Cunnery Wood/Shibden..Field Trip No4

Met up with chris today and had a look at Cunnery wood a good mix of trees (elm,oak,sallow,birch,beech) and a small pond.We have decided to run the traps there next wenesday night 6th May at 9-11 weather permitting.Its opposite the top car park at shibden.Peacock,Speckled Wood,small white,Er.sub,Nettle Tap and a large Hawthorn Shield Bug were seen today.All welcome.

No idea!

This was on the sheet by the trap this morning, I guess its a Pug sp. but how on earth do you take it beyond that?!

News from todmorden

Beetle photo for Paul

Green Hairstreaks,

elachista+canapennella

Withens Clough Car park

Meet tonight 8.30 to 9ish ,all welcome.

Hipperholme

Ran the moth trap on Friday night, 4 hebrew characters and two others that I am having trouble identifying.

Top image I have no idea, bottom image I thought might be a satinwave but not too sure. Any help to identify them welcomed.

Midgley 25th April 2009

Another new one last night, Iron Prominent (we think!) plus an interesting micro moth, not sure what it is so any suggestions welcome!

Also photos from Wednesday at Midgley and Monday at Withens Clough, sorry for the dealy but was having problems with the computer.

Caloptilia syringela - Hebden Bridge

Nice to follow charlie's post with this one as todays highlight for me and another micro. I was sat this evening in the last sun enjoying a pint after work and saw something landing on a leaf out the back door. Shot out with a pot and bingo! it was a micro. Now, I believe this is a very common chap but if he were scalled up to macro moth size he would surely rival the most spectacular of species.

This species is completely new to me and I only managed to identify it by remembering it was the same shape and stance as the Caloptilia we cought on the field trip to Withens res' so I am learning from our trips. also managed to get a pic of him too so extra chuffed

Winston

Yorkshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation

I've put a new link up to the Yorkshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation under Yorkshire Butterflies.This is a great site run by Lee and Jax Westmorland from Scarbrough its full of very usefull information and a very good sightings page.
Founded in 1981, the Yorkshire Branch of Butterfly Conservation is one of the largest geographically as the county of Yorkshire measures approximately 150km north to south and 170km east to west!
From its humble beginnings with eighteen members, the branch has grown steadily to more than five hundred members today.
The branch works closely with the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union and promotes the jointly administered but independent recording scheme known as ButterflyNet Yorkshire, with a co-ordinator in each of Yorkshire's five vice counties and species co-ordinators for the county as a whole.
The branch magazine Argus is published regularly and details of both it and our other publications can be found on this site.

Midgley Moth Night Wednesday 22nd

Another good night with the following caught:

1 Twenty-plume Pug
2 Double Striped Pug
2 Autumn Green Carpet
3 Early Grey
1 Common Quaker
2 Hebrew Characters
1 Brindled Pug
1 Swallow Prominent
1 Unknown Pug Sp.

Will put photos on later, seem to be having problems with it at the moment!

Purple Thorn

Lovely rich colours in the first generation of these splendid moths. This one came to the Skinner Trap last night.

Winston

Emperor Revisited

Hi All

Set out again today to try and see the elusive Emperor Moth at Whiteholm Drain. The weather became cloudy again but strong sunny spells remainedall afternoon. Two possible sightingsin the distance of large orange looking insects flying really powerfully, then a third. I was off after this one. With me I had a large fishermans landing net with a 9 foot pole! After leaping over ditches and through muddy pools I made one final dive and had the Emperor in the net. This net is so big that I could put the camera under it too to get the pics shown here, enjoy.

Paul has made some comments on my last post to help us understand how this species operates.

Possibly the most impressive thing I have ever seen.

