Colonsay moths

Although Martin's Moths is enjoying a minor technological triumph, with this the second post to reach you from remote lands, the same cannot be said of the famous ferry operator, Caledonian Macbrayne. Its ships are lovely with their red funnels, like the Mersey ferries, and are nicely celebrated in a little ceiling fresco in Colonsay's disused 'phone kiosk - detail below.  In the words of the rhyme taught to us as schildren on a Hebridean holiday:

"The Good Lord made the seas

And all that they contain

But all that sails upon them

Was made by John Macbrayne"

but the one to Colonsay went wrong yesterday and so here we are still on the island. But the sun is shining, so we're not complaining. And the episode led to the discovery of a moth.

It's the one shown above, which fluttered from my grandchild's folded buggy when a friend hoicked it out of the boot of our car. I think it's a Common or Lesser Common Rustic although it looks possibly a bit more exciting than that; but my Moth Bible is stashed away in a suitcase until tonight so we will all have to be patient until then. Update: See Comments. It's one of the four Ear moths. But which? More on this soon.

It's my fourth moth from Colonsay which isn't too bad, given that I haven't got the trap. The first was the Antler Moth in my second picture, which came to the porch light of the cottage where we are staying. The second was the Carpetty subject of my third picture and the third was a Buff Ermine which I found, sadly expired, on our kitchen windowsill.

Yesterday's Dark Green Fritillary remains the entomological highlight of our week on this lovely island, along with jewel-like Common Blues which dart around the coastal pastures. But we also had the happiness of finding this lizard which sat docile - or petrified - in Penny's palm while our granddaughter stroked it and started singing 'Ee-AyEe-Ay-O' , the chorus of Old Macdonald which is currently her response to all wild animals.