Wandered back up the track from Nels Hide this afternoon in time to see this Old Lady moth bouncing off the oncoming traffic on Marine Drive with a combined velocity of about 70mph.
Remarkably the big moth was still alive when I scooped it up off the tarmac, although its wings were badly rearranged...a shame, such a stunning pattern on the beastie, which is fairly common in the UK, although it's the first time I've seen one at Marshside.
268 records for Lancs according to moth guru Andy Bunting, and on reading my "Big Boys' Book of Moths" I found it likes marsh habitat, so it could be fairly regular on this stretch of the coast.
It seemed to like the Pogues too, as I played it the "Hell's Ditch" album on the way home to Dempsey Towers in the Baby Black Death, and got no complaints.
Thanks to the girls at Sandgrounders for lending me a "holding jar" (I'll drop the pen holder off next time I'm down ladies).
I called the moth "Vectra" as this was the first car it made a head-on acquaintance with as it fluttered up the road.
On reflection, using the moth trap may be a more effective way of finding them in future, rather than monitoring roadkill on the way into Southport - anyone got a spare generator?
The Wood Sand was still on the Junction Pool, although it could be elusive, resting in the vegetation with a Dunlin for company.
A few Snipe dropping in from the north today, and on the outer marsh opposite Nels, a fine young Marsh Harrier being mobbed by two Kestrels.
The young Great Crested Grebe was dozing away on the Sandplant Pool and small groups of Meadow Pipits were going through.
One or two Wheatears on the posts around Polly's Pool and two at the back of Marshside Two, feeding on a freshly turned over patch of earth.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies...
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Hi John
Had a Marsh Harrier from the golf course yesterday (tues) hunting over the inner marsh close to Nels Hide and then drifted off towards the platform, had no bins with me just a driver and a few other sticks!
Nice picture of the Old Lady.
I'm fairly certain that the old girl doesn't go much for light. She much prefers the sugar.
Bob
Hi John,
'moth guru'lol! I nearly choked on my bottle of Beck's, i'm not too far past the 'dude' stage really.
I've only seen one Old Lady at Martin Mere and that was on the outside of my 8w actinic. I'll have to get wine/beer roping instead as they are cracking looking beasts.
Ta Bob, you're right, I'll take a few bottles of plonk, some string and a bag of Tate & Lyle down to the marsh one evening asap!
Andy - do not waste beer on moths - cheap wine yes, beer, NEVER!
Hi John, if you've still got that Old Lady then just try lifting her left forewing over the hind wing then she may be able to fly again. I've had three different individuals roosting in the day time under the top edge of my wheelie bins! They seem to be the only species that can fly into my garage or greenhouse and out again the way they came in. I've only had them here in my Liverpool garden in the past ten years, the same with Red Underwing moths.
All my local Swifts departed last Wednesday when the ants were flying, with a screaming mob of 100 high over the garden in the evening, the skies were also filled with gulls but amazingly not a single Starling!