Rain Stopped Play

 Friday June 25

Glaslyn Osprey Centre doesn't open until 11 a.m. We breakfasted and emptied our own moth trap before embarking on the 16 mile drive to collect our battery trap.Our MV trap was very wet after overnight rain, it was still raining as we set off. I was not hopeful. 

Yes, the portable trap was very wet. With the boss's permission, we bundled it into the boot, covered in towels, and drove back to Cae Glas.

Discussing how we were going to spend the rest of the day - the MetOffice app had forecast rain all day - Pam mooted that we drive home. With little hesitation, I agreed.

The Cae Glas catch was even worse than ours, Dark Spectacle and Brown Silver-lines the best.  It held 8 moths of 6 species. A very meagre return.

We did have a Small Angle Shades in the MV.  A poor photo.

 


and a Small Clouded Brindle

 


After stripping beds, clearing the kitchen, packing food, cases, equipment bags, and the car, we left at 2.25. Pretty slick for two oldies, Pam bearing the greater load.

The rain was relentless, or so we thought. Until we hit a cloudburst. It's many years since we have driven in conditions as bad. As soon as it was possible, we pulled off the road. At their fastest, the wipers were not able to clear the screen, roadside water was meeting in the centre of the highway, oncoming cars producing a bow wave and big splashing. As soon as it eased, we set off again, ten minutes later the roads were dry  

The rest of the journey was uneventful - until a big message flashed up on the SatNav. A11 closed at Thetford, diversion in operation. Oh bother! The diversion took us on a large loop via Attleborough, re-joining the A11 at Wyndham. That added an unwanted half an hour to our journey.

We enjoyed getting to know the Llyn and re-visiting old haunts. The moth-ing and birding was disappointing but that's natural history. It has to be accepted. Late June is not the best of birding times. We had comfortable accommodation, Ospreys and Choughs, Scarlet Tiger, Broad-barred White, and Brussells Lace 

We drove in at 10 p.m.  A long day, but worth it.

I have discovered a new app called obsidentify  After downloading it, .one takes a photo.

The app then - with your permission - accesses the photo and identifies it for you. I've used it twice for moths, checked the results, and found them accurate.

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