Sweet Williams......

Lee Mount - I grew these Sweet Williams last year to flower this year. They have done well and all in the hope of attracting Varied Coronet. The tactic has worked quite well in recent years. They seem to nectar similar to Silver Y's and Hummingbird Hawk-moths.

I've been out late evenings last few weeks in the hope of success. Nothing doing other than Silver Y's, Large Yellow Underwings and a Campion. Last night one V C turned up but as soon as the camera clicked it was off. Try again tonight.

 Obscure Wainscot Luddenden 290625

Another new species here in Luddenden, a long way from any reeds though, thanks to Brian Leecey for the identification.

also Blackneck and Muslin Footman

 Luddenden 270625

Leopard Moth

After a long wait I finally caught a Leopard Moth last night

other moths included

Dot Moth

Figure Of Eighty and Box Tree Moth

Walshaw Dean

Meadow Brown 1, Small Heath 4, Ringlet 1

Bilberry Pug ..

 Brian Leesey recorded 3 Bilberry Pugs in Todmorden this week , Martyn recorded a Lunar Hornet Moth ,in Luddenden and I recorded one at Cromwell Bottom....Cromwell Bottom moth night Sat/Sunday Morning this weekend...

5 Bilberry Pugs, Devon Carpet, Muslin Footman, Beautiful Snout, Common Emerald, Scallop shell,4 Double Square Spots,6 Marbled White Spots, from Todmorden last night...

Swalesmoor - 25th June

Quite an afternoon on the top there with a decent show of butterflies and more than just a few, day-flying moths.

Top of the list were Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moths. Almost every thistle head had at least one on the flower head and others with up to five at a time with more flying around. 

Other moths included Garden grass veneers, Yellow Shell, Silver Ground Carpet and several micros I failed to get on to. !

Butterflies included lots of Ringlets and Meadow Browns, a few Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Large Skipper and 1 Small Skipper along with a couple of Small Whites. No sign of any of the next phase of Wall Browns.

Large Skipper

Ringlets

Pinnacle Lane

Ringlet 4, Meadow Brown 1, Small Tortoiseshell 1

EASTWOOD: Ringlet 2

HEBDEN BRIDGE: Ringlet 2

 Maiden's Blush Luddenden 210625

 

Yellow - legged Clearwing

Thanks Charlie for photo...

  A couple of hours down at Cromwell Bottom North Loop produced this stunning Yellow Legged Clearwing , it was attracted to a lure , this one has amazing yellow legs but the other one that was attracted was not as impressive. This is the first time YLC has been recorded in Calderdale and there is plenty scope for more Clearwing species to be recorded , with Red Tipped Clearwing seen in good numbers at Low Moor Bradford a couple of weeks ago. 

  Shaded Broad Bar , 5 spot Burnet Moths , Common Blue , Ringlet , Meadow Brown , Speckled Wood , Large White , Small Heath and  Small Tortoiseshell made for a great couple of hours.....

Lee Mount - 16th/17th June

Burnished Brass on consecutive nights. I just thought this mornings was the same one as yesterday but photo's say otherwise !

Also some of interesting micros recently - I love the challenge of identification but certainly rely on some decent photos which is another challenge. Even then it's not always that simple !!!

Even the spelling is a challenge...

Celypha striana

Cochylichora atricapitana

Enarmonia formosana (wished for a better photo of this beauty)

Luddenden 160625

Not a great night for Moths last night, too clear but I did have this migrant, a new species here

 Bordered Straw 

this is a Broad-banded White from 130625

A couple of hours at Hardcastle Crags (10.15 - 12-15)

 Marbled White Spot , Beautiful Hooktip and Beautiful  Snout were once very rare in Calderdale and now common....within 15 years......

Lee Mount - 14th June

 I could do with a check on this one at around 16 mm. ?

and this one too..... wondering about Ingrailed Clay though markings are questionable ?

Barred Chestnut is doubtful ?

Still going through the rest of them from this morning with around 30 species - best so far this year !

Tigers!!

I thought Martyn would be interested in this post as he had the first Scarlet Tiger for Calderdale back in 2022.

Having never seen any of the boldly patterned tigers before I hit a fantastic purple patch back in April.

On the 26th I found a Wood Tiger larva on Midgley moor (above) and three days later I found a Scarlet Tiger larva nearly on my doorstep at Skircoat Green (below). It was feeding on Green Alkanet and was one of three found, the second was in my front doorway, in their final instar they can disperse to feed on other plants!

Both species were collected and then, late May and in to June both successfully made it to adults - an amazing little rearing project.

 

Cold Edge / Ovenden Moor

11th June in the very warm conditions I managed to fit in a butterfly survey in the area. Choosing the right day is key !

Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) is linked with the Breeding Bird Survey done previously and following the same tetrad route.

Additional species outside the route are also included here. 

1 Small Heath, 

3 Common Blue - the first two were on buttercup flowers near Spring Dam + 1 near The Withens.

1 Peacock

1 Large White

6 Small Tortoiseshell

2 Small Skipper

14 Large Skipper

Also a Chimney Sweeper moth along with Common Carpet, Silver-ground Carpet and Grass Moths +.

Chimney Sweeper

Broad-bodied Chaser also at the top of Skirden Clough

Soil Hill - earlier in the day several Latticed Heath along with 1 Brimstone Moth and Grass moths ++.

Butterfly's - 5 Small Heath, 1 Large White, 6 Large Skipper and 2 Small Tortoiseshell.

Large Skipper

Small Skipper

Lee Mount

 Not a great deal to report with quite a poor month in May probably due to lots of very cool nights.

Sycamore  30th May

Cinnabar -21st May

Common Marbled Carpet - 21st May

Elephant Hawk-moth 21st May

Gold Spot - 21st May

June started off on 1st with a new one for me ....hardly anything since then...

Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

Whiteholme

Small Heath 1

Beacon Hill

1 of 2 Small Tortoiseshells. My first for many weeks.

Also, 1 Large Skipper