another new moth 28.09.11

black rustic

brick

brown spot pinion

sallow

beaded chestnut

2 new moths in the trap this morning, after a warm night. Firstly a large ranunculus was observed but bid a hasty farewell as the camera was poised. A brick, shown above, was far more keen to be photographed. Other species are shown here, with the usual 15+ lunar underwings as well. The black rustic is indeed a most striking moth, especially when newly emerged as the one shown above. Also shown, a sallow, found in the trap yesterday morning but only i.d'd late last night.

Puzzling moth 27.09.11

ruby tiger (late record)

A moth arrived in the trap last night that had me reaching for the field guides. A few photos were taken, in the dark using flash. Not the best way to get good results of colour. It suddenly dawned on me that it was not a new moth, just a dark form of ruby tiger. This was a most common moth throughout the summer! However, this is a very late record of such and consequently the record has been forwarded to the county recorder.

Moth round up

snout

brown spot pinion

yellow line quaker

burnished brass

brown spot pinion

barred sallow



dusky lemon sallow



brown spot pinion

svenssons copper underwing

brown sopot pinion.

Whilst since adding to the moth list from the garden trap. New moths recorded recently include: yellow line quaker, dusky lemon sallow and barred sallow, all shown here. Also, plenty of snouts around, a few large yellow underwings, one brimstone and one black rustic. Main moth remains the lunar underwing, with up to 10 in the trap most mornings. Photos added also show the variety that the brown spot pinion can appear, with a selection of brown to chestnut ground colour. The 5 spots on the edge of the wing, remain the diagnostic marke, though.

new moth 20.09.11

common marbled carpet

lunar underwing

brown spot pinion

These three were unusual moths, with the first definitely being a first whilst the other two maybe ones I have recorded on a single occasion before. Am awaiting confirmation but think either/or two or three maybe brown spot pinion. Will update this note when they are confirmed. Need to do a little research. These now confirmed as shown

new moth and correction

Last week's entry showing a new moth a beaded chestnut has now been re identified and is in fact the equally common and very similar brown spotted pinion.

black rustic

brown spotted pinion

flounced rustic

Today, 12 moths in the trap, including several large yelloow underwings and lunar underwings. However, a black rustic was a first for the garden. A striking moth.

new moth 16.09.11

Another very quiet moth night, with only 6 moths in the trap at 6.15 this morning. However, in amongst the 2 large yellow underwings, 1 lunar underwing and 2 latticed heath was a new moth, in the form of either grey pine carpet or spruce carpet. These 2 moths, if female are only id'able after dissection, whilst the males can (possibly) be id'd by an expert. Photos have been forwarded to such. A photo attached here. I have plumped for spruce carpet, going by the not very diagnostic feature of the white jagged line near the end of the forewings. Hopefully will be informed soon. However, a common September/October moth, so will probably get a few more to check doifferences. Males can be told by counting the hairs onthe antennae. A large hand lens could prove useful

 grey pine carpet

North Norfolk 13.09.11

sunrise, Sheringham

full moon, Sheringham (taken at the same time as the above and below shot)

Looking east from Sheringham promenade

confiding redshank, Salthouse

redshank

redshank showing diagnostic tail pattern

Cley windmill and Blakeney church from the East Bank

poor quality avocet shot: Titchwell.

A superb day, beginning before 4.00 a.m. and returning home by 10pm. In company with three fellow local birders we visited Sheringham (sea watch) Weybourne/Muckleborough collection beach, Salthouse beach car park and beach road, Cley East bank, hides, Cley beach and north hide, Stiffkey Fen, Holkham Hall estate, Choseley drying barns and Titchwell. 94 species in all. Whilst nothing too extreme some great views of arctic skua, black tern, greenshank, whimbrel, whinchat, golden plover, corn bunting, yellow wagtails, little stint and curlew sandpiper made it a great day out. A particularly confiding redshank was photographed at Salthouse beach car park. However; at Stiffkey Fen, in amongst green sandpipers and ruff was a strange bird, very buff in colour and the same size as the green sandpipers with which it was consorting. Views were difficult and I called it as a buff breasted sandpiper. However, trying to peer over the reeds, in a wind that moved tripod and scope made viewing very difficult and it was always going to be a hard one to nail. Never know whether it was a large juvvie ruff or something more transatlantic. Last birds of the day were some good, if distant manx shearwaters off Titchwell. My first sighting of these from so far west in Norfolk. Great day and super company

Moth update 15.09.11

Very quiet at the trap recently, but also, a trip to Norfolk for birds meant I was unable to check on it for a few mornings, plus work committments. However, a few photos here:


brown spot pinion



square spot rustic

flounced rustic

flounced rustic in more natural habitat.

weekend round up

brindled green

brindled green

centre barred sallow

old lady

setaceous hebrew character (unfamiliar wing open pose)

silver y

silver y

willow beauty

Several new moths on to the list this weekend, with a brindled green being recorded Sunday morning and a beaded chestnut today. Plenty of moths about at present, with latticed heath, cebtre barred sallows, lunar underwings and large yellow underwings all turning up in the trap in numbers in excess of 20. Also, the regular setaceous hebrew characters,, common wainscot, light emeralds and several burnished brass. Other moths that appeared alone were Old Lady and willow beauty

Westland Green mothing 09.09.11

angle shades

forest bug

A new species for the year was trapped last night in a private garden in Westland Green. Many thanks to Amanda and her family for permitting me access to her garden. The trap was set up underneath mature beech, running from 9.00pm to 5.45am The contents featured numerous wasps (at least 50) and 2 species of shield bugs; forest bug (43 specimens) and birch shield bug (26 specimens) On the moth front, the highlight was a superb red underwing, whilst the rest of the catch was as you'd expect in the second week of September. Setaceous hebrew characters and large yellow underwings were both counted in excess of 25 whilst there were several square spotted rustics, lesser yellow underwings and common wainscot. Smaller numbers were supplied by brimstone, snout, several micros as well as both a 22 spot ladybird and an orange ladybird. Singles of angle shades, light emerald, centre barred sallow and feathered gothic were also taken.

centre barred sallow

common wainscot

copper underwing

feathered gothic

large yellow underwing

light emerald

chequered fruit tree tortrix

red underwing

red underwing close up

setaceous hebrew character

snout

square spot rustic

 Whilst sitting adjacent to the trap, 4 tawny owls called, 2 little owls and a muntjac barked away from the nearby golf course.