Sunday 17 August 2014

Seriously good mothing

Headquarters for the night, pots, field guides, nets, cigs and beer.

What a night: 3 of us set up 5 traps in a local wood last night, traps of a wide range, from 125w skinner, through actinics, tungsten and black light. These were strategically placed throughout the wood at 8.15pm and switched on soon after.
Millennium Wood was, obviously, planted with 2000 native trees 14 years ago and now is flourishing, if somewhat in need of management in certain areas.
 We didn't have set targets, but, as with our trial run on Thursday, grass moths and bulrush wainscot were moths we would have liked to have seen. We weren't disappointed with Crambus perlella, Agrophila tristella in good numbers, Catoptria falsella and the highlight, 5 Agriphila selasellas. Also, 2 bulrush wainscot were netted as the males appeared reluctant to come to the light. I netted one roosting on nearby bulrush, its eyes reflecting in the head torch beam. Steve took another close by.
An ermine sp was taken by a tree that we noted as spindle and then found cocoons on the ends of the branches, so that helped make a difficult id somewhat easier: Yponomeuta cagnagella (spindle ermine)
A common marbled carpet was grilled but turned out to be what it was thought to be and a pug caused some interest until seen in the correct light to be the presumed V pug. 3 square spotted clays were netted and a dusky thorn was found inside the last actinic to be checked.
Numbers were supplied by Ag tristella and Lesser broad bordered yellow underwing whilst low numbers of macros such as common carpet, snout, brimstone, setaceous hebrew character also helped take the total trapped to 313 moths of 47 species + 8 for dissection later in the year, probably a winter's evening.
Checking the netted ones, with David from Bishop's Stortford camera club capturing the evening

Common carpet

dusky thorn

V pug photo bombing a dusky thorn snap. Thorn looks non too happy!

V pug

head on with a dusky thorn

Bulrush wainscot


Millennium Wood Little Hadham 
on 16viii14
313 of 47 (not incl TBC’s) 
0015Orange Swift (Hepeialus sylvina) 5 
0367 Phyllocnistis saligna 1 
0411 Argyresthia goedartella 1
0421 Argyresthia bonnetella 1
0427 Spindle Ermine (Yponomeuta cagnagella) 5 
0455 Ypsolopha scabrella 1 
0456 Ypsolopha horridella 3 
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 3 
0658 Carcina quercana 5 
0873 Blastobasis adustella 16 
0937 Agapeta hamana 2 
0969 Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix (Pandemis corylana) 1 
1038 Acleris laterana 1 
1093 Apotomis betuletana 2 
1134 Epinotia ramella 2 
1138 Epinotia nisella 25 
1260 Cydia splendana 4 
1303 Agriphila selasella 5 
1304 Agriphila straminella 40 
1305 Agriphila tristella 35 
1316 Catoptria falsella 2 
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis) 8 
1452 Phycita roborella 1 
1680 Maiden's Blush (Cyclophora punctaria) 1 
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata) 15 
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 2 
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1 
1858 V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata) 1 
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 6 
1914 Dusky Thorn (Ennomos fuscantaria) 1 
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 3 
1956 Common Wave (Cabera exanthemata) 3 
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata) 4 
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 5 
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 4 
2111 Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua janthe) 45 
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 2 
2126 Setaceous Hebrew Character (Xestia c-nigrum) 10 
2131 Square-spotted Clay (Xestia rhomboidea) 3 
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 15 
2303 Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura) 5 
2306 Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa) 1 
2343 Common Rustic (Mesapamea secalis) 10 
2350 Small Wainscot (Chortodes pygmina) 1 
2369 Bulrush Wainscot (Nonagria typhae) 2 
2474 Straw Dot (Rivula sericealis) 1 
2477 Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 3

Previous photos, taken by myself whilst the following, many thanks to David Woods of the local camera club for coming along and getting these as they happened. Not easy light.
Also, thanks to Graeme for his recording and feedback with final list, completed at 5a.m. this morning.
copper underwing roost. Must be a female somewhere near


Common marbled carpet

Graeme busy recording with a little helper

One of many yellowshells
Checking copper underwing for Svenssons copper underwing.

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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