Tuesday 14 July 2015

Targets all reached on the same day. 13.07.15

At the beginning of the year I set out to get the moth total for the parish to 500 species and to do this, I would probably have to pass 300 macro species (unlikely) whilst passing 200 micro species.
Today, with Coleophora glaucicoella (kindly dissected by Graeme Smith) the total of 200 micros was achieved.Other micros that contributed to this total from yesterday and this morning were: Bryotropha terrella, Grapholita funebrana, Rhodophaea formosa and Rhopobota naevana (again, confirmed by GJS)
These helped take the total to a very pleasing 499 moth species for Little Hadham parish, records beginning in June 2011. Several outstanding micros still to identify should confirm the 500 mark. A pleasing achievement. Suspect finding the next 100 is going to take a while!
Also, a large twin-spotted carpet brought up the 150th macro for 2015, whilst the Bryotropha terrella meant 130 micros for the year, a pleasing 280 species for 2015 so far. Well on the way to beating last year's total of 331 species for the whole of 2014 and this is after a disasterous start, where moths were few and far between and many early spring macros failed to get to the trap due to cold nights courtesy of a constant northerly air movement.
Just to round off the statistics, a common footman was my 2000th moth for the year, with the total now increased to 2089 due to taking 83 moths last night of 52 species. Think that is enough statistics for one blog entry. Hopefully, tomorrow will be able to report what the 500th moth is.
The Rhodophaea formosa is indeed a good moth for Herts, with only 8 records up to 2006. I await to find if this has established itself back in Herts following its crash in numbers in the mid '70's. This fall has been attributed to the presence of Dutch Elm disease, that contributed to the demise of other elm creatures such as the white letter hairstreak, now making a pleasing return to most lepidopterists year lists.
Within the list of almost 500 moths are some seriously rare creatures as well as many local and with less than 10 county records. High on the list must be oncocera semirubella (taken at light trap 21.07.14)and Dichrorampha sequana, (taken 07.06.15) both having a status of Herts extinct before being refound. Also, with less than 4 county records at the time of finding are Jersey Tiger (17.08.12 and afterwards) Synaphe punctalis (04.07.15) Argyresthia cupressella (01.07.15) Diasemiopsis ramburalis (15.10.14) Diaphania perspectalis  (07.08.14) Agriphila selasella (04.08.14) and several others. See list on right of blog.
Obviously, what is rare in Little Hadham may well be common elsewhere, Synaphe punctalis for instance. 2 records for Herts ever and likewise in Bedfordshire, 2 records, whilst Sean, a moth-er in Portland reports it is frequently the most common micro in his trap. Consequently, worth noting macros that I have only taken once or twice in the garden: Green silver lines, sprawler, dusky lemon sallow, treble bar, lobster moth, blackneck, bird's wing, small rivulet, small phoenix, pine beauty, chocolate tip, shark, oak nycteoline and deep brown dart. All the equivalent of coming across an osprey  or hoopoe within the parish, or an aquatic warbler within Hertfordshire. Roll on the next 100 species! Edit: my suspected Spinolata laricana tunred out to be Spinolata ocellana, so back to 498 moths for the parish, so best I get out there and pot every micro that comes in range tonight!
Less common pattern on July Highflyer

Rhodophaea formosa

Another angle

Final shot showing all the required features

Grapholita funebrana

Bryotropha terrella

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This is me

This is me
At the end of another Norfolk Coastal footpath walk. 47 miles, 3 days 99 species of bird. September 2009

Caley Wood view

Caley Wood view
sunshine through the canopy 29.05.08

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007

A walk along the Warta Valley, Poznan, Poland. Feb 2007
Best birds on this walk: black and middle spotted woodpecker and short toed treecreeper

About Me

My photo
A primary school teacher for 30 years, I retired from teaching in July 2009 to set up my own science enhancement and communication company. The Primary Works offers science clubs, workshops and staged science shows nationwide. I have always been interested in bird watching since my early years. Apparently my first tick was after inquiring about a chaffinch and then receiving the Observer book of birds. By the age of 9 I had moved on to Tory Peterson's collins guide and was now involved on YOC birding holidays to Northumbria, Essex coast, Slimbridge and Yorkshire. My twitching rule is that I will willingly travel 1km for each gram the bird weighs. However, I have had many rarities just by being in the right place. I have travelled widely throughout Europe and also visited Australia and Sri Lanka. In 2016 I spent time at Portland Bird Obs and two trips to Aviero, Portugal. 2017 found me back in Sri Lanka in Feb/March, then July and back for New Year's Eve celebrations in December. Also returned to The Camargue in May for a 4 day trip. Few plans for 2018, but nothing yet booked apart from a trip to the IOW.

