Pull out the Pin

Not much about the garden today. Warm during sunny spells, nippy during cloudy spells, and constantly blustery. Whilst out on a phone call though I noticed what appeared to be a small (c5mm) male hoverfly sitting doing nothing. I went in to grab a pot and refound it in the same area but now on a buttercup flower. Whilst it looked distinctly like a hoverfly, it wasn't acting like one and potting it was easy. No distinct markings as far as I could see, though it resolutely sat with wings folded over the abdomen. A quick flick through the guide make it clear that it wasn't going to get an ID without close scrutiny. Sorry fly.

I managed to pin it badly with a D3 when an A1 would have been better. No way of pulling out the pin and starting again, but still I could now check it out and seek confirmation on the facebook group. Wing venation, antennal structure and bits all looked at.

I reckoned it was Pipizella viduata, which is new for me, and Roger Morris agreed. I need to practise opening up the genital capsule and pinning it to dry in the future, but this was just about good enough.

No moth trap last night, but here's a selection from Saturday night's bumper catch - 84 of 34sp across the two traps (125W MV trap 33 of 23sp, synergetic/actinic combo trap 51 of 19sp) including 15sp NFY.

Gold Spot

Broad-barred White

Nutmeg

Knot Grass

Lime Hawk-moth

Pale Prominent

Scalloped Hazel

Seraphim

Spruce Carpet

Grey Pine Carpet

My traps are not usually bothered by the birds until there are fledgling Blackbirds and Robins knocking about. We've got at least three pairs of Blackbirds nesting somewhere nearby, and a couple of pairs of Robins, but until today no sign of any early fledglings. One of the Blackbird pairs were mating repeatedly yesterday, as they were about a month ago. I wondered if the nests have been predated, but today came the familiar squeeks and squawks of fledgling Blackbirds and at least two were in and out of the garden. Any trapping from now until later in the summer will mean extra egg-boxes around the outside and early mornings.

The Moth Pics Pt 2

Some more from Charnwood Lodge .....

Red-necked Footman - smart

Northern Spinach - ridiculously early?

Beautiful Carpet - certainly is

Broom Moth - a realy smart individual

Marbled White Spot - could this be referable to f. albilinea?

Marbled White Spot - a typical individual

Small Angle Shades

Grey Pine Carpet

... and more from the garden on 02/06/2011

Common Carpet

Angle Shades

Flame Shoulder

Casual moth sightings

After failing to see the Cossington Bittern, I was a little surprised to find a Grey Pine Carpet sitting on the side of the car as I was leaving.

Grey Pine Carpet. Yes, I know it is brown.

The weather picked up fairly dramatically on Tuesday with glorious sunshine and a bit of warmth. I've seen very few butterflies so far this year but on Tuesday I noted Small Tortoiseshell, Brimstone and Peacock from the office window. Also at the office (Braunstone, Leics) I found a couple of micros basking in the sunshine on the inside of an open window. I potted up both (always prepared, pots in desk drawer). One was Acrolepia autumnitella - very few previous records, one from my garden on 15/07/2003 was only the second for Leics & Rutland. The other was a Phyllonorycter corylifoliella.

Acrolepia autumnitella