Who's a pretty boy?

In many species of birds the male is much brighter coloured than the female. In a few species, such as Phalaropes and Dotterels this is reversed.

This is a close up of the back of a female Pheasant. it blends with the background of a hedgerow, but it still has an understated beauty of its own.

Even in the open this bird was quite difficult to pick out in this stubble field, unlike its mate.

The male was strutting his stuff and stood out brightly from the dull background.

Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci)

The Mullein is quite a common moth but this is only the third one I've caught here. The larvae feed on various species of mullein (Verbascum sp.) and Figworts (Scrophularia sp.). In gardens it has also be found on Buddleia.

The species over winters as a pupa, and like other members of the genus it can remain in the pupal stage for up to four years.