Lee Mount - 29th March

Early Thorn x 1 (wings tightly closed)
Common Quaker x 6
Early Grey x 1
Clouded Drab x 2

Early Thorn - lower shot is from above

Lee Mount - 28th March

Despite the mist and light drizzle I tried the Synergetic light last night.
Clouded Drab x 1
Early Grey x 1
Common Quaker x 4
Small Quaker x 1
Hope my identification is correct !

 Clouded Drab - a bit squashed up in the egg box !

 

 Common Quaker

 

Early Grey

Orange tip

Had a visit on Saturday afternoon from an orange tip in the garden at Copley. Good to know that spring is on the way.

 Craggs 26th  March 2017


Weather: Warm Spring Sunshine during the day 16-17 o  Still . Sky Dark MV 120 W Robinson
imaging with standard 18 -58 Kit lens
see counts / comments  from Andy Below

4 present.  Thanks to Andy Brian Natalie


Here is some of the imaging

ABH 70.251 BF1930   Oak Beauty Biston strataria
ABH 73.250 BF2189  Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda
ABH 73.242 BF2188   Clouded Drab Orthosia incerta
ABH 73.249 BF2190   Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica

ABH 70.270 BF1947   The Engrailed Ectropis crepusculari

ABH 65.016 BF1659   Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis

ABH 73.244 BF2187   Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi
ABH 70.245 BF1663   March Moth Alsophila aesculariaABH          
                      BF 0283x Caloptilia sp   betulicola/elongella
ABH 70.156 BF1852   Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata
ABH 73.250 BF2189   Twin-spotted Quaker Anorthoa munda

ABH 70.251 BF1930   Oak Beauty Biston strataria

ABH 65.016 BF1659   Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis

ABH 73.244 BF2187   Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi

73.249 BF2190  Hebrew Character Orthosia gothica

ABH 70.270 BF1947   The Engrailed Ectropis crepusculari

ABH 70.156 BF1852  Brindled Pug Eupithecia abbreviata

BF 0283 Caloptilia sp  ( betulicola/elongella?)

Notes this specimen has likely overwintered.exact species should be identified from larval food plant and rearing Caution on mixed habitat were gen det may be needed to be absolute

Its a cracker

A good start to the year , with a visit to Hardcastle Craggs ,Many thanks to Bri , Colin and Natalie
Oak Beauty x 5
Yellow horned x 3
March moth   x 1
Chestnut x 4
Common Quaker x 16
Small Quaker x 2
Twin Spot Quaker x 1
Clouded Drab x 11
Engrailed x 1
Brindled Pug x 2
Hebrew Character x 2
Agonoptrix heracliana  x 4
Caloptilia sp  x 1

First Comma

Just seen the first comma in my garden

First Small Tortoiseshell (x2) in the garden at northowram today...

Hardcastle Craggs

Gonna run the MV 125 at hardcastle crass this Sat night,,meet at 6.30 - 7.00..all welcome and any one want a lift just text or leave a message below....

Lee Mount - 19th March

Common Quaker x 2
Clouded Drab x 1
Unidentified micro which I think might be 17.011 Ypsolopha ustella  (c10mm max) if anyone can help with this one these are the best I could get of the same moth below. Oak trees nearby !

Ypsolopha ustella  - maybe ?

Lee Mount - 15th March

Didn't expect a lot last night with it being cool and breezy at the back and the moon showing.
Didn't do too badly though..
Clouded Drab x 2 - well I'm pretty sure that's what they were !
Common Quaker x 5
Twin-spotted Quaker x 2

 Clouded Drab

 

 (one quite pale and a slightly darker one) Twin-spotted Quakers

Lee Mount - 14th March

Common Quaker x 3
March Moth x 1
Agonopterix heracliana x 1

 Agonopterix heracliana

 

 Common Quaker (1 of 3)

 

March Moth

Lee Mount

Jennifer found this moth in the kitchen this morning and I managed with difficulty, as it kept hiding in the blinds, to get a couple of photos'
We think it's probably a Common Plume - but not 100% sure ?
Forewing length c12mm and the App by Chris Manley says the spurs on the hind leg of this species are of unequal length. One photo seems to confirm this but not sure if that also applies to other 'plumes'.

Lee Mount

Just managed 5 moths last week with the light on in the con...every night till 11 ish.

9th March   -  March Moth x 1

10th March  -  March Moth x 2
                        Chestnut x 2

Bag Season and Footman Cat

I had a quick round on Royds Hall Lane stopping en route to look at tree bases for Bagworms
I restricted looking to South facing stone but nothing evident

Lichens were not abundant  on southern Faces and in particular the usual section were I think wall had been repointed and anti foul paint applied . I did however find one Caterpillar circa 0.8 - 1.1. cm. Unfortunately my usual lens is shot so the imaging on the G6 is not good

It looks like the caterpillar of The Common Footman Double Click Image Link ( ???)  and Link 2  which would make sense being found at the base of Lichen Covered Wall . The second image below is lightened and trimmed and you can see (i) the  8 extended orange segments and (ii) the white bristles on each segment The larvae feed on various species of lichens found on trees and fence posts. It overwinters as a larva.

First March Moths

Ran the Actinic last night and got 3 moths , Common Quaker , Dotted border and  Hebrew Character

Ogden Water

First butterfly of the year today with a red admiral floating around the Woodlands below the Giant's Tooth.

Lee Mount

Not a lot doing this last week - just a few nice moths.

