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| Pinion-streaked Snout |
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.
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
Harry Beaumont has confirmed the identification of the first Juniper Carpet on 16th July, so this is very strange behaviour.
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| Juniper Carpet |
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.
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| Ypsolopha parenthesella |
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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
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| Juniper Carpet |
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.
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| 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.
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| Scalloped Shell |
Apotomis betuletana - Clough Wood
Forgot to add this photo of Aptomis betuletana from Thursday night.
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| Apotomis betuletana |
Common Newt - Tansley
This individual, a female, was found by my son at the garden centre in Tansley.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Eana incanana |
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.
Interestingly I caught almost nothing at home which I think shows the effect of a slight difference in temperature.
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| V-Moth |
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.
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| Emerald Damselfly - female |
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Long-eared Owl chicks
Located 3 downy chicks this evening fresh out of the nest.
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| 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.
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| Dotted Clay |
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.
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| 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.
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| Ypsolopha sequella |
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.
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| 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.
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| Yellow-tail |
