Welcome:

Welcome to my world..............

Wednesday 31 May 2017

A new butterfly and a good moth

Having worked out where to see the Duke of Burgundy butterflies I made the effort yesterday despite rather unpromising weather: although short-sleeved shirt weather there was a breeze and the cloud did offer slight drizzle on occasions.  On arriving at Hawnby Hill had close views of Red Grouse including a number of small chicks.  Overhead were three raptors, one a third larger than the other two which were buzzards; the bowed wing shape, white head with brown eye-stripe and very pale underparts all pointed to Osprey - what on earth was it doing there!

A walk along the north-western flank provided a very small number of butterflies, Red Admirals, Small Heath, Wall Brown and Small Copper, and then at last a Duke of Burgundy.  I managed a handful of shots of the Duke despite the breeze and poor light keeping the shutter speeds slow.



In addition I had at least three Mother Shipton moths which were my first in Yorkshire and only seen previously in Dorset, a few evasive crambid moths the one of which potted was lathionellus, several Brown Silver-lines and an interesting large pale Carpet which was just too quick but was probably a well-marked Silver-ground Carpet.

The other highlight (?) was me losing my footing and staggering at gathering speed hurtling down a steep slope before crashing to the ground.  I am sure if caught on camera it would have been worth seeing again but just brings it home how vulnerable us old codgers can be especially somewhere off the beaten track and alone.

Monday 29 May 2017

Hood Hill, Kilburn, VC62, night of 26 May

Things starting to pick up a bit and a good night at Kilburn with 397 moths of 61 species.  By far the most numerous was Common Lutestring with 130, and there were an interesting selection of scarce micros including Denisia similella, Ancylis mitterbacheriana, Epinotia rubiginosana and Eucosmomorpha albersana each of which with very few VC62 records.
Denisia similella

Carpatolechia proximella

Capua vulgana

Ancylis mitterbacheriana
Epinotia rubiginosana

Eucosmomorpha albersana

Grey Pine Carpet

Foxglove Pug

Welsh Wave

Grey Birch

A rather belated catch-up...

Night of 8th April, Pilmoor, VC62 - 83 of 23 species:  the highlights being a Phyllonorycter sp, probably ulmifoliella, and the earliest Yorkshire record of Scarce Prominent.
Scalloped Hook-tip

Double-striped Pug

Scarce Prominent

Red Swordgrass

Red Swordgrass


Night of 6th May, Pilmoor, VC62 – 13 of five species, a shortened night due to being rather cool and non-productive.
Lunar Marbled Brown

Night of 12th May, Hag Wood, Kilburn, VC62 – 107 of 39 species, the highlights included the spectacular micromoth Ethmia quadrillella.
Zelleria hepariella

Ethmia quadrillella

Ethmia quadrillella

Acleris hastiana

Brindled Pug