Moth update: 450th species for the year

A relatively quiet time with moth trapping recently, with several new species for the year being taken but nothing unexpected. New for years have been:
Ypsolopha sequella (12.ix.17) Westland Green
Turnip moth (12.ix.17) Garden
Brown spot pinion (13.ix.17) Garden
Black rustic (14.ix.17) Garden
Barred sallow (24.ix.17) Garden
Mallow (24.ix.17) Garden
Lunar underwing (24.ix.17) Garden
Beaded Chestnut (25.ix.17) Garden
Grey pine carpet (25.ix.17) Garden
Feathered thorn (26.ix.17) Pig's Green
Sallow (26.ix.17) Garden
Large ranuculus (27.ix.17) Garden
Pink barred sallow (28.ix.17) Garden

The pink barred sallow of the other night was the 450th moth species of the year: 265 macros, 185 micros made up of 9426 moths trapped and identified this year.

Ypsolopha sequella

Turnip moth

Brown spot pinion

Black rustic

Barred sallow

Mallow

Beaded chestnut

Grey pine carpet

Feathered thorn

Sallow

Large ranunculus

Kefalonia visit 17th - 24th Sept

We were looking forward to our week on this wonderful island, one we visited previously in 2013 and in the small hours we set off from home for our 8a.m. flight from Stansted. All was great and by 2.30pm we were at our room in a lovely hotel a mile or so up the hill from Skala village. Wonderful views over the Ionian Sea to the Greek mainland and south to the island of Zakynthos.
I spent a little time each day wandering around to find the nature. As I had discovered on our previous trip, not many birds here, so it was good to get the list started with: Sardinian warbler (common,) Jay (ubiquitous,) blackbird and collared dove. On the beach I added yellow legged gull and that remained my list for the first two days.
Whilst sitting enjoying the view from the hotel pool I noted 4 Alpine swift overhead and these, on migration, were noted daily afterwards, usually in the later part of the day. On one occasion their number was in excess of 200, all south bound. In amongst these were crag martins.
On a visit to Poros, firstly by bus and subsequently on a quad bike we hired, I noted cormorant and a white breasted kingfisher.
Back at the hotel  great and blue tits got on to the list as did two Olivaceous warblers and overhead, a small movement of migrating black kites.
As we wandered down the lane there was frequently a kestrel resting on telephone wires and our walk was often to the sound of calling buzzards.
In all 23 species were seen.
Butterflies were mainly Lang's Short tailed blues, scarce swallowtails, a meadow brown variety and several clouded yellows. Green Ionian lizards were fairly regular as were circadas and several grasshopper species.
Red veined darters were the most common dragonfly along with an unidentified species which was bright yellow and larger than the darter complex.

Looking east towards mainland Greece

meadow brown type butterfly

fast flying Alpine swift

Not sure on this darter species, showing all black legs.

A probable red veined darter, showing yellow stripes on the legs.

Leader of the local herd

another Alpine swift

Strange geology near Poros

tough terrain to bird watch. Jays and sardinian warblers were common here.

Norfolk Visit

After an abortive mission to do some birdwatching in North Norfolk in early September, due to a clutch failure on the car near Mildenhall, I tried again on 13th Sept. This time, I arrived without issue and headed off to CleySpy to buy a new tripod for my scope. Got a great deal on a second hand, carbon fibre Manfrotto. From here, off to Cley to see if any migrants had been recorded. The only bird of note was a Pectoral sandpiper, seen somewhat distantly on The Serpentine from the East Bank.
A tour of the reserve gave views of regular birds, but nothing scarce, so off to check Gramborough Hill near Salthouse Beach. Again usual stuff and, now, in constant drizzle under grey skies, I left my camera gear in the car, as I did when later visiting Kelling Water Meadows.
Following this, a coffee at Cley HQ before a drive east to Titchwell, stopping briefly at Holkham and Burnham Overy.
Titchwell was in superb light when I arrived, so off to the island hide where waders, predominantly ruff were on show. Other waders, apart from black tailed godwits were hard to come by whilst duck were mainly teal.
A trip to the Parrinder Hide as the skies darkened, meaning, a.) photography was not good and b.) I was going to get wet.
Not only was the sky now heavy, the light was beginning to fail, so I made my way back to the car and home, with a long and tedious diversion around Newmarket due to road closures. All in all, a good day to birdwatch even if not too much was noted. Almost all photos here, from the good light period at Titchwell. In total, 73 species noted and just the pectoral sandpiper being an addition to the year list.

Cley and a teal

Shelduck at Cley

Colourful moorhen from the Island Hide, Titchwell

Ruff too busy feeding to notice me at Titchwell

Another juvenile ruff judging by the long tertial feathers

Black tailed godwit at Titchwell

redshank

Another black tailed godwit. Just remants of the orange breeding plumage still visible.

New amphibian species for my parish records.

Sent from my iPhone

Upon emptying the garden moth trap on Thursday morning, along with 50+ moths I encountered a palmate newt. A new record for the parish.

Few more moths

As this week has progressed the moth numbers have continued to increase, with 55 of 22 species taken last night to the garden Skinner 125 MV trap. Whilst most remains the same a few additions to the year list have been made.
A red underwing was new for year on the 2nd whilst an exciting find of the relatively common Argyresthia semifusca  was new for parish records on the 3rd, also in the garden.

Argyresthia semifusca

On the 4th I set the 15W heath actinic trap on the local golf course. I was rewarded with new for year records of Acleris emargana, centre barred sallow, Mompha subbistrigella and a new for parish record of an Anacampsis species. I suspect A. populella as the trap was underneath willow, but gen det required to confirm.

Centre barred sallow

At home on the same night a surprise 2nd generation lilac beauty and a first of the year oak hooktip. This was my 253rd macro of the year, the Anacampsis being 185th micro.
last night, nothing new, but an Old Lady actually in the trap was unusual and only my 2nd Cataclysta lemnata for the year. This morning's haul takes me to 9000 moths for the year of 438 species.

Old Lady

Cataclysta lemnata

Acleris emargana

Moth update

Jersey Tiger

A new month brings a new for year moth in the form of a Feathered gothic. This constitutes my 330th garden moth species for the year and also represents my 250th macro moth for 2017.
Very much the same catch most nights at present, with good numbers before the heavy rain of Wednesday night. Also, that night was the coldest for a long time, so meant numbers were well down. Just started to pick up again

Feathered gothic

Highs over the last few days have been:
33  Large yellow underwing from Pigs Green on the 21st
33 Setaceous hebrew characters from the garden on the 27th
19 Common wainscot from the garden on the 28th
14 Latticed heath from the garden on the 1st.

Frosted orange

Less regular moths recently have included:
Jersey Tiger, garden 24th
Angle shades, garden 24th
Burnished brass, garden 24th
Lime speck pug, Clinton's footpath 28th
Old Lady, garden 28th
Frosted orange, garden 28th
Purple bar, Millfield Lane and garden 29th
Yellow barred brindle, Millfield Lane 29th
Silver Y, garden 29th
White point, garden 29th

Burnished brass

Yellow barred brindle

Purple bar

All these additions take the total of moths taken this year to 8572 specimens of 431 species