Sour Grapes…

It’s high time I blogged again. In truth the Spring hasn’t been noteworthy with me – my garden MV has stubbornly failed to catch anything new or very exciting – in fact most of May up to 16th had very low total numbers. Since then things have built up and are probably as near normal as ‘normal’ is these days. Last night’s total catch was 220 macros of 50 species. Highlights were a couple of coronets and a maple prominent.

Looking at one of my old notebooks I see that I first used a moth trap (as opposed to dusking) exactly 52 years ago. This qualifies me to be a Grumpy Old Aurelian. I have two current grumbles. The first is that I do wish more people would contribute their experiences on this site; I applaud stalwarts like Keith, Raymond, Brian and Paul, but I don’t understand why other good experienced moth-hunters can’t share their knowledge with riffraff like me. The second is a specific rail against the entomological fates. I know I am a lazy recluse and a little bit shy of social gatherings like moth nights, so perhaps I don’t deserve any better. But is it fair that Brian et al should bag 14 Alder kittens in one night? Surely not!! It is a species I have lusted after for decades (along with reed leopard, plumed prominent and death’s head hawk). But that’s mothing for you. If I want to see these glorious creatures I will have to stir myself and get out more. I have already decided that the only way I’ll ever see a death’s-head is by getting lucky on a package holiday to Tunisia.

Tony H.

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4 Responses to Sour Grapes…

  1. Raymond Watson says:

    Chear up Tony. What about all those Australian moths and in other countries you have visited?
    We all have local specialties that make other moth-ers envious of. And you have had this year. If it were not so and all were the same it wouldn’t be worth doing it in the first place.

  2. paulb says:

    Hi Tony .. It’s been the same here in Woolpit. Much effort, little reward until of late. Re contributors, I don’t think there’s much that can do about that but I would agree with Raymond in that if it were all the same ….

    I trap for many reason, would be lying if I said I wasn’t a rarity chaser, but have to content myself with what drops in overnight. One of my biggest hopes is that I will catch my own ‘atropos’ one day, and if that happens before any of the coastal boys, well ;-)

  3. Neil says:

    Or you could go to Spain later in the year. Turns up regularly there.

    The issue of contributors is a difficult one. A lot of people probably think ‘I don’t get anything interesting so why should I post’. But even news on numbers of common species is of interest. I’ve struggled to post as much as I would have liked recently as I’m snowed under with moth related business. My traps have been manic! Last week’s meeting was a good night too that I’ll report on when I can. I’m even still finalizing details for some field meetings later in the summer as well as my own recording plans!

  4. tonyhopkins says:

    I feel suitably chastened. If I catch 14 death’s-heads tonight I’ll share them out at a special Bloggers’ Party.

    And a special round of appreciation for Neil – the most regular blogger of us all.

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