Six-spot Burnet Moth

Six-spot burnet moth on dropwort

The longest day and the six-spot burnet moth is nectaring on dropwort, on hawkweed  and on thistles.
It's a striking moth with pairs of scarlet spots on outer wings that shade from black to silver-sheen. And scarlet under-wings that may peep out from beneath them. Its clubbed antennae are steel blue. Its body furry black.  Stunning, in a Dracula way.
This summer the six-spot burnet is on the wing. When it settles into nectaring it tends to linger so it isn't difficult to photograph.

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The furry body of the moth becomes dusted with pollen as it feeds, its slender proboscis probing deep into the flower.  I wanted to show the scarlet underwings as the moth nuzzled into the thistle. 
A cuckoo lurked in an ash, followed by a small bird as sentinel- letting the cuckoo know the surveillance was mutual.  It flew down to the ground, then away in stealth-flight.  Silently.  Possibly a female.
The plaintive song of linnet attracted me and I found a family in a hawthorn. I've seen few linnet on Scout Scar this year, so glad to know some have bred.
There's a small patch of dyer's greenweed, bright yellow flowers that I discovered a couple of years ago and always look for at this season.