An all blue Southern

The moth trap was out overnight a long last and despite the rather cool temperatures, 24 moths of 13 species were present, but not one Geometrid. Seriously down on the numbers usually at this time of year, the full list was -
Clepsis consimilana  1

Clepsis consimilana

Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  1

Peppered Moth

Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  1
Heart and Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)  1
Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)  5
Ingrailed Clay (Diarsia mendica)  1
Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)  2
Dotted Clay (Xestia baja)  2

Dotted Clay

Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)  3
Clay (Mythimna ferrago)  2
Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)  3
Common Rustic agg. (Mesapamea secalis agg.)  1
Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)  2

Burnished Brass

With us just getting back from holiday and heading straight for work there has been no time fore any wanderings yet and today was no different. With the lawns badly needing cut and shopping to be got the only nature observations today were in the garden. A few hoverflies and bumblebees of the usual suspects were present and at the back of the garden it has gone very wild. Whilst contemplating what I should cut back I noticed a dragonfly hanging from one of the Salvias. The only large dragonfly to have occurred in the garden in the Southern Hawker but that is a mainly green & black dragonfly. This was all blue and black without a trace of green. Panic set in as I couldn't work out what it could be, I even considered some Italian species that may have hitched a lift. Eventually I calmed down and everything fitted Southern Hawker except that the most of the blue spots on this individual should be green. Occasionally blue spotted adults do occur I have found after a bit of research and that what this was. Panic over .. I think.

The 'blue' Southern Hawker

A lone Curlew flew over calling was the only bird record of any note