Lee Mount - 19th April

I had quite a good number of moths the last few days but it's hard to catch up on the blog at times !
This morning was the best so far with around 38 in and around the trap including a few others found nearby during the day mostly hiding on the fencing.
Hebrew Character x 5
Early Grey x 4
Common Quaker x 19
Small Quaker x 4
Mottled Grey x 1
Twin-spotted Quaker x 1
Clouded Drab x 1
Satellite x 1
Common Plume x 1
Also one to check on identification - possibly a Pale Pinion ? - photo below

Copley Garden 19.4.18 & Ogden light

Tried the trap in the garden last night - over 30 moths

Hebrew character x2
Clouded Drab x1
Common Quaker x 12
Satellite x2

A few still to ID but this one is annoying me as I cannot seem to place it - I'm thinking hebrew character but I am not sure.

Ogden light - 18-4-19

Oak Beauty x1

Hebrew character x2

 But again 3 that I cannot ID - again any help.

Moth 1

 Moth 2

Moth 3

Calderdale Way butterflies

Walked the Calderdale Way from Brighouse to West Vale - then on to St Stephen's at Copley.
Lots of small tortoiseshells around the British Waterways building near the fishing pools at Brighouse. Approx 8 through the woods to southowram, then another 2 in North Dean
Peacock in fields on-route to Southowram
Small white in garden just now.

Warming up....

Common Quaker x 10
Twin -spotted Quaker x 1
Small Quaker x 3
Hebrew Character x 3
Diurna fagella x 2
White Shouldered House Moth x 1

Small White and Small Tortoiseshell in garden yesterday

Garden Moths VC63 18 April 2018

Weather: Warm Dry, Humidity Low . Daytime Temp c 19-21o . Still

MV Garden

ABH 45.044 BF 1524 Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla
ABH 73.241 BF2179 Pine Beauty Panolis flammea.

ABH 70.141 BF1862  Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata
ABH 73.245 BF2182  Small Quaker Orthosia cruda

ABH 73.241 BF2179 Pine Beauty Panolis flammea.



ABH 70.141 BF1862  Double-striped Pug Gymnoscelis rufifasciata

Lee Mount 17th April

In and around the trap this morning
Hebrew Character x 3
Clouded Drab x 1
Common Quaker x 3
Small Quaker x 2 (double check appreciated)
Early Grey x 1
Mottled Grey x 1
This one below for checking - I'm thinking Common Pug ? - total wing-span c22mm

 Common Pug ?

 

 Small Quaker

 

Twin-spotted Quaker from 16th April found in the day-time

Ogden makeshift moth trap

The light outside the classroom at Ogden seems to attract it's fair share of moths. Here are a few from the last few days - and because I have not "moffed" for a few months some help on identifying the bottom 3 of them would be appreciated.

Oak beauty x 3

Early Grey??? 

Moth 2

Moth 3 (but I am not sure if iw is the same as Moth 2)

First Pug

Had a Double striped Pug last night , 1 Twin Spotted Quaker , 3 Early Grey , 4 Hebrew Character , 2 Common Quaker and 1 Clouded Drab,,,

Lee Mount - 8th April

Mottled Grey x 1  (it's a new one for me so better get it checked. Pretty sure it's not an Early Tooth-striped by the shape of the wing)
Common Quaker x 1
Clouded Drab x 1
Satellite x 1
Emmelina monodactyla x 1
Chestnut x 1

Mottled Grey

Also one from this morning (9th) an Early Grey found on the fence and in the trap a Hebrew Character x 1

Early Grey

 

And 2 Red admirals today over the garden.

Last night

7th April
Hebrew Character x 4
Early Grey x 3
Common Quaker x 1

8th April

Hebrew Character x 10
Early Grey x 3
Common Quaker x 2
Clouded Drab x 4
Agonopterix sp x 1


11th April

Hebrew Character x 1

14th April

Hebrew Character x 3
Common Quaker x 2
Early Grey x 3
Clouded Drab x 1

Lee Mount - 7th April

Clouded Drab x 4 in the trap this morning plus one below I'm not sure about - thinking maybe Chestnut ??