Also 1 x Common Heath, 1x Eriocrania sp, 1x unk micro oh and 2x redshank (also new)

Yours (in excitement) Winston

125 Emmetia marginea

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The Emmetia marginea emergad today that me and Charlie found on North loop on Febuary 11th.Above are pics of the larvae in the leaf and the ejected frass.
Found 3 Coleophora cases on juncuss yesterday which all had larvae in and all turned out to be Coleophora glaucicolella,

Emperor Anticlimax

After recent brilliant reports of multiple Emperor Moth sightings I planned to go to Whiteholm Drain to see some for myself. Preparing to set off about 2pm the clouds thickened but I thought this was just a passing band of cloud. I arrived at the parking spot and had lost my shadow but it was still reasonable. Saw my first Swallow of the year on the reservoir but by now things were looking grim. Started to rain and wind got up too. In my sodden fleece, desparingly I trudged back.

I will return however!

It is now 6pm, glorious sunshine !
Winston

Emperor

Photo taken yesterday on Ovenden Moor just above Ogden res'r.
by Jan and DJ Sutcliff of the Halifax Birdwatchers club.Thanks Dave and Jan

Beechwood Park

A quick walk around Beechwood Park to check on some of the work undertaken over the last few months,

4 male orange tips
1 small tortoiseshell

Also good views of blackcaps and lots of warblers and chiffchaffs

It might be worth taking the traps up there one night and seeing what is around. If you want to arrange a night then let me know. Also would love to do some trapping in Cunnery Wood if anyone is interested.

Chris

Lesser Swallow Prominent

Managed some better photos this morning! Thanks for the ID, couldn't find it last night in book.

Withens Clough Car park

Not one moth for the first hour and just about to pack up and this lot dropped in a great night.(Water Carpet and Red Chestnut above pics by BrianL)
282 Caloptilia elongella 1
663 Diurnea fagella 1
697 Agonopterix arenella 2
1722 Xanthorhoe designata Flame Carpet 1
1750 Lampropteryx suffumata Water Carpet 2
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 3
1881 Trichopteryx carpinata Early Tooth-striped 11
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
2139 Cerastis rubricosa Red Chestnut 7
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 6
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 1
and 1 Chestnut

What is this??!!!

Just got in from an excellent night mothing at Withens Clough to find this on the outside of our moth trap in Midgley. Will try for some better photos tomorrow when it has settled down, but what a cracker it is. Can't find anything in the book to liken it to. Any suggestions?

A few recent sightings

I have had quite a few recent sightings of butterflies over the last few nice days.

Friday 17th
Badger Lane - Hipperholme
Orange Tip (male & female)
Comma

Sunday 19th
Eaves Wood - Heptonstall
Speckled wood

Garden - Norcliffe Lane, Hipperholem
Large white
Orange Tip
Peacock

Monday 20th
Cross Lane Primary school, Elland
4 speckled wood (2 fighting away for about 10 minutes)
Peacock

Not been able to get the moth trap out for a few days, will endeavour to try some trapping this week.

This week in Hebden Bridge

This week in Hebden Bridge
13th - 19th (GMS Night) inc

By and large a week of lovely days with the 1st major appearance of local butterflies (Speckled wood / Peacock / Whites ) Low nightly temps and clear skies kept the moth count to the usual suspects in the main. ETS have had a good week however with One on field trip number 2, one the night before in Golcar and one the night after in Hebden (pic). The week came to a climax last night with this Iron Prominent (Pic) (New for year and only my second) It looks like the northern form which W&T says is on the wing from June so rather early, in fact it was nearly mistaken for a Clouded drab (similar colour) which had its wings flattened. See you all soon

Early Tooth-striped 2
Small Quaker 9
Common Quaker 23
Early Grey 2
Satellite 1
Clouded Drab 2
Hebrew Character 1
Iron Prominent 1

Total - 41

Winston

Field Trip No 3.....Withens Clough Car Park

Meeting with Brian at Withens Clough car park tonight about 8.30 for a couple of hours hoping for female Emperor all welcome.Sorry for short notice.First Speckled wood today in Northowram and Andy Huyton reports a Herald in Mythomroyd last week.

Seems like the world is full of Hebrew Characters! 8 on Saturday night plus one Common Quaker. Just one hardy Hebrew Character on Friday night.

