3 new moths 30.08.11

3 new moths this morning: firstly a snout. This is a common species and I suspect many will be trapped over the next fortnight. Unfortunately it legged it before I could get a photo. Secondly, an expected moth in the shape of Svenssons copper underwing. This common moth is distinguished from the equally frequently trapped copper underwing by observing the underside. With Svensson's there is considerably more coppering. Lastly, a visit to the trap last night at 10.30pm gave views of a large moth. This was quickly identified as an Old Lady, which seldom comes to light. As can be seen, in very poor condition. Fortunately, a second was in the trap this morning, in much better condition, also shown. Other moths making an appearnce were the regular brimstones, green and garden carpet along with plenty of yellow underwing species.

green carpet

light emerald

Old Lady (new)

Old Lady (worn)

silver y

Svensson's copper underwing

Mothing 28.08.11

flounced rustic

square spot rustic

With all the rain and not particularly good moth temperatures, very little has visited the trap recently and certainly nothing new. Flounced rustics, brimstones, large, lesser, broad bordered and lesser broad bordered yellowunderwings are all nightly visitors and the same frosted orange discovered earlier in the week was trapped again.

So Close!! 26.08.11

I received a report of a pair of whinchats near the south east parish boundary, so hurried off to see if it would become the 100th bird for the parish. Good views were had, albeit distant, but unfortunately the nearest they came to the parish was 200 yards. A good local bird, migrating south with not many records per year within the whole of Hertfordshire. On my way back, a superb male blackcap was observed in bramble, a common buzzard over Bury Green and an autumnal show of starlings, shown here. The day had been one of heavy downpours and sunshine, culminating in a wonderful evening rainbow. Thanks to birding friend Graeme for informing me of the whinchat. His photos can be viewed at http://www.britainsbirder.co.uk/

New Moths

frosted orange





yellowshell

cabbage moth

bordered beauty

These two moths were new to me this morning, along with a broad bordered yellowunderwing that legged it before I could get a photo. Moth above also a new species to the trap: a cabbage moth, again a common species and onethat I shall probably find in the trap most mornings for the next fortnight or so.

new moth 24,08.11

A check on the moth trap at 5 a.m. today gave up two examples of a new moth for the garden in the shape of a garden carpet. Also, the usual regulars were in attendance, with another Evergestis garden pebble. Plenty of mottled rustics, a few rustics, common rustics, square spot rustics and 1 ear moth sp. This really requires dissection to clarify the actual species, but 99% guaranteed to be a common ear. Quite a few micros were photographed, now to wade through 1500 moths to identify them. Several have been uploaded here and will be named at a later date.

garden carpet

Agriphila geniculea

square spot rustic

Trachycera advenella
worn example

Agriphila tristella

Moth trap contents

Just 1 new moth today, after a warm night with a little drizzle. At midnight there were 2 small emeralds, 4 large yellow underwings, 1 mother of pearl, 2 brimstone and 1 common carpet on the sheet and plenty entering the trap. Most of these seemed to be setaceous hebrew characters.

burnished brass



worn example of a willow beauty

 This morning plenty of lesser yellow underwings, lesser broad bordered yellow underwings, several common wainscot, set hebrew characters, uncertains, 2 brimstone and an ununsual moth for the trap, a burnished brass. Latter being only my 3rd record. However, highlight was finding a flounced rustic in the trap. Tricky individual to id, looking rather similar to a common rustic. Both shown below.

