Friday 22 July 2011

Pinion-streaked Snout

Not much last night at home but this rather worn Pinion-streaked Snout is a good addition to the year list, it's a very occasional garden visitor which is more likely to be encountered on Flash Lane but no always easy to find.

Pinion-streaked Snout

Thursday 21 July 2011

Ptycholomoides aeriferanus

Since the first record in Kent in 1951 Ptycholomoides aeriferanus is another moth which is spreading north. Looking at the NBN Gateway there appear to be records in South Yorkshire so I presume there will be a few Derbyshire records.
Ptycholomoides aeriferanus

Long-eared Owl hunting

Watched the adult Long-eared Owl hunting this evening, it took 4 voles/field mice in the space of 30 minutes so the youngsters are not going to starve.

Long-eared Owl

The Suspected

Still suffering from the cool, wet weather but added The Suspected last night out of a total of 23 species. Plus a couple of micro's to id.
The Suspected

Wednesday 20 July 2011

Another Juniper Carpet!

I think one could be an abberation but two within a week suggests that these really are Juniper Carpet so it's back on the year list. Also caught the micros Ypsolopha dentella and Acleris forsskaleana.
Harry Beaumont has confirmed the identification of the first Juniper Carpet on 16th July, so this is very strange behaviour.
Juniper Carpet

Acleris forsskaleana

Acleris forsskaleana

Ypsolopha dentella - Honeysuckle Moth

Ypsolopha dentella

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Ypsolopha parenthesella

Another quiet night but Ypsolopha parenthesella was new for the year and another example of Currant and Larch Pugs added to the photo library. Otherwise Barred Straw and Pale Mottled Willow were the only interest.
Ypsolopha parenthesella

Currant Pug

Currant Pug

Larch Pug

Larch Pug

Monday 18 July 2011

Short-eared Owl - again on Beeley Moor

The Short-eared Owl showed well again this evening in the fading light. The chocolate brown back and broad white tips to the flight feathers and coverts with the extensively dark face patches indicate this is a bird of the year.
Short-eared Owl

Gold Spangle

Rained most of last night so I was pleasantly surprised to find a Gold Spangle in the trap this morning, also another Large Twin-spot Carpet.
Gold Spangle

Sunday 17 July 2011

Juniper Pug

Whilst there remains some uncertainty about the Juniper Carpet below I also caught Juniper Pug last night.
Juniper Pug

Autumn weather - Juniper Carpet?

It's usually towards the end of the season when I catch Juniper Carpet, in September and October, so I was surprised to see this individual on the window this morning. Difficult to explain why a moth which should just be hatching from an over-wintered egg should be flying now? 
I have given it to Brian Statham to check, he did say it could be a small Pine Carpet but we'll wait and see.
Also added Carcina quercana but trap numbers were otherwise low following another cool evening.
Juniper Carpet

Carcina quercana

Carcina quercana

Saturday 16 July 2011

Fallow Deer doe and fawn - Chatsworth

Visited Chatsworth this afternoon where there were many young fawns in with the Fallow Deer. These are quite distinct from those in the Clough Wood area which are all very dark.
Fallow Deer

More Micro's plus Scalloped Shell

Another reasonable night at home produced the striking Scalloped Shell, and the micro's Eudonia mercurella, Caloptilla betulicola, Trachycera advenella and Catoptria falsella the Chequered Grass-veneer.
Scalloped Shell

Eudonia mercurella


Eudonia mercurella

Caloptilla betulicola

Or possible elongella.
Caloptilla betulicola

Catoptria falsella - Chequered Grass-veneer

Catoptria falsella

Trachycera advenella

Trachycera advenella

Apotomis betuletana - Clough Wood

Forgot to add this photo of Aptomis betuletana from Thursday night.
Apotomis betuletana

Common Newt - Tansley

This individual, a female, was found by my son at the garden centre in Tansley.
Common Newt

Slow Worm - Clough

Slow Worms are seldom encountered but Clough Wood is certainly one of the most reliable areas for them. I think this is probably a youngster, about 6 inches in length.
Slow Worm

Epinotia brunnichana f.brunneodorsana

Below are the micro's from Clough Wood; Epinotia brunnichanna 2, Cnephasia stephensia 6+, Heyda salicella 3,  Epiblema uddmanniana and Ypsolopha nemorella.


