Burnished Brass

Although this is a very common moth, I must admit to having a soft spot for it. It was once of the first species I ever identified when my Mum and I rigged up a makeshift moth trap in our back garden back in the 1970's, and I'm always pleased to find one in the trap. It might not have the wow factor of a Elephant Hawk but I find the subtle pattern and brassy finish very attractive.

Later in the day we went out to Ailsworth to survey a rather neglected pair of ponds in the middle of an arable field. Struggling through several hundred metres of barbed-wire like oil-seed rape in hot and sticky conditions was exhausting! Ponds in arable land are often ignored and unloved, but there is a plan to rejuvenate this site and manage it for wildlife - very wisely the Langdyke Trust decided to find out what was there before carrying out any renovation. 


We found a new-born roe deer (which we tiptoed round so as not to disturb it) in this superficially unappealing, inaccessible corner of rank grassland, willow and swamp, as well as nesting reed bunting and sedge warbler. Most of the plant and insect species we found were very common, including a fair number of clegs which feasted on Alex's arm (see extra), but all have a role to play within the ecosystem. We ignore the little things at our peril.