Birds, Leps, Observations & Generalities - the images and ramblings of Mark Skevington. Sometimes.

Saturday 21 March 2015

Post-eclipse Moths

Like many did up and down the country, I spent a few minutes yesterday at around 09:20 - 09:35 waiting for darkness and impending doom. It didn't happen, and to be honest I was surprised at how light it remained despite the c89% eclipse we had over clear skies in Leicestershire. A few of us were up on the roof car-park at work making good use of welding masks to view the spectacle, just like I did at my old workplace back in 1999 - good enough protection for brief peeks but not for extended viewing. Once the spectacle was over we were back to full sunshine until later in the afternoon when it clouded over which looked good for getting the garden moth traps out.

Total catch 42 of 9sp.
125W MV 17 of 7sp., 22W/20W Synergetic/Actinic combo 25 of 7sp.

0688  Agonopterix heracliana  7
1524  Emmelina monodactyla  2
1663  March Moth (Alsophila aescularia)  1
1746  Shoulder Stripe (Anticlea badiata)  2
2182  Small Quaker (Orthosia cruda)  1
2187  Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi)  17
2188  Clouded Drab (Orthosia incerta)  8
2190  Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica)  3
2243  Early Grey (Xylocampa areola)  1

Early Grey

Clouded Drab

Shoulder Stripe

March Moth

Small Quaker

Sunday 15 March 2015

Moths and Bits

Managed to run the garden trap on Thursday and Friday nights, using the 22W synergetic combined with a 20W actinic CFL for a change. Neither night was spectacular, but the first Orthosia spp. of the spring turned up ...

Common Quaker

Hebrew Character

Best moth though was another Oak Beauty - raising hopes that this species could become a spring regular in coming years. Definitely a different individual as the first had a damaged patch to the left forewing.


On Friday I also managed to get home from work early enough to enjoy an hour or so of daylight in the garden - feels like the first time that's happened for months. Pointed the camera at a few bits because I could.

Philodromus cespitum

Empoasca vitis

Orchesella cincta