Epinotia brunnechana f. brunneodorsana

Eana incanana - Clough Wood

Initially thought this was Grey Tortrix Cnephasia stephensiana but Brian Statham thought otherwise and having looked again agree with his identification, we caught at least two so this is a good record for Derbyshire. The habitat is also good with many Bluebells the host plant.
Eana incanana

Heyda salicella - Clough Wood


Heyda salicella

Epiblema uddmanniana Bramble Shoot Moth - Clough Wood

Epiblema uddmanniana

Ypsolopha nemorella - Clough Wood

Ypsolopha nemorella

Crambus pascuella Inlaid Grass Veneer - Halldale Quarry

Crambus pascuella

Friday 15 July 2011

V-Moth - Clough Wood

Had a successful night at Clough Wood with Brian Statham. The V-Moth was the highlight for me, known from Clough Wood it is always encountered in low numbers and appears to be disappearing in the south of the country. Almost exclusively associated with Gooseberry it still occurs in areas with this food plant. Also caught 5 Slender Brindle, 3 Large Twin-spot Carpet, Sandy Carpet, 2 Buff Footman, 3 Triple-spotted Clay, The Clay and at least half a dozen micro's that will be new for the year if I can identify them, photos to follow.
Interestingly I caught almost nothing at home which I think shows the effect of a slight difference in temperature.
V-Moth

Slender Brindle - Clough Wood

Slender Brindle

Thursday 14 July 2011

Emerald Damselfly - Stone Edge Pools

Saw a couple of Emerald Damselfly's at the pools today but it was very windy and had become overcast by the time I called in so nothing flying over the pools.
Emerald Damselfly - female

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Long-eared Owl chicks

Located 3 downy chicks this evening fresh out of the nest.
Long-eared Owl chicks

Dotted Clay

Dotted Clay and Dun-bar were new for the year but also caught another Scarce Footman (see note below). Numbers were otherwise low; 9 Common Footman,Gothic, Muslim Footman and Grey Arches were about the best.
Dotted Clay

Dun-bar

Dun-bar

More on Scarce Footman

Caught a Scarce Footman last night which sat in the classic 'rolled-up' position, much more so than the individual depicted yesterday with the Common Footman which also was a slightly darker grey. I am now wondering whether yesterday's could have been the race serica known as Northern Footman. Although this race is reported from the Midlands in Shropshire, Cheshire and Lancashire I am not sure if it has been recorded in Derbyshire although the habitat of peat bogs and boggy moorlands occur close to me. Unfortunately I did not check the underwing for the grey smudging characteristic of Northern, so will have to hope for further examples.
Scarce Footman


Tuesday 12 July 2011

A few new micro's

As well as the White Satin Moths noted below I added Catoptria pinella, Yponomeuta evonymella and the striking black and white Ypsolopha sequella last night. Also tried Beeley Moor again but the wind picked up late evening and the temperature dropped. highlights were Twin-spot Carpets, Narrow-winged Pug and a few Antlers.
Ypsolopha sequella

Yponomeuta evonymella - The Bird-cherry Ermine

Yponomeuta evonymella

Catoptria pinella

Catoptria pinella

White Satin Moth

Caught two White Satin Moths in the garden trap last night, this is a scarce species in Derbyshire and perhaps best classed as rare in the Peak District. Useful comparison with the Yellow-tail below showing the White Satins stripy legs to good effect.
White Satin Moth

Monday 11 July 2011

Yellow-tail new for the garden

Decent night last night adding Yellow-tail, a moth which is commoner in lowland Derbyshire plus Buff and Scarce Footman.
Yellow-tail

Scarce Footman

Scarce Footman

Common Footman and Scarce Footman
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