18th Feb - 1 Spring Usher and 1 Pale Brindled Beauty

20th Feb - Pale Brindled Beauty x 2 (included 1 f manacharia)
                  Agonopterix heracliana x 1

24th Feb - Pale Brindled Beauty x 2 included 1 f manacharia
                  March Moth x 1
                  Dotted Border x 1

 Dotted Border

Neon Moth

It's been sometime since I posted. I've not have any moths at the door in months now. I've not even had insects. Also, for the passed 3 weeks, I've had serious, very painful problems walking. Even across the room. I'm more or less recovered and thought I'd do a silly post, to let you know I'm alive. Not that you missed me. I created this image a while ago.

Neon Moth.

Lee Mount - 17th February 2017

A few more moths
Agonopterix heracliana x 3 but they didn't stay long
Pale Brindled Beauty f monarcharia x 2 together
Pale Brindled Beauty x 1
Satellite x 1

 Agonopterix heracliana (?)

 

Satellite

Lee Mount - 16th February 2017

This one tonight is causing some confusion - c15mm wing length...perhaps Chestnut - not sure ?

With another one below of the same moth later in the evening perhaps showing the shape of the wings better when it moved for a better angle.

 Chestnut

 

Spring Usher I think though it's markings are quite different from yesterdays one !

Lee Mount - 15th February 2017

I put the light on more in hope than anything else and got a few nice rewards late evening.
I hope I have identified these correctly....?? (any corrections welcome)

Pale Brindled Beauty (typical form x 2)

 Pale Brindle Beauty f monacharia

 

Pale Brindled Beauty
(this individual looked larger and had particularly strong markings though I don't think its a Brindled Beauty)?

 

 Dotted Border

 

 March Moth

 

Spring Usher

Rare Goat Moth

Still quiet so I thought I'd liven the blog with this rather rare siting I  expect no one has found one of these in Calderdale

Lee Mount

Still nothing, other than another Pale Bridled Beauty last night when it was a bit milder.

Pale Brindled Beauty

Hearld and Trump Moth

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=6155

Only found 6 Hearlds today in Bare head Tunnel .

Lee Mount - wer'e off again..

First moth of the year here tonight....yippee!

Pale Brindled Beauty

Early Moth Finds This Year Maybe ???

Not much happening with weather being cold windy or inclement so just a post keeping all things moth on the Radar


I have not been out and about due to lack of Transport on wider rounds however my attention turned to the 70.282 BF1960 Early Moth Theria primaria. and wonder if it will turn up in a Calderdale Finds this year


Larvae feed on It feeds on hawthorn (Crataegus) and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) in the larval stage. on the wing in January and February except of course the Wingless females

see Andy's Comments 2016  2010

Cryptic Challenge !

Still working on it Colin. It's been good - Jen has got a lot (I got one or two)!! but we are still struggling with the grid numbers. We are not giving up on it yet though with still a few to do.
Hope everyone had a good Christmas.

Merry X - mas and happy new Year

Many thanks to all who has used this blog this year and many thanks to all who have posted as well. Lets hope for another great year in 2017.....cheers all

Cryptic Challenge

Christmas is coming Nothing Much is moving on the Moth Front -  but here is an opportunity to Brush up on  50 British Species albeit in a Cryptic Way . This is a great opportunity for Calderdales Moth Gurus to show their Skill Prowess and Knowledge !!!!!!!!! 

I wonder if anyone can complete it ( apologies in advance for the Cryptic Clues but be thankful it was'nt a crossword on Craneflies :-)  ) Best of Luck !!

Apologies on quality of grid Please save from image click and print off to complete the Grid . The saved image can be blown up on Windows viewer if you need to make numbers clearer

ACROSS

  2 Something speckled best served with seasoning ?  
  5 Flown to close to the Lamp ?  
  6 A score of Feathers ?  
  8 Not a Brussels Sprout but same Family  
  12 Spick & Span nicely polished  
  13 A seasonal expectation this time of Year ?  
  17 Combustion at the sides of neck ?  
  19 This one is a big green Jewel  
  20 Two Birds in one !!!!!!  
  22 High Flier with the Cartography  
  24 German Folk likely seen around Whitby ?  
  29 Invasive suite plays its cards right this year  & returns
  31 Calderdales flooring dilemma  
  35 Works in the Woodland ?  
  36 Regal Oriental  
  38 Underneath the Bridge on a dimly lit night ?  
  40 This Common moth is no slow coach  
  42 Geometry in sun glasses ?  
  44 Female Geriatric  
  45 Not a newspaper or revealing angel  
  46 something of a nosy creature ?  
  47 Lawn all in a Tangle ?  
  49 Something of a Romany ???  

  50 A quick sweep and clean up

DOWN

  1 Citrus gets chilled on cold winter day  
  3 Weather looking overcast at the edge ?  
  4 Fast Citrus  
  7 Butler with healthy complexion  
  9 One fat ladywell proportioned & not much more?Bingo ?
  10 Dull Stain on the best Crockery ?  
  11 here we go round the planet ?  
  14 Moon beneath the flight structures ???  
  15 Nellie and the Raptor ?  
  16 Lets paint the bridge beige and admire its structure ??  
  18 An obvious Stone ?  
  21 Criss Cross across the Moor ?  
  23 Not quite a Popular Raptor ?  
  25 Hot footed flooring ?  
  26 Just as you thought you have bailed the criminal !!  
  27 Bright one on the sea shore ??  
  28 Not a water carpet but a small stream ?  
  30 A maker of Flour ?  
  32 This moth has things in common with Santa Reindeer  
  33 Beware the ides of March ? Get the Point ?  
  34 A ribbon at Sea  
  37 The answer could be right at the side of your Head ???  
  39 The answer would be on the end of your Nose  
  41 Two pints and a Packet of Crisps please ?  
  43 Spooky Candidate  

  48 What the Farmer works with !!!

Solution