OK, so without wanting to sound like a stuck record (anyone even remember those?) I found myself back in the New Forest once more. Addicted. I aimed myself at Matley Bog, determined to find something good. Guess what, I did too! I headed into an area full of Bog Myrtle and heathers and soon spied a lovely female Thomisus onustus hiding on heather bells. I've only seen two of these before, both on Thursley Common last year. Stunning wee critters. So I was doubly pleased to find a second female a short while later, coolness! Far better even than that, I then found my first ever New Forest Shieldbug (Eysarcoris aeneus) which was a whole lot smaller than I expected it to be. And fast! Here's the only half-decent pic I managed as it scurried back into the heather

Happy happy Seth!!! Whilst there I kept seeing whitish micro moths flying low over the wetter parts of the heathy mire. I wasn't wearing wellies so had to be a bit careful, but eventually I followed one to where it settled, noted that it was some sort of grass-veneer type thingy, and nearly managed to slip a pot over it. Nearly...luckily there were plenty more of them to try for. Eventually I had one secure in a pot and realised I didn't recognise the species. I took a few pics...

It was Crambus silvella, a rather uncommon moth with strong populations on the Dorset/South Hants wet heaths, as well as a few other scattered localities in southern England. Another very good find, and my second lifer of the day, in this amazing forest. Other decent insects seen included Large Marsh Grasshopper (Stethophyma grossum), Bog Hoverfly (Sericomyia silentis), Wood Crickets (Nemobius sylvestris) and the shiny black cases of Coleophora pyrrhulipennella. A nearby stream also proved worthwhile with a Bullhead peeking out between pebbles!

I had a very brief stop at Parc Pales before quitting the forest. Only thing I saw of note was a solitary Bee-wolf (Philanthus triangulum) at the top end of the sandpit.