LCD +

A brief, cold and breezy session at Launde Park Wood with Adrian last night brought a pretty modest catch. I'll post the list later, but the clear highlight and the main target for the session was this:

Lead-coloured Drab - not exactly a fresh or well marked individual, but look at the antennae on that

The only other yeartick from the session was a smart Purple Thorn. I thought I'd nab another couple of things to point the camera at anyway.

Brindled Pug

Engrailed - this one refuses to sit in a more classic pose

Garden trapping last night was pants.

30/03/2012 : 17 of 8sp.
0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 2
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3

Light Brown Apple Moth - rapidly becoming a garden rarity

Weather is crappy this morning, but a smart silent Chiffchaff was in the garden flitting about the over-hanging sallow blossom looking for breakfast.

From the garden trap 29/03

29/03/2012 : 17 of 10sp.

0695 Agonopterix alstromeriana 1 (NFY)

0998 Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) 1 (NFY)

1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 2
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 2
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1

Brings the garden list for the year up to 28 species, and the overall yearlist up to 48 species. Out to some woodland in East Leics. shortly - hopefully there will be a Lead-coloured Drab or two.

Herald

One of my favourites.

28/03/2012 : 27 of 9sp.
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 3
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 8
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1

2469 Herald (Scoliopteryx libatrix) 1 (NFY)

From the garden trap 26/03 & 27/03

Rapidly cooling after dark, with the crystal clear skies that brought the warm bright sunshine staying in place for the moon and stars to shine. Just been running the 125W MV until the conditions pick up.

26/03/2012 : 17 of 8sp.
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 1
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 2
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 5

27/03/2012 : 11 of 6sp.
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1

OU - Kinchley Lane

Another gloriously bright and sunny day, perfect for sitting in meetings etc at work .....

When I left it was still very warm and bright, and with still a good three hours or so of daylight left I headed over to Swithland Res, and down the perimeter road - Kinchley Lane (remember where you stood for the Crag Martin). I was there with the intention of mothing, but this is mothing with a difference. No light traps, no netting, no scrutinising tree trunks or foliage - all I needed was my bins to check the tops of these ...

Didn't take too long to pick up the target, busily flitting around in the high birch canopy - Orange Underwing. I picked up c15 altogether, every now and then one would go on a sortie over the road and res but absolutely no chance of netting one and no chance of photographing one at this site.

Also noted was this Common Toad - not the best conditions to be an amphibian out of water in the day although it was scrambling along tight to the shady side of the wall in the leaf-litter.

Haven't see too many butterflies this year so far - mainly due to me being in the wrong place at the wrong time rather than there being none on the wing. This Small Tortoiseshell settled for a few seconds, though annoyingly I had the camera in aperture priority and the image is not sharp across both wings.

Ophion spp. - Mothing Villains

Every now and then I post photos of non-lepidopteran stuff that turns up in the traps, and arbitrarily categorise them as Mothing Mates or Mothing Villains. This has no scientific basis, and is largely down to how smart they look, how likely they are to sting me, or my wholly irrational loathing of them (like Cockchafers and caddis flies). One group that falls squarely into the Villains camp are the annoying Ophion spp. This is for several reasons, including that they look mean, buzz about your face at night whilst mothing and because there are several simlar species making them almost unidentifiable. How bloody churlish is that, eh, existing in an unidentifiable state!?

Here's a classic Ophion sp., maybe O. scutellaris (but quite possibly not).

Mean looking bugger.

This one at least has the decency to carry some identification in the form of creamy thorax markings - O. obscuratus. I think.

Still mean looking, even with poncey braces.

Here's a classic Mothing Mate - in fact all ladybirds are.

Loads of 7-Spot Ladybirds around at the moment

Charnwood Lodge 24/03/2012

Superbly warm and sunny yesterday. I headed over to Charnwood Lodge last night with both Josh and Alex in tow to help put out a few traps and pot a few moths. When we left home it was still showing 16°C on the car dash. By the time we arrived at Charnwood Lodge, after stopping for a bite and fuel on the way, it was already down to 10°C. It was crystal clear and felt just like the temps would plummet further. I only had one target in mind, Mottled Grey, so we set up anyway on the basis that if it was really quiet we'd pack up early.