Flounced rustic

common rustic

Much Hadham Walk



buzzard

 3 of us set out from Little Hadham, heading for Much Hadham along the Ridge footpath. A mewing juvenile buzzard was first heard and then seen, soaring with an adult. In all, we saw 4 common buzzards, all in the sky simultaneously.
Not too many birds: yellowhammers, pied wagtail a solitary red legged partridge, 100+ jackdaws at Bush Wood, a moorhen on a very dry River Ash and a kestrel were the highlights.
The knapweed was abundant along the path and alive with insects. Hundreds of honey bees, presumably from nearby hives, common blue, red admiral and large and small white butterflies. An unusual hoverfly, scaeva pyrausti was observed, standing out due to it being white and black. A common hoverfly. Migrant hawkers and ruddy and common darters were seen, with the ruddy darter in a large puddle opposite the Nag's Head. A good walk back across the golf course, having enjoyed refreshment at The Bull.


female common blue




scaeva pyrausti



Moth round up

brimstone. Unusual for it to pose with wings closed

humming bird hawk moth

nicrophorus investigator

rosy rustic

scarce footman



square spot rustic



spectacle

straw dot

Several new moths were added to the list this weekend, with straw dot moth, square spot rustic and rosy rustic being new ones. Also in the trap was a colourful beetle, nicrophorus investigator and a hornet. This didn't appear to enter the trap, but roosted outside, waiting for moths to arrive or leave. Several wing parts scattered around showed it had enjoyed a riband wave and green carpet.
The hummingbird hawkmoth appeared at about 7pm, so light was not good. Shutter speed 160th of a second and still the wings are a blur. This gives a good indication of how fast the wings beat.

More moths 18.08.11

Agriphila tristella

Acleris variegana: Garden rose tortrix

Green carpet

Ophion luteus

Moths continue to fill the trap, although not to the extent they were during the warmer evenings of a few weeks ago. A green carpet was eventually photographed, along with 2 micro moths, both shown here. The damp and chilly nights continue to keep many expected August species away from the trap. Just one warm and balmy night will readdress the balance. Also in the trap this morning was a parasite insect, Orphion luteus. This attacks caterpillars of both moth and butterfly, occasionally laying its eggs actually into the larva!

Bird migration

I spent a couple of hours on the patio, watching the constant movement south of several species of bird. In the time I counted (2 hours) I recorded, 4 house martins, 4 swifts, 207 swallows, 27 lesser black backed gulls and 1 black headed gull. Also seen were 2 resident common buzzards. A humming bird hawkmoth was also seen, feeding at dusk on the garden buddliea

Latest moths

Catoptria falsella

common carpet

Evergestis forficalis garden pebble

six striped rustic

tawny speckled pug

turnip moth (dark)


  A selection of both new and previously recorded moths. The micros, catoptria falsella and garden pebble are both common moths, as are all the rest. The six striped rustic is a first record whilst the turnip moth photos are added to illustrate the complexities of identifying even the most common visitor to the trap. Also added the first record of tawny speckled pug, again a common moth, appearing between July and August.

birds and moths 16.08.11

emmelina monodactyla

flame shoulder

A good catch of moths last night, although nothing new. A lesser swallow prominent was only the 2nd record whilst several species of the yellow underwing, a flame shoulder, brimstone, silver y, emmelina monodactyla, dark bordered twin spot carpet, spectacle, late common footman, common wainscot, riband wave etc were all in evidence.
Swallows were heading south in good numbers this morning, passing overhead along the Ash Valley at about the rate of 100 per hour. Last night, over 60 lesser black backed gulls weaved their way overhead

2 new moths 14.08.11

turnip moth

female orange swift

lychnis

A good night at the moth trap, with 2 new species discovered in amongst a good count of regulars.A superbly marked green carpet managed to escape as I was trying to get the 1st photo of it. A common moth, I suspect it will return to the trap. The second was a common moth, long overdue, in the form of a turnip moth, shown below. Another good moth was lychnis, now beginning its second brood and one that will be fairly regular for the next few weeks, also shown below. Lesser, lesser broad bordered and large yellow underwing were all taken and the number of the large micro moth, mother of pearl, continue to increase. At least 15 this morning.
The previous morning a moth I had not seen before had me diving for the field guide. However, it turned out to be a female of the  orange swift species, shown here in hand. Much larger and duller than the orange male, nevertheless a good moth to observe.