Anyone up for a nights mothing at Midgley on Wednesday? We are sure to get some Hebrew Characters if nothing else...!

Emperors

Hi,best day ive had for emperors,at least 15 at whiteholme drain,3 common heaths,another 5 or so emperors at north end of warland,all males careering about over heather,couldnt get any to land though,got a few acleris hyemanas ,and a eriocrania sp on heather(pic above),i might keep and see if it can be checked out,prob common and been blown up there,but you never know.saw 3 of those spectacular beetles,think ive seen em referred to as goldsmith beetles ! a couple of hours at withens car park might be worth a go what do you think !Brian L

Northowram Sat & GMS Friday

Powdered Quaker,
A bitterly cold stong N/E blew all night on Friday
1 emmelina monodactyla
2 Hebrew Character
Sat,
12 Hebrew Character
3 early Grey
1 Powdered Quaker
1 Pug(to be id later)

YNU 2008 report

Another 112 page booklet with 16pages in colour, is on its way, this year entitled: Yorkshire Butterflies and Moths 2008. It should be ready about mid-June. It goes out to Butterfly Conservation members/YNU free as part of their membership package. A few extra copies are available to non-members at £11.50 inclusive of packing and postage.Orders are available from me: Howard Frost, 10 Chellsway, Withernsea, HU19EN and payable to Butterfly Conservation. It is advisable to order now in advance as
most of the spares are accounted for before publication.Dr.C Fletcher

Bagworms 2

The only bagworm ever found in Calderdale was found by Ian Kimber and myself on the canal towpath near Byrds Royd heading down to Bradley Hall farm. It was a female Psyche casta as shown in the photo. The area is the one I told Andy C to go down and have a look as its brilliant for various adult moths and their larvae. Its also a very good spot for leaf mining.

This Week in Hebden Bridge

6th to 12th April Inclusive

A poor week really with clear cold nights

Early Tooth-striped1
Small Quaker 2
Common Quaker 3
Hebrew character 2
Early Grey 1

(Roll on field trip Number 3)

Winston

Red Chestnut

Hi all,got this red chestnut last night at mv,1st ive seen,straight
leading edge,and grey dusting especially on leading edge of wing are
diagnostic,indistinct oval and kidney rule out rarer white marked.dark
chestnut has more pointy wing tip,and flight period is usually over by
march at latest,chestnut has slightly curved leading edge usually. all
the best Bri

Broadhead Clough/last night

Oak beauty (pic B.Leesey)
An excellent evening at this mixed woodland setting.We also got the target species of Oak Beauty which seems to be more widespread than previous records suggested.A good turn out of local moffers as well with some great net work from Charlie. (AC,WP,MH,BL &CS)
Oak Beauty 1
Brindled Pug 2
Chestnut 2
Small Quaker 11
Common Quaker 8
Early Thorn 3
Early tooth- striped (not Mottled Grey) 1
Clouded Drab 4
Twin Spot Quaker 2
Hebrew Character 5
Sattellite 1
Early Grey 1
Dieurnea Fagella 1
E.subpurpella 10+

Purple Thorn/Northowram

A good collection of the common Orthosia sp and this beautiful Purple Thorn.Brindled and Double striped Pug are now out and about.

Last Night in Golcar

Took my Skinner Trap to a friends in Golcar last night (Fri) and on a rain free cloudy night had a good catch including an Early Tooth-striped with a well defined central band.

Hebrew character 3
Early Thorn 2
Brindled Pug 2
Twin-spot Quaker 1
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 16
Early Grey 3
Early Tooth-striped 1
Small Quaker 3

Total - 33

Winston

Midgley GMS

Conditions looked really good last night so was a bit disappointed to only get

Hebrew Character 3
Common Quaker 1

Away tonight so can't get to Broadhead, good luck chaps!

Field Trip No 2.....Broadhead Clough

Brian and myself are going to run a trap at Broad Head clough this sat night all welcome.The road is a bit tricky so its just as easy to park at the bottom and walk up.