Grey heron

Grey heron
Over the allotment 28.09.08

Southern Hawker

Southern Hawker
Ridge footpath 27.08.08

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)

Juvenile green woodpecker (17.08.08)
Note the stripes, denoting a bird fledged this year.

common blue

common blue
Ash Valley G.C. 15.08.08

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)

Indian balsam (impatiens glandulifera)
River Ash

azure damselfly

azure damselfly
River Ash 28.07.08

marbled white

marbled white
Discovered at Westland Green 22.07.08

ruddy darter

ruddy darter
Bush Wood 21.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08

honeysuckle 19.07.08
growing in hedgerow in Chapel Lane

cinnabar moth caterpillar

cinnabar moth caterpillar
Photographed on ragwort 19.07.08

Bittersweet

Bittersweet
Study of petals 11.06.08

male yellowhammer

male yellowhammer
08.06.08

common blue butterfly

common blue butterfly
06.06.08

River Ash

River Ash
looking south from the bridge at Hadham Ford

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)

Common poppy (papaver rhoeas)
in rape field 29.05.08

Caley Wood sunshine

Caley Wood sunshine
29.05.08

Millenium Wood fox

Millenium Wood fox
24.05.08

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)

common comfrey (symphytum officinale)
06.05.08 banks of the River Ash

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)

Garlic Mustard or Jack by the Hedge,(Alliara petiolata)
flowers, leaves and fruit edible . Good in salad and pesto

April showers

April showers
Double rainbow 30.04.08

Caley Wood bluebells

Caley Wood bluebells
22.04.08

Yellow Archangel

Yellow Archangel
Chapel Lane (20.04.08)

sunlight 16.04.08

sunlight 16.04.08
looking south west from Bush Wood

snowy buds

snowy buds
06.04.08 in Bush Wood

Looking north west

Looking north west
05.04.08 evening shower approaching

Back Garden

Back Garden
Easter Sunday (23.03.08)

Brick Kiln Hill

Brick Kiln Hill
Looking east (23.03.08)

No play today

No play today
The 2nd hole at Ash Valley golf course

Teasel head

Teasel head
Bush Wood (21.03.08)

Reflections

Reflections
daffodils at Bush Wood pond (21.03.08)

Swollen River Ash

Swollen River Ash
The river at the bottom of Winding Hill 16.03.08

Daybreak over the chapel

Daybreak over the chapel
Thursday 13th March

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)
growing in Bush Wood

January snowdrops

January snowdrops
Banks of River Ash, north of Much Hadham

Good Moon

Good Moon
From garden 24.01.08

Village Green

Village Green
Looking east towards Acremore Street

Looking south before Hadham Ford

Looking south before Hadham Ford
rare January blue sky

Useful sites

The following are some useful websites that may interest readers of this blog.
Firstly, Bishop's Stortford Natural History Society http://bsnhs.webplus.net/

Fellow birder, Gary Whelan's blog. Gives reports from our trips out together plus reports from his trips abroad. http://hairybirders.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.hertsbirdclub.org.uk/ The official herts bird club website. Frequently updated, listing bird sightings around the county. Offers links to many other websites. Both of these sites also offer links to yahoo discussion groups.
http://www.birdforum.net/ An international site. You can enter as a guest but become a member( free) to post comments, bird sightings and just about anything to do with wild birds. Good news updates, classified section for binoculars, cameras etc.
http://www.guidedbirdwatching.com/ A new site set up where you can contact people worldwide who will help you find good birds in their country. UK section being set up presently.
http://www.britainsbirder.co.uk/
Fellow birders blog. Strtford resident, Graeme Smith regulary birds the area south of Stortford as well as around Spellbrook and the River Stort from Spellbrook to Twyford Locks. Some superb bird photography: Graeme uses a digital camera attached to his powerful telescope to get detailled images of the birds he sees. Well worth a browse.
Two local sites that may be of interest can be found at
http://www.thehadhams.com/ www.thepelhams.net/content/section/12/139/

South Easterly walk

South Easterly walk
black, normal, red extended walk

South Westerly route.

South Westerly route.
Black usual, red extended

North Easterly walk

North Easterly walk
black short, walk. Red, extended

North West Patch

North West Patch
black route regular. Red route the extended wander