Lee Mount - 29th June

A nice surprise this morning was a Varied Coronet. Been looking for them recently having just a few Sweet Williams in the garden - a flower they seem to favour. It's a moth that seems to be slowly on the increase locally. My first was in 2016 as well as the three following years. Missed out in 2020 then 3 dates in 2021, none in 2022 then 9 dates in 2023.

Sweet Williams, just a few, with next years crop in the foreground !

Varied Coronet - this mornings was off before I could get a better shot.

Not a lot else this morning other than Dark Arches x 2, Barred Fruit-tree Tortrix  x 1, Heart and Dart x 5 and this fading Green Pug.

Ogden - 26th June

One of those rare nice hot summers days !

Ringlet

Speckled Wood

Nicely marked Yellow Shell

Beacon Hill

 Ringlet 1

Shibden Valley

 Ringlet 1

Lee Mount - 25th June

An interesting session in and around the trap this morning - 13 species, 28 moths, is the best return so far this year ! Included Green Pug, Buff Arches, Large Yellow Underwing, Green Oak Tortrix and Marbled Mior agg..........The Peppered Moth from yesterday was still present but peering through the trap.

Then a pair of Peppered Moths in 'close contact' with the upper one showing distinct size difference as well as an enlarged abdomen suggesting this was the female full of eggs ? 

Then what I think can only be Thistle Ermine (at 14mm). TBC would be a first for me.

Lee Mount - 24th June

 One Peppered Moth with a Buff Ermine and not alot else other than a couple of Bee Moths and a number of  Chrysoteuchia culmella fluttering about the grass in the sunshine.

Buff Ermine

Peppered Moth

Swales Moor. Later in the day I went looking for day flying moths and butterflies.  A few micro moths that I failed to catch, identify or photograph but 2 Latticed Heath briefly showed in among the vegetation.

Latticed Heaths

Also 1 Red Admiral, 14+ Large Skippers, 2 Meadow Brown and 7 Small Heath.

Byron Edge

 I flushed an Oak Eggar, and had a second fly close past me. At Whiteholme MH had pointed me to about 6 mobile Oak Eggars, but I had failed to get onto any of them.

Whiteholme

 Large Skipper 1, Small Heath 3

Lee Mount

 One new for me here on 22nd June.

Marbled White Spot

Micro querie !

 Any thoughts on this micro at 10mm  - in the trap this morning. ?

With grateful thanks to David C - Ptycholoma lecheana - looks spot on.

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey and Hollas Lane

Cold Edge and Ovenden Moor.

Butterfly's have certainly been scarce so far this year.

I did my survey track yesterday (WCBS) - certainly the worst return I have ever had. No matter, I did manage 4 butterflies with 1 Wall Brown, 1 Small Heath and 2 Large Skippers. 

1 Oak Egger darting about over Ovenden Moor.

Wall Brown

Small Heath

Large Skipper

The Marsh Thistles up there are fairly prolific and are just about to come into flower.  Hopefully they will attract a few more butterfly's in the next few weeks.

Hollas Lane.This afternoon we just found one around the lagoon area, a Meadow Brown, though its was reluctant to pose for more than a second or so.

 

Bank Top

 Large Skipper. This is the only butterfly I saw in a 2 hour walk.

Beacon Hill

 A dead Cinnabar

Beacon Hill

 Small Heath 2

Shibden Valley

 Unidentified moth (? Garden Carpet)

Bank Top

 Ringlet 1

Stainland.

2 x Brimstone moths by the door today.

Stainland.

 These moths are from the 10th and 11th of June. It's about time I saw a few moths!

1 x Brimstone

1 x Small Phoenix

1 x  Garden Carpet

Anne had a Mint Moth land on her arm, 2 days ago. Sadly, it didn't stay long enough for a photo.

Plus 2 moths that defeated me, (I think). The trouble is, I don't know of many moths which rest with their wings up. I did take a photo of a Brimstone moth resting that way last year. Other than that, I've had to do my best. At least you can have a good laugh at my guesses. I'm not confident I got either right. I'd love someone to enlighten me please.

1'll call them A) and B)

Moth A) Common Carpet, TBC

Moth B) Common Lutestring. TBC

Lee Mount etc.........

 Moth trap still very quiet. Only one or two moths each day -if I'm lucky. The cool and at times damp nights are certainly not helping. Just hoping for some warmer evenings soon then hopefully things will 'buck up'. 

The best ones recently ...........

Buff-tip, Turnip Moth, Clouded Silver, Flame, Common Pug, Heart and Dart and a Silver Y.

A Yellow Shell was flying about in the sunshine on Hunter Hill yesterday

Buff-tip

Clouded Silver

Flame

Butterflies still very scarce though we did manage a Wall Brown at the weekend at Withens Clough along with a Small Copper. Two Small Coppers were also found at Ogden yesterday.

That's about it !!

Elland Gravel Pits

 Broad-bodied Chaser

Beacon Hill

 Small Copper 1, Painted Lady 1

Lee Mount

Still very slow here - lucky if I get more then 2 moths a night..

Ingrailed Clay on 30th May

Clouded- bordered Brindle x 2 on 31st May

Green Silver-lines, Flame Carpet, Brimstone Moth and Pale Tussock also on 31st May

Common Pug on 1st June

Turnip Moth and another Clouded-bordered Brindle on 2nd June

Straw Dot and a Common Marbled Carpet this morning 3rd June.

Ingrailed Clay

Straw Dot

Turnip Moth

Green Silver-lines

Shibden Valley

 1 Silver Y