May 2012 so far part I

After the almost complete washout that was April 2012 I have been keen to get out in the field as often as possible in May and document as much as I can. The result so far?.. about three trips to Highgate Common (including a work party), a very short visit to Kinver Edge and a spot of gardening.

Still this was enough time for me to see some interesting looking plants and the occasional insect.

On the 8th of May I went to the regular Tuesday work party at Highgate Common. Despite the awful weather of recent weeks it just about managed to stay dry for the whole day.

The Tree Pipits were obviously ill informed about the recent weather in the UK and have arrived back en masse from Africa to sing their little hearts out from the tops of the scattered trees on the main heathland area. They were also doing their song flight display using any post, tree or tall bush as a launching platform. This behaviour is a good way to tell them apart from the Meadow Pipit and Skylark as they both begin their song flights at ground level.

Other warblers were apparent too with a large number of Willow Warblers, a few Chiffchaff, some Blackcaps and a suspected Whitethroat but no sign of the elusive Cuckoo.

The work party was tasked with clearing away any re-growth of trees that we had cut down over the winter. It was during the course of this work when I noticed this little critter, almost chopped down with the branch it was sitting on.

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria)

The adult is quite a distinctive looking moth and you can see it by going to the following site ukmoths.org.uk