Helmingham Hall: 10.07.11

A day visit, in good weather conditions to Helmingham Hall, Suffolk. Built in 1510, it remains a fully moated Tudor hall, still lived in by the Tollemache family. In the 1800's it was rendered with concrete to make it look a more imposing castle. This was, however, removed in 1821. The gardens were magnificent, with a wild flower area attracting butterflies (peacock, small copper, common blue, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, large, small and green veined white, comma along with a hummingbird hawkmoth. Swifts, swallows and house martins were all nesting locally and could be seen feeding and drinking from the moat. A grey heron, mallard, moorhen were also seen whilst greater spotted and green woodpeckers were heard, as were robins, nuthatches, dunnocks, wrens, blackbirds. A wonderful day out and worth a visit.

new moths 09.07.11

common rustic

early thorn

burnished brass

A few new moths to the trap over the last few nights, with both early thorn and common rustic being a first. The burnished brass is my second record.
Local birds around The Ford at present are the usuals. Swifts, swallows and occasionally house martins can be seen feeding over the chapel in the evening, whilst yellowhammers and skylarks can be heard singing. A particularly vociferous wren has taken up residency in a neighbours garden,

new moths for July 05.07.11

iron prominent



lunar spotted pinion




shaded broad-bar




swallowtail moth



vine's rustic

More new moths continue to come to the garden trap. As yet, nothing classified as rare as all are either categorised as common or local, but still good to find new species in the trap each morning. The pick of the bunch was a superb swallowtail moth and a shaded broad-bar. The latter is a day flying moth, so unusual to find in a light trap.


angle shades



bright line brown eye



clay




crambus perlella



cyclamen tortrix



ypsolopha vittella

 Also, plenty of local reports of red kites being seen. Reports range from Albury all the way down the Ash Valley to Wareside.

Mothing in Millenium Wood 30.06.11

Photos from the top;

• buff tip
• small emerald
• buff arches
• a few potted and straight from the fridge
• dark arches
• clouded silver
• micro ermine species
• faded small emerald
• double square spot
• base camp
• poplar grey
• common carpet
• common emerald
• brown rustic
• dingy shears
• flame
• mottled beauty
• small fan footed wave

On Thursday night I set up the moth trap in Millennium Wood, trapping from 10pm until 2 a.m. I covered the trap and returned at 7.30a.m. to see what I had caught. I had hired a generator and consequently, didn't want to leave it unattended. I reckon on several hundred moths visited the light, with many resting on the white sheet as well as entering the trap. By far the most common species were common footman  (over 50) and mottled beauty, but least carpet, small emerald, heart and dart, heart and club, many micros were all present. At the moment I have just completed photographing the ones I potted and placed in the fridge. A superb buff arches was found as well. Several clouded silvers came to the light early on and I suspect the catch would have been much greater had I kept the light going all night. However, a good start as this was my first time outside the garden. More to be added later

new moths 28.06.11

new moths from the trap over the last few days. Still several that are potted and in the fridge awaiting id. From the top:

• beautiful hooktip
• brown tail
• buff arches
• dot moth
• dun bar
• elephant hawkmoth
• elephant hawkmoth
• scalloped oak
• yellowtail.
• Also, a swallowtail moth was noted at the trap last night, but didn't remain overnight. Also, 2 eyed hawkmoths, 1 brimstone, plenty of heart and dart and heart and club,

Little Hadham walk 26.06.11

8 of us set out in good conditions for a wander to Standon, returning via Bromley and Ash Valley Golf Course. Being June the birds were in short supply, with singing whitethroat, grey heron and skylarks being the best of a poor assortment. However, insects more than made up for the dirth in birds. Marbled white, red admiral, small tortoiseshell, ringlet, small and large white, small and large skipper, gatekeeper and meadow brown were all recorded along with cantharbis rustica, oedemera nobilis and strangalia maculata. Photos show marbled white and a well lit small tortoiseshell.

More moths: 23.06.11

A load of moths in the trap this morning, with these 3 being new for the year.  barred straw (1) small emerald (photo 2) and large yellow underwing (3)

Also of note, a beautiful hooktip, several dark arches, 2 bright line brown eyes and numerous heart and dart along with 1 brimstone. From yesterday: firstly a bright line brown eyes, followed by a brown rustic