Had a great day out in the Forest with my wife today. She loves garden Ferns and armed with a bit of local research and her eagle eye as my super power, we finally found some Moonwort. Tiny things barely taller than grass and sadly those often used words these days, in decline.

Cotton grass in all its singular glory. Genuinely surprised to find Small Adders Tongue near the Moonwort. Had to battle Winchester traffic to see my first Yellow Figwort and back home to see a male Broad-bodied Chaser by the pond. Nature truly is the best healer!

Inspired and helped by that botanical force of nature Moira O'Donnell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 😃 I visited Sandwich Bay today. Amazing place with Clove Scented Broomrape, star of the show, Common Blue seems to agree, and vivid Wild Clary. Hundreds of tiny Sand catchfly. Sadly the Lizard Orchids all in bud.

With all the endless debate on the recent release of the Black-veined White Butterfly’s, I decided to pop in and see a true bonafide British born and bred rarity, full of pedigree, simply stunning…….I give you the Black-veined MOTH!

Pleased to find this Ringed Border in the trap this morning.

I’m always a little blown away by the beauty of the tiniest of plants up close, not much larger than a pin head. The rare Small Hares Ear at Berry Head In Devon today. A big thank you for ⁦Gavin Maclean⁩ for his help.

White Stonecrop looking good along the coastline at Berry Head. Sulpher Pearl a day flying moth, were everywhere feeding on various umbellifers. ID help on 4 please, very small? Good to meet ⁦Bill Coulson⁩ at Berry and his help with High Brown Fritillary at Aish Tor.

Rosy Wave and Golden Pearl (Anania verbascalis). Never take for granted the variety and rarity of Moth species.

Well that was a pleasant surprise this morning. Small Dotted Footman. From what I can see from relevant books it appears this is a first for Hants and apart from a very small colony in the Norfolk Broads and a single Kent record a pretty rare moth indeed. ⁦Migrant Lepidoptera⁩

I still can’t work out how plants can become so addictive but I will run with it and see where the journey takes me. Red-tipped Cudweed in all its subtle beauty.

I have vague recollection’s of seeing Wall Brown at Keyhaven back in the late 70’s so I was over the moon to come across this female at Shipton Bellinger. Supporting cast of Brimstone, Peacock and White Admiral at Alice Holt.

Apologies for phone pic quality but any ideas on the larvae attached to this Fox Moth Caterpillar in the New Forest. No sign of distress?

Finally….looks like one of your Portland Ribbon Waves went AWOL last night ⁦Steve Keen⁩

Well until the Hornets relax a bit I’m not taking the lid off 😃 Silver Striped Hawkmoth

Safely extracted from a host of Hornets. A truly stunning Silver-striped Hawkmoth in the trap this morning….still smiling.

Paying my respects to John Condon at Poelcapelle Cemetery Belgium. He claimed he was 18 when in fact he was only 14 years old. He was killed in a gas attack in the 2nd battle of Ypres 24/5/15. Quietly saying a few words under my breath when a Long-tailed Blue landed at my feet.

We shall remember them #remembranceday