We lit up just before 19:00, and after an hour we'd picked up a few moths but overall it was pretty quiet. I had a sheet and three traps running, so by 20:30 I decided we'd pack up knowing that would take a good 45 minutes or so. At the first trap, I found a Mottled Grey sitting on the outside so it was at least a successful trip even if brief and quiet. I'd emptied all the egg trays and tipped the trap on to its side to check around the underside of the lip at the top ...... WTF!!!!!

Superb Dotted Chestnut - British Tick for me

I really couldn't believe my luck - it was such a marginal night to go out at all, but to pick up a new macro was the last thing I expected. That it is only the second post-VCH record for VC55 was also pretty good. The other traps and the sheet were less exciting, but the overall total [261 of 15sp.] wasn't too bad for such a short session on a rapidly cooling night.

0663 Diurnea fagella 96
1659 Yellow Horned (Achlya flavicornis galbanus) 1
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 2

1775 Mottled Grey (Colostygia multistrigaria) 10

1852 Brindled Pug (Eupithecia abbreviata) 12
1930 Oak Beauty (Biston strataria) 6
1947 Engrailed (Ectropis bistortata) 13
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 24
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 37
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 14
2189 Twin-spotted Quaker (Orthosia munda) 27
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 3
2256 Satellite (Eupsilia transversa) 3
2258 Chestnut (Conistra vaccinii) 12

2260 Dotted Chestnut (Conistra rubiginea) 1

Mottled Grey

The garden traps were actually better than I thought they would be, with a total of 42 of 13sp., though nothing new for the year:

0663 Diurnea fagella 1
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 2
1053 Acleris hastiana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 9
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 2
1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 4
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 1
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 9
2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 2

Early Thorn

Garden traps are staying off tonight - it's been very warm and sunny again but it will plummet pretty quickly and be close to freezing overnight.

Full story to follow .......

Phwoar!

Garden Mothing Update

Biggest moth news in VC55 is that the first post-VCH Dotted Chestnut for the county turned up on 21/03/2012 ...... in a small suburban garden moth trap that is close to where I work with very little in the way of decent woodland nearby. A very lucky catch of one from a small northward movement, or one of thousands that have moved in undetected over recent years? Who knows - I just hope that one comes my way before too long. I also hope one of these northward moving macros has the decency to turn up in one of my traps first next time!

The garden raps have run on a few nights during the week - here's the summaries:

16/03/2012 : 20 of 2sp.

2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 20

2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 2 (NFY)

Clouded Drab

20/03/2012 : 33 of 8sp.

0288 Caloptilia stigmatella 1 (NFY)

0663 Diurnea fagella 1 (NFY)

1524 Emmelina monodactyla 2

1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1 (NFY)

2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 12
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 11

2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 4 (NFY)

2243 Early Grey (Xylocampa areola) 1 (NFY)

Hebrew Character

21/03/2012 : 17 of 6sp.

1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 1
1934 Dotted Border (Agriopis marginaria) 1
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 3
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 8

Shoulder Stripe

22/03/2012 : 46 of 12sp.

0688 Agonopterix heracliana 2
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 6
1663 March Moth (Alsophila aescularia) 1
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 3

1862 Double-striped Pug (Gymnoscelis rufifasciata) 4 (NFY)

1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1 (NFY)

2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 2 (NFY)

2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 7
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 7
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 10

2423 Oak Nycteoline (Nycteola revayana) 1 (NFY)

Oak Nycteoline

23/03/2012 : 33 of 9sp.

0663 Diurnea fagella 2
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1497 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla 6
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 3
1746 Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata) 3
2182 Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda) 7
2187 Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) 3
2188 Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta) 4
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 4

Diurnea fagella

Also, a Mompha subbistrigella (NFY) by day on 19/03/2012

Winter Geese - Spring Day

There has been a Tundra Bean Goose and up to 19 White-fronts knocking about since late Jan/early Feb at Wanlip North Lakes. For various reasons (mainly a lack of opportunity and time, mixed with a general apathy toward a 20 minute walk to look at distant geese in crap conditions) I haven't been to look for/at them. As they were reported as still present yesterday, and having a bit of time in the afternoon with glorious sunshine, I decided to pull my finger out and have a look. So I did, and it turned out to be a very easy exercise as immediately when I got to the viewing point and looked through my scope I was on the Tundra Bean, and 19 White-fronts were strung out to its left. Very distant - no chance of anything other than really appalling record shots of White-fronts with an indistinct blob (click on these for big).

