Striped Hawkmoth

                                                                                        

 An excellent end to May 2026  for migrant moths and Butterfly's in Calderdale , It all started with a Large Tortoiseshell at Whiteholme (MH ,CH) then a Gem at Barkisland which was the first since 1966 (Charlie and AA) and then a couple of Bordered Straw one at Clock face quarry and 1 at the petrol station at Shibden Park. Masses of Painted Lady's have been seen in Calderdale and Hummingbird Hawkmoths have also been seen in gardens throughout the area. Andy Greaves found a Striped Hawkmoth during the day in Sowerby Bridge whilst gardening at Trish's house the first since 1866 !!!!!!! . Then a Striped Hawkmoth (above)  in the trap at Hedge top lane ,  25 + Silver Y's , 3 Diamond backed Moths ,and 2 Small Mottled Willow's also . Martyn at Luddenden has had 3 /4 Small Mottled Willows........

Things to keep and eye out for...Eastern Bordered Straw  and  Small Black Arches 

Cold Edge

Green-veined White. From the lack of markings on the upperwing, I think this is a male

Wainstalls

 Red Admiral

Shiben Valley Survey

Shibden Valley Survey

Yesterday I commenced a  Botanical Walk Over of the Area around Shibden Estate and onward to the base of the Upper Valley. As I was carrying quite a bit of equipment i was not as mobile as I would like . However Records will now start to populate the recording platform  Yesterdays Leps Siting a Pair of Orange Tip Butterflies  and 29th May 26 Painted Lady. Historic Records are yet to be merged with Bird , Moth and other Entomology still to be addressed. Please circulate details to widen participation  and use the Link to Add your  sightings. All those participating will receive a PDF Report  including a report on the Local History Of Shibden Valley

https://irecord.org.uk/join/shibden-valley-survey--group-feet    Link To Survey

Shibden Valley Survey  ( Link To Survey) Please message me if you have any difficulty in setting up i- record - which will provide you with a Simple Recording Form to enter sitings.

i-Record

Shibden Valley Survey  ( Link To Survey)

Aims 

1. The Aim of the survey is to provide a comprehensive list of Biodiversity in the Valley encompassing all Taxa  ( Insects Hoverflies  Bees Butterflies and Moths Beetles etc) , Birds ,  Trees and Plants 

2. To widen participation You can enter a record onto the Valley Location using i-record . and a simple recording Form on the Project Link

3. Currently ,  all records being amassed can be viewed on the i-record platform to help assess the Health of the Valley

Upper Valley 

Focuing on the Source of Shibden Brook at Ford Hill onward Down the Valley to Stump Cross and Shiibden lake

Shibden Estate

Areas around and in the Shibden estate

Lower Valley

Onward to Brookfoot via Sunnyvale with particular attention to areas around Red beck etc. Red  Beck takes a meadering course onward from Walter Clough at Sunnyvale onward to Brookfoot where it will join the canal and River Calder, and may include some of the interesting entomology found in around Sunnyvale , The Magna Via ( Dark Lane)  and Beacon Hill

 

Cold Edge

Painted Lady feeding on clover. The white tips of the antennae are visible.

Shibden Valley

Large White 2

Cold Edge

Common Heath (?)

Also: Painted Lady 2

Shibden Valley

Mother Shipton moth 1.  Another Cinnabar

Shibden Valley

Cinnabar

Star of Bethlehem. Its flowers open fully only in the sun.

Ringstone Edge

Painted Lady 1

Shibden Valley Survey

 To ALL on Group

I am currently recording a  comphrehensive Record  Set   in Shiden Valley , Split into three parts Upper Shibden Valley , Shibden Hall and Surrounds , and Lower Valley up to and including Brookfoot notably around accesible land around Shibden Brook , Henshall Woods in the Upper Valley and through Sunnyvale via Red Brook onward to Brookfoot

This will include All Taxa Butterflies & Moths, , Wild Flowers Ferns , Records of any Bird Sitings .

Historical Records will shortly be updated and can be both Contributed and Viewed on the Following Link on i-record . 

https://irecord.org.uk/join/shibden-valley-survey--group-feet

It is anticipated that over the next 3 years the survey will support nature and conservation in the Shibden Valley 

The i-record app can be used on a Mobile to submt accuate GPS record of finds or if you use  i-record you can use the Map to geo locate your refence and enter your find

In 1962 HSS under took a brief survey and its now time to create a modern and accesible record  which you can help create and participate   i'll  post a few snippets here of that Survey which found Moonwort . The survey shhould extensively also address Invertebrates such Hoverflies Caddisflies BWARS ,and Other specialist species 

If you register on the Group you'll receive updates of any activities , Botanical training or Moth Trapping etc supporting the project

Ringstone Edge

Orange Tip 2 males

Colden

Small Tortoiseshell 1

Also: Painted Lady 1