Autumn outriders

The arrival of that very attractive moth the Frosted Orange usually gives me an early sense of Autumn approaching. Indeed moth students often reckon that this time of the year sees a bit of a lull between the tail of the 'Summer moths' and the arrival of the 'Autumn' ones. Be that as it may, there are still plenty of interesting arrivals in the trap, of which the Frosted Orange is a specially welcome example.

Another feature of the coming few weeks will be the arrival of more immigrants, blown on the prevailing wind from continental Europe or even beyond. The next three moths all have an immigrant background. Although the first, Vine's Rustic, has been breeding here for a long time now, it was very much regarded as a foreigner until the early 20th century. The White-point is a recent colonist, landing on the UK's coast at many points between Yorkshire and the West Country. Finally the Dark Sword-grass is  a strong flyer which arrives in the Spring, breeds and creates the second generation of which this is one.

Other, native, arrivals include the Square-spot Rustic, very comfortably established here for many years, the Willow Beauty, ditto, and my old favourite the Light Emerald, a moth which often chooses to snooze near the trap rather than in it and seems invisible even to inquisitive birds. The Square-spot Rustic in my picture has the air of someone looking out to see for an eagerly awaited sail. or maybe it's on birdwatch.

Lastly, it sounds rather a feeble admission, but I have been trying in vain all Summer to get a photo of a Meadow Brown butterfly. It's very common round here but during the hot weather, they all seemed incurably jittery, extremely good at sensing my presence and very reluctant to open their wings on the few occasions when I managed to focus on one at rest. This one obligingly sat there for ages in the pose I wanted, even though the sun had gone in and it was perched on a leaf rather than a nectar-brimming flower.