Viewing Wanlip North Lakes - distantly

There are 19 White-fonts and a Tundra Bean in there

Hmm - still not clear

Full noisy zoom - some White-fonts and a big red arrow

There was also a Little Egret milling about in a ditch. Whilst over that way I nipped across to Cossington Meadows - at least one Short-eared Owl still present as it did a very brief fly-around over Swan Meadow before heaing over towards The Moor and disappearing.

Watermead White Stuff

The probably wild but acting captive Whooper Swan is still knocking about at Watermead CP South ...

Meanwhile, this probably captive but acting wild Ross's Goose was entertaining with its little yelping efforts ...

This one doesn't fit the post title. Apart from its bill and shield.

Fowl down the lane

Nipped down the lane this evening. Lots of singing going on, but aside from a couple of Skylarks there was nothing particularly noteworthy. I noticed this very striking feather ..

I have to say I am no expert on individual feathers, but I was pretty sure that this was certainly not from something I'd expect to see down the lane. I had an idea, but obviously with just a feather no way to prove one way or another. Then I found another, and then a load .....

Seemed lke the erstwhile owner of these feathers had either been eaten or, at best, had a scrape with a car. Whilst I was pondering these feathers, I picked up a distant odd call coming from the field behind. A quick look with my bins, and feather ID confirmed in an instant ....

Can I tick it?

Bizarrely, not the first time I've bumped into Helmeted Guineafowl in the general area. These have most likely jumped the fence from the nearest farm though. Otherwise, not much hit the camera sensor, though I did get crappy shots of three small common white-flowered weeds which I have finally identified: Shepherd's Purse, Hairy Bitter-cress and ....

Common Whitlowgrass

I also took a shot of a random stick dangling down from a tree - looked very arty-farty against the sky behind.

I call this one "Stick - Why?" Prints available for £50.00 each plus postage.

Click for a very big panorama view from Whetstone Gorse Lane.

Patch Tick

There are number of important and relevant factors involved with keeping and growing a patch list. I'll quickly think of them and see if I am compliant:

1. Define the area that you consider your patch. Check.
2. Preferably, choose an area that has a range of habitats. Check.
3. Keep a list of the birds that you see on the patch. Check.
4. Visit the patch regularly to keep track of what's there and add to the list. Ahh.

And so it is that the area that I laughingly refer to as my patch is neglected for long periods, and there are a few glaring voids on my pathetic patch list. Today though, thanks to a heads-up from the Hooded Birder, I got a patch tick.

No, not the Canada. Always distant, and crap light, but you get the gist.

Aside from the Oycs, a redhead Goosander and 79 Wigeon were the highlights, though not much in the way of water on site.

Click for big - the pool is very low

The River Soar is rapidly turning into a shallow stream.

Spring

Avian Genocide. Please.

Nipped to Watermead CP South yet again after work; it's just too easy to get there from work, and I seem to be becoming obsessed with gull's rings. As it happens, by the time I actually left work and got to WCPS it was bloody chilly with the wind whipping over the water, and as dull as dishwater (both in terms of the light and the lack of new CR gulls).

I found myself briefly looking at the tarmac, or rather the carpet of shit on top of tarmac.

Birders in boots looking at gulls is one (sad a barely explicable) thing, but why on earth would anyone bring their kids here for an ice cream. Or worse, to feed the ducks, geese and swans and perpetuate the shitting. This area is a sanitary disaster. During the two seconds that this whizzed through my brain, I looked up and saw yet more shite wadling past in a blaze of irridescent green-black. I then turned my attention to one of my pet hates. As those who know me well, I am a model of tolerance (ahem). But, please, could someone just do me and all the pure Mallards and Greylags a favour and start formally culling these monstrosities! This has to be priority, but followed swiftly by sorting out the Canadas and re-homing 80% of the unnaturally high Mute Swan population.

BANG

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