Fox moth

This is a male Fox Moth - Macrothylacia rubi. Males fly during the day and females at night. An odd arrangement in which sunset and sunrise must be quite important. It is apparently common in Britain although we have never seen one in Arnside.

This specimen was trapped in the Spanish Pyrenees in late May. Our moth trap folds up into something that looks like a black brief case and goes easily into the car for foreign holidays where it provides much interest.

Went out today to try to photograph a red tailed bumblebee to compliment the white tailed one which I blipped last week. Blip friends kindly gave stars to that photograph so the standard was high. There were plenty about but I failed miserably to get a decent shot. Unlike yesterday's Drone which was co-operative, the bumblebees were never still for a second and insisted on flitting from flower to flower. More patience is needed.

Last night at 10p.m. The Union Jack on Arnside Pier was lowered to half mast and the last post was played. A moving occasion made more so by the red sky behind the Lakeland hills and the red water in the Kent channel.