Just back from a great trip to Somerset concentrating on Light trapping Moths and  Butterfly walks. Many highlights to choose from but I have chosen the Privet Hawkmoth as the star, even over the Large Blue Butterfly and rare Heath Fritillary. It has the largest wingspan of any of the native moths.
More pictures from out Somerset visit can be found here:http://www.pbase.com/wildscot/somersetleps

We have had a long dry spell on the East of Scotland recently. Only for the past couple of days has it also been quite hot so I had an idea. I took some cartons of water and made a puddle. We then went off for a walk.

Half an hour or so later we returned to check thing out.  From the car we could see that it had attracted House Martins. In all about a dozen were attracted to our puddle, no larger than a big handkerchief. I guessed they were short of building material and my plan was to help them and get a picture. I love it when a plan comes together.