20 Aug 25 - A Nice Brownsea Pyralid

The DWT team ran their Moth trap overnight before my normal volunteering on the Brownsea reserve. Taise, one of the DWT team, was showing the Moths off to the public. This Pyralid Moth caught my eye as I didn't recognise it. Talking to one of the wardens, Nicki, later in the day provided the name: Migrant Sable (Diasemiopsis ramburialis). It is a scarce migrant species which has been encountered mainly on the South Coast between Jun and Oct. The Dorset Moths website mentions twenty-one records up to 2006, with a photo of one in 2022. There will be more Dorset records that haven't made it onto the website. But it still looks like a nice migrant record and a Moth Tick for me.

Migrant Sable

9 Aug 25 - A Garden Shieldbug Tick

While doing some decorating work on the house, I spotted a Shieldbug in the conservatory. I couldn't get a name to it and suspected it was a species I hadn't seen. Subsequent checking of the excellent Shieldbugs and Squashbugs of the British Isles by Evans and Edmondson suggests this is the Tortoise Bug Eurygaster testudinaria. It wouldn't be that surprising to see a new Shieldbug, as this was only the eleventh species that I've seen out of thirty-five species covered by the field guide. I've never gone out to specifically look for Shieldbugs, but I have tried to identify those that I've seen.

Tortoise Bug

There are two similar species of Tortoise Bugs. This species and much rarer Scarce Tortoise Bug Eurygaster maura. Identification looks tricky between the two species. One of the features is the outer edges of the head is parallel with the edges of the pronotum on Scarce Tortoise Bug. Additionally, the length of the second segment of the antenna is about twice as long as the third segment on Scarce Tortoise Bug, whereas it is only slightly longer on Tortoise Bug. On this basis and after looking at photos online, I think this is the commoner Tortoise Bug. However, the books suggest that dissection might be the only way to be certain. I prefer to release Insects rather than to kill them to be one hundred percent certain with their identification. Thanks to Phil Saunders for confirmation on the ID.

8 Aug 25 - A Visiting Chimney Pot Gull

For a number of years, I suspected there was a pair of locally breeding Herring Gulls near my house, but the next wasn't obvious. Last year a near neighbour pointed out the nest site which I can't see from my house or garden. This year they were clearly breeding again and were successful as I've seen a youngster around the rooftops. Finally, it popped onto my conservatory to introduce itself.

IPhone photo of Juv Herring Gull

5 Aug 25 - I Love This Time Of Year

I do love this time of year, as it's a time to make some new friends. Many of the local breeding Passerines, seem to feed the youngsters for a few days before abandoning them. The local Robin pair are typical. This year there are two young Robins around and after a bit of territorial squabbling, one seems to have taken control of my back garden. It was initially shy, but by late July would come closer as I was doing a bit of gardening.

IPhone Robin photo

It's grown in confidence with me and now flies into the area close to my conservatory when it sees me, as it knows I will be putting some food out for it. It will quite happily sit a couple of feet above me as I put some food out for it on a chosen rock.

A closer crop

Normally, come the Autumn the youngsters will be driven out of the territory by the dominate pair. However, as the adult Robins haven't been coming in much to my garden this year, it would be great if this uber-friendly Robin was to be allowed to stick around. It will be easy to tell given it's behaviour.