A moth and some birds...

[millerd]

Down at Denbies today, I came across this lovely moth, one I have never seen the like of before.

I then spotted these delightful little birds, surveying the world from a large pile of chalk. Again, I have no idea what they are (there were five or six altogether).

If anyone can identify these for me, that would be great.

Thank you!

Dave

[Padfield]

Hi Dave,

Your moth is a clouded buff (http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=1572) and your delightful birds are wheatears (allegedly a corruption of 'white arse', from the white rump they show in flight ...).

Guy

[millerd]

Thanks, Guy! I turns out I have seen a Clouded Buff before, but the dark hindwings of this one completely threw me. The other one seemed to be uniformly "custard and jam" coloured.

I can confirm the birds displayed prominent white rear ends when they took off!

Cheers,

Dave

[JKT]

This one is female. There's quite a difference.