Biscay, 1-4 September 2010, Pt 4 Cuvier's Beaked Whale

The same shot as above with the fluke print (water flattned by the tail flukes) included

(W is for Weedon)

This male (judging by the teeth and scratches) gave us just about the best possible view of a CBW, coming right by the starboard bow. Wonderful!
For me, this was the highlight of a wonderful trip guiding for great people travelling with the Company of Whales. Some of us missed this beastie, but we did see a further 18 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, including a party of five, so there were plenty of other opportunities to enjoy this fantastic whale species.

Biscay, 1-4 September 2010, Pt 3 Whales

Pilot Whales

Fin Whale

Fin Whale fluke print

The legendary Gorka Ocio

Biscay, 1-4 September 2010, Pt 2 Birds & insects

Wryneck

Woodpigeon


Willow Warbler

Reed Warbler

Mallow Skipper


Rose Chafer


Wasp Spider

Stonechat





Gannet

Clouded Yellow

Biscay, 1-4 September 2010, Pt 1 Dolphins

Common Dolphins


Bottle-nosed Dolphins (note tiny calf!)

Striped Dolphin

Stop Press: Old Lady is 100!

The tattier of the two specimens of Old Lady I found tonight in the garden

I have been sitting with the trap tonight and just got the official 100th species for the garden, the magnificent and monstrous Old Lady. What a grand mother of moths! And surely the perfect centurion.

Juvenile Gannet

I have been saying for some time now that the juvenile plumage is my favourite Gannet plumage (though adults are good, too). When I say it, though, most people think I am nuts and that juves are brown and scruffy. But take a look at this pristine example and admire its neat rows of spots and glory in its majesty. You have to admit that when you look closely, this is a good-looking Gannet! (Or perhaps I am nuts)

Garden Lepid List: 99

Phlyctaenia coronata

Square-spot Rustic
My garden moth and butterfly list has now reached a total of 99 species, the latest additions being Phlyctaenia coronata (a distinctive, pale-spotted, rather large micro in the Pyraustinae) and Square-spot Rustic. Who wants to be number 100?

Toadflax Brocade: confirmed first for VC32

I just got back from a trip across Biscay with the family (to see whales and dolphins). More on that later. I checked my emails last night and got one from John Ward the VC32 (Northants and Peterborough) moth recorder confirming the ID of Toadflax Brocade in our garden. The VC32 moth website has the following on the Notice Board 2010 section "15 August 2010. One Toadflax Brocade C. lunula taken in a garden actinic light trap in Peterborough by Mike Weedon; photographically determined by John Ward. An unexpected moth for VC32 but nevertheless a new county record doubtless as a result of migration or vagrancy."
To quote my moth guru Brian 'The Natural' Stone: "Not often anyone gets a macro first for a VC. Nice!"
Just to remind you, this is the little fella:

Look into my eye!

Inspired by some photos I'd seen recently on the BBC website, I think, I thought I'd test out the macro capabilities of my trusty old Canon PowerShot A640 on my own iris. It is remarkable the detail it can extract for a humble compact. Not a pretty sight, I grant you, but interesting nonetheless.

Mighty beetle

Anyone know what this awesome beast is? It was in the bottom of our moth trap this morning, and appears to be a sort of minuscule longhorn beetle. I would very much welcome a better ID...

[By the way, that is the tip of my index finger]

Shaggy revisited

Digiscoped in the rain with my decent scope...

The Spectacle

This moth is one I did identify instantly. I knew it was famous for its spectacled thorax (the first thing I saw); what I didn't realise is what a handsome moth it is, to boot!