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| Today I saw my first 'macro' moths of 2013. This is the rather romantically named Spring Usher (I love the very rounded wing tips of this species). I also know that this is a male - how do I know? Easy, he has wings - yes the female has no wings to speak of and so is flightless; so she climbs a litlle way up a tree trunk, emits a pheromone and sits there waiting for him to come to her. |
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| Here is the scene today (perhaps you can just see the roof of our workshop left of the nearest Oak). Even though the snow has now melted, we are still very much in Winter and Spring is a way off yet. |
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| Although I said that I liked the rounded wings of the Spring Usher, I was very pleased to see the pointed wing-corners of this moth which helped me identify it as a Dark Chestnut (rather than the commoner Chestnut Moth). |
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| Lunch-time today I was also keen to see if I could find any flowers and I was rewarded with three types. No.1 The humble, but no less lovely Daisy. |
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| No.2 Hazel flowers. These trees have male and female flowers - the catkins are the male flowers, I couldn't yet see any of the tiny female flowers. |
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| They start to produce their flowers even before the leaves appear. |
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| Every year is different. This time last year this pond was virtually dry but today it is overflowing! |
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| Last but not least my flower no.3 The Primrose or 'prima rosa' - the first rose. Roll on Spring and many more flowers and moths of course! |
Dear Jerry, it's always beautiful to discover the first signs of coming spring.
ReplyDeleteThe season brings rebirth and we can reborn with the nature that surrounds us!
Have nice days in your great outdoors!!!
Thanks Rita, I'm not the sort to wish my life away but I do love it when Spring truly arrives and I'm certainly looking forward to that.
DeleteHello Jerry:)
ReplyDeleteI hope you had a Happy New Year,and that 2013 will be a good year for you, Karen, and all the family. I know the weather has not been so good for you, and am pleased the snow has now melted.
Your work shop is situated in a lovely place,.. only a step away from all the new life surrounding you. I love to see the first wild Primroses,it does make one think that spring is
near, and it was nice to see one here.
The Spring Usher is a new moth for me, and not in any of my books,so I will add it to my list of must find insects.I have not seen a moth so far this year, but strangely have seen many Brimstone butterflies, and a few Red Admirals!!
Take care
Sonjia
Hi Sonjia, Happy New Year to you too. I can't wait for the first butterfly but I don't think it will be just yet; it's turned so cold as the wind is now shooting down from the Arctic. Perhaps I will see one of 'your' Red Admirals. In my book it says that Red Admirals breed very early in the year in Spain and North Africa (and Portugal??) before heading our way. They have a tendancy to hibernate in exposed places so in England very few ever survive until Spring.
DeleteLovely to see the flowers as a reminder that Spring is not far away. Well done on first moths of the year. Have yet to see any although the trap is still put away for the winter!
ReplyDeleteI saw the forecast for a (comparatively) warmer, cloudy but dry night and thought I'd blow the dust off the old trap.
DeleteWell done with the moths Jerry and it's wonderful to see the subtle signs of Spring especially on such a bitterly cold day here. How lovely to see my favourite wild flower at the end :-)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Jan - yes the Primrose is such a lovely thing.
DeleteHola Jerry, veo con sorpresa que empiezan a aparecer las primeras polillas. Por otra parte, me gusta mucho esa foto del estanque. Parece natural y no hecho por el hombre. ¿Me equivoco? Saludos para todos.
ReplyDeleteFrancesc, I certainly think the pond has been there a long time but I think it is probably man-made or at least adapted from natural. Possibly it was for fish as quite a lot of very old ponds in the UK originated as somewhere fish could be kept for food.
DeleteBeautiful post Jerry. Lovely to see signs of spring and warmth on its way.
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, yes I think we are all ready for a bit of warmth - hopefully fairly soon!
ReplyDeleteHola Jerry. Me gusta mucho el post. Es muy interesante porque nos muestras el comienzo incipiente de la primavera: la nieve se ha derretido, surgen las primeras pequeñas flores, nacen las polillas :-)...Realmente he disfrutado mucho viendo las fotos y leyendo el texto. Gracias y un abrazo.
ReplyDeletePD He visto lo de facebook. Muchas gracias.
Hola Sonia. Glad you enjoyed this post. Amazingly some early moths such as the Spring Usher develop into a moth in Autumn but stay (sort of hibernating) inside the chrysalis, as protection over Winter. Yes it's good to have your husband as a facebook friend :)
DeleteYour posts are always so interesting, Jerry and I LOVE your photos...especially the macro moth..beautiful markings on it...and of course...the daisy! AHHH! I need the Spring to come..I'm tired of the cold weather!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilda - yes come on Spring (we've had more snow since posting this).
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