Monday 26 December 2016

Moth Review of the Year: Part 4 : August and September 2016

A nearly full period of uninterrupted mothing meant I was out with the heath 15W actinic on many occasions as well as running the Skinner 125W MV trap in the garden each night except 5th and 6th August.
A visit to Millennium Wood on the 2nd gave records of Acleris emargana, Grapholita funebrana and Small phoenix. The latter being the only record for the year. On the same night I took a new for parish records of Acentria ephemerella and Tree Lichen Beauty ( the first of 4.) An Orange swift was the 200th macro of the year.
Plutella porrectella

Acleris emargana

Tree lichen beauty

The following night a trip to Valley Fields gave plenty of moths but nothing new whilst a Yponomeuta malinellus was a new for year record. A further micro, Mompha choragella was trapped on the 5th. However, whilst I was away giving a presentation for the RSPB in Lowestoft and then running an owl pellet show for the weekend at Ipswich Water Festival, Graeme Smith (GJS) ran several traps in Millennium Wood. Amongst good number he and Steve Easby managed to net a Tissue, a singularly rare moth for Herts.
The first Square spot rustic was taken on the 7th, Maple pug (8th), Lime speck pug, Plain pug and Borkhausenia fuscescens all on the 9th, followed by Dusky Thorn (10th,) Cloaked minor and a new for parish Cochylimorpha straminea on the 11th
By this time, the early autumn moths were to be expected, so 5 Svennson's copper underwing from Millennium Wood on the 11th were no surprise, neither were Plutella porrectella and Parornix angicella the following night in the garden
Coxcomb Prominent

Cypress pug

Dusky thorn

A trap in the graveyard at the bottom of the garden the following night resulted in Parapoynx stratiotata and Eudemis profundana as well as Toadflax pug and Juniper pug to the garden trap.
The next successful for new records night was the 15th, when Coxcomb prominent and Gelechia senticetella entered parish records with Currant pug and Nutmeg new for year. A first for the year Rosy Rustic on the 16th from Alder Wood, Copper Underwing (18th) from Hoecroft Lane and the same night another new parish moth, a Cochylis hybridella in the garden Skinner.
Brick Kiln Hill opposite the pub realised a solitary Vapourer on the 19th in amongst a selection of over 30 moths. A Galleria mellonella  was the 200th micro of the year before Udea fulvalis (22nd) Oak hooktip and Depressaria radiella (Hadham Hall 23rd.)
Also on the 23rd a good selection in the garden trap, with Enarmonia formosana, Marbled Beauty, and Udea ferrugalis. However, the night will be best remembered for the arrival of my 1st Vestal, a true immigrant and one that was recorded throughout Herts this year. In total, I had 9, all to the garden trap, with the last one on 13.ix.16.
Few late August moths such as Centre barred sallow meant I finished August with 208 micros and 228 macros. Late additions to records were Digitvalva pulicarie (garden 27th) Cypress pug and Mompha propinquella in the garden on 31st.
Centre barred sallow

Enarmoria formosana

Frosted orange
September kicked off with good numbers to the traps but nothing new for year or parish until 2 white points turned up unexpectedly on the 3rd, an Epinotia ramella (5th), Nymphula nitidulata (6th) and Brown spot pinion (8th)
Black rustic

Deep brown dart

Epinotia ramella

A yellow line Quaker on the 9th let us all know it was Autumn and this was more evident with the arrival of the stunning Black Rustic on the 12th. The 13th gave up new for year records of Agonopterix alstromeriana and Mompha subbistrigella from the garden whilst Phyllonorycter corylii, Ancylis mitterbacheriana and Catoptria pinella and Pink Barred sallow from Millennium Wood.
A community moth night in Millennium Wood on the 15th was well attended with over 20 locals and local press meant a good article in the Herts and Essex Observer. Of particular interest was Ypsolopha horridella, an uncommon moth for Herts, but one we have already taken in this wood. Also, Emmetia marginea, Caloptilia semifascia and Argyresthia albistria.
Autumn truly arrived on the 24th with Beaded chestnut and Grey Pine carpet in the garden, Red Line quaker and Deep Brown Dart (26th) and a Herald in Chapel Lane on bramble (28th.)
Ypsolopha horridella

Yellow line quaker

Red line quaker.

Vestal in smart plumage

Another superb Vestal

September totals now stood at 242 macros and 218 micros, a total of 460, so 40 more species to reach 500 for the year. Still on, I thought at the time.
In total, 9094 moths had been recorded since Jan1st, so 10,000 was also a reasonably feasible total. However, it looked like some leaf mining work was going to be required to get the species list going, so October and November were already looking busy. My fingers were crossed for some warm, calm nights to finish the year.

Selected first and last macro records:
Orange Swift: 02.viii.16 - 30.xiii.16
Maple pug: 08.viii.16 - 23.viii.16
Dusky Thorn: 10.viii.16 - 17.ix.16
Svennson's Copper Underwing: 11.viii.16 - 21.ix.16
Copper Underwing: 18.viii.16 - 21.x.16
Lunar Underwing: 15.ix.16 - 10.x.16

Numbers were supplied by: Orange swift (25) Dusky Thorn (36) Lesser Yellow Underwing (57,) Lunar Underwing (90) and Beaded chestnut (44)


Selected micro dates:
Acleris emargana: 02.viii.16 - 15.ix.16
Acleris variegana: 03.viii.16 - 09.x.16
Udea ferrugalis 22.viii.16 - 07.ix.16
Cochylis hybridella: 18.viii.16 - 01.ix.16

Numbers supplied by: Acleris variegana (61) Agriphila tristella (124), Acleris emargana (14) Udea ferrugalis (9)
Graeme and Steve's Tissue. A superb find in Millennium Wood. (photo GJS)


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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