet.
Broken-barred Carpet

Moth Quiz 24
Three freckles.

Friday, June 12 

We've been eating our own new potatoes this last week. 

We always try to start eating whilst the tubers are relatively small. This is before the plants come into flower. By the time we've finished digging they are getting too big anyway as we don't eat potatoes every night nor in large quantities.

I decided to try a different variety this year, Anya, as Charlotte disappointed last year. The latter grew too big too quickly and were not full flavoured. My favourite is Harlequin, but they are very difficult to obtain, after a few years when the breeder died and no-one grew it until stocks built up. Whenever I try it's always 'sold out' or 'not available'.

Enya are very attractive in appearance but a little too floury for a new potato. This small they are good.

Only the leeks left to plant out now, in the space vacated by the new potatoes, the remaining broccoli went in to-day.

We're feeding an enormous number of young birds and their parents at the moment, Pam has to fill the many feeders every day. I have tried to photograph the young with limited success as the feeders are hung in shade, and in the shelter of large trees. Good for the birds and a deterrent for the Sparrowhawk.

Coal Tit

Great Tit

Blue Tit

I haven't managed the Great Spotted Woodpecker young yet.

We've had our first strawberries too, the containers had to be covered, as the Blackbirds thought that they were part of the buffet. 

Moth-ing is still very slow for the time of year. I haven't come across an explanation as to why yet.  At the moment it's overcast and rainy at night, yet we still get new species for the year most days.

Last night we had our first Snout and True Lover's Knot. Our second Hear and Club, but a better specimen.

True Lover's Knot

Heart and Club

I'm really enjoying Springwatch in its new - enforced because of Covid 19 - format. Chris, Iolo and Gillian are doing a sterling job. Chris's step-daughter, Meg, is remarkably good too. I hope that the BBC learns from it. Maybe Michaela could stay in South Africa, there's a lot less silliness without her. Not that she was solely responsible.........