News from todmorden

Hi All,got 3 of these swept on heather at langfield common 03 04
09,at night,couldnt suss them out on uk moths,charlie fletcher thinks
prob another form of the variable acleris hyemana,has anyone else seen
them,they are prob common,also had true lovers knot larva,will have
another try for grey scalloped bar larva in a week or 2,if anybody
fancies it.also got 2 larva from cottongrass seedheads look like
glyphipterix haworthana,wil keep them and see.all the best bri,def up
for Sat Night at Broadhead Clough.

Last nights moths

Sorry for the delay, last nights moths (including those from the Actinic this morning) were

Chestnut 1
Early Thorn 2
Hebrew Character 8
Common Quaker 3
Clouded drab 2
Early Grey 1

Plus the two micros that Andy has mentioned.

Its a Beauty and Heath Trap???

High winds and rain battered the house last night so I was expecting little in the trap this morning.To say i am pleased with this Oak Beauty is an understatement.Its also the latest one i have on record.?Also over the last few days,Pale Pinion,Early Thorn,Double striped Pug and the usual Orthosia sp.
I picked up 3 Heath Traps yesterday from Marion(many thanks)but I am at a bit of a loss of how to assemble them and if I have all the bits,any help would be appreciated

Mothing tonight?

The forecast suggests this weather might settle down as the day goes on so if anyone fancies an evening mothing up in Midgley we are meeting at our house at 8pm, look for the bus terminus in the village and go under the "square archway" across the road, we are no. 72 on the left.

News from todmorden

Got this C.stigmatella on 31 03 09,at mv,also 10 mottled grey,engrailed,2 twin spot
quaker and usuals,having trouble with blogging,
,also got mottled grey,and true lovers knot larva and 3
micros which i havent sussed yet swept on langfield common at night on
03 04 09,all the best bri.

Hipperholme last night

Tried the moth trap last night. Only 1 taker - Clouded drab. However did have the first butterfly in the garden this lunchtime, a flying visit from a Comma. Also had first red tailed bumblebee species.

Midgley GMS

GMS last night, we managed

2 Small Quaker
3 Common Quaker
9 Hebrew Character
2 Clouded Drab
1 Chestnut
1 Early Grey
1 Pug sp (too soon for us to start with them!)

Thursday night Midgley

A good night with the following trapped

8 Hebrew Character
7 Early Greys
3 Common Quaker
2 Small Quaker
1 March Moth
1 Yellow Horned
2 Mottled Greys
1 twin spot Quaker

micro

Got 10 mottled grey,2 twin spot quakers,engrailed and usuals,and also got caloptilia micro species,possibly stigmatella, on 31 03 09,sent pic to c f, if anyone else can confirm !

Pine Beauty, better picture.

This chap was still hanging round tonight so managed to get a better photo.

Learners again!

Almost passed this off as a Common Quaker but on closer inspection we have doubts, could it be a Powdered Quaker? It only has one kidney mark and is alot paler than Common. Not a good picture, was in a rush to get to work....!!

Another belter!

We think this is a Pine Beauty, whatever it is it's a little belter!

Midgley last night

Midgley last night produced

1 Oak Beauty (quite a dark one)

4 Early Greys

2 Hebrew Characters

1 Chestnut

1 Mottled Grey

1 Twin Spot Quaker

plus the above moths, Clouded Drab? (or Lead coloured Drab?)

Northowram ,Only House wood.

Put some sugar out yesterday afternoon and when I returned late last night there were 19 Chestnut and 1 Sattellite i also found 2 female and 3 male(male and female in cop top pic )of Diurnea fagella whilst tree searching.This is the first female I have seen of this species as I have only seen males at light.
In the trap were 4 Common and 1 small Quaker,1 Mottled grey ,5 Early Grey,1 Early thorn ,6 heb Char,1 Clouded Drab and 1 diurnea fagella (male).