Wednesday 28 September 2011

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.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

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.

Monday 26 September 2011

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.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

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

Monday 19 September 2011

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.

Friday 16 September 2011

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

Thursday 15 September 2011

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.

Monday 12 September 2011

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

Friday 9 September 2011

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.

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