 Above and below - the same moth - though the lower photo it was difficult to avoid the glare from the flash

One from the night before (6th April) which I think must be Agonopterix ocellana

Oak Beauties

They often say that the first spell of good weather after a load of snow will be very good for trapping.Something to do with all the larvae been protected from predators ..Last night in Northowram =
Oak Beauty  x 2
Twin Spotted Quaker x 1
Hebrew Character x 2
Common Quaker x 2
Clouded Drab x 2

Lee Mount - 6th April

I left the actinic on all night but didn't think I would get anything as it did go cold again with a breeze. However I was pleasantly surprised this morning.
Hebrew Character x 2
Common Quaker x 1
Clouded Drab x 1

GREY SHOULDER KNOT and First Butterfly

Ran the trap for the first time this year last night and at last caught a Grey Shoulder Knot been hoping for this one for the last few years. A first for Calderdale .Also 2 Hebrew Character , 2 Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and a Brown House Moth. Had 3 Small Tortoiseshell flitting about the garden today...................at last looks like spring is with us...............

                Grey Shoulder -Knot  Lithophane ornitopus lactipennis

Small Angle Shades.....

Emerged yesterday from a larva found feeding on HIMALAYAN BALSAM at Bradshaw last September.

Quite a nice looking insect!

Lee Mount

Just three moths this week - not much expected given the cool temperatures - but it's a start.

Satellite x 1 (25th)
Common Quaker x 1 (25th)
Agonopterix heracliana x 1 (26th)

Satellite

Bulrush Wainscot

Whilst on a visit to the Cromwell Bottom compound yesterday I noticed this exit/entry hole in a Bulrush stem. After peeling back the outer layers I could see extensive internal feeding and more holes. Obviously an invertebrate of some kind I can only assume it's a Bulrush Wainscot larva as no other species bore in to typha stems like this - a nice find for me as I've not recorded this species before :-)

NBN Gateway map service has been terminated

Hi all

I assume everyone already knows the following information, after all it's almost 12 months old. I'm always the last to find things out, so thought I'd better pass it on:

Please note that the NBN Gateway map service has been terminated as of 1 April 2017.
As soon as a replacement map service is available, distribution maps will hopefully appear here again.
In the meantime, you can get some idea of distribution from the NBN Atlas websitePlease note that the NBN Gateway map service has been terminated as of 1 April 2017.
As soon as a replacement map service is available, distribution maps will hopefully appear here again.
In the meantime, you can get some idea of distribution from the NBN Atlas website.

View the NBN Atlas Map

The above was taken from:

http://ukmoths.org.uk/species/thyatira-batis/distribution-map

I'm off to go and sit in my cardboard box again now. Sigh.

Moth Report

After many years of collecting records (past and present) , I can see the end in sight. Charlie has been working very hard putting the photos together and Annie has done a great job proof reading the document. If any one has any articles on Calderdale moths stories past and present  , poems etc and would like them included please send them to me ....Cheers Andy

Lee Mount - 9th March

A solitary Hebrew Character in the trap this morning was a nice surprise. Also a Dotted Border the previous day, though that was on the garage door.

New micro book

Maybe one for the micro enthusiasts

https://www.atroposbooks.co.uk/a-field-guide-to-the-smaller-moths-of-great-britain-and-ireland

Shibden Head

Pouring with rain early afternoon so thought I would have a go at the tunnel.
Treacherous conditions in there with snow having blown all the way through and dripping wet from the roof - but I gave it a go hanging on to the walls.

I managed with difficulty to find 7 Heralds. 3 on the roof and 4 in the wall cracks. How strange - they were all covered in minute due drops so wonder how they are able to survive in these conditions (??)
Still fantastic moths to see.

PUGs.....................

This will be a great read if you like Pugs....coming soon

EB Ford Revisitted

After a rigorous and freezing week getting the last remaining Bird Seed Donations out ( EBF Emergency Bird Feeding ) on the FEET non Public Sites it was luxury to start on the volume by EB Ford  - Butterflies in the New Naturalist series . The style of the book having been written circa 1945 is hard work but there are some interesting gems and observations to be re - learned. EB Ford also writ a similar work on Moths

I thought I would just add some notes in this post as I worked through the book for general interest and or discussion given that most of our lepidoptera is quiet

Notes

It was interesting to note the historically reporting of Butterflies through the ages and to  note the reporting of the Purple Edged Copper as an early British species ( debatable)


More to follow............

Lee Mount - 20th February

I left the trap on last night with it being a little milder. Paid off with a March Moth on the trap and a Dotted Border on the door frame though the latter was in a bad place for a photo though it was a different moth from the one the previous day with slightly darker colouration.

I guess this cold snap again will put paid to any more moths this week (?)

March Moth

Lee Mount - 19th February

Another Dotted Border today on the outside door frame. It stayed most of the day but disappeared mid afternoon.

First moth of the year and bagworm map

This Spring Usher in Bankhouse wood ignored all the dry stone walls and lichen covered trees to roost on a painted iron bridge.

I cobbled together this map of the bagworm cases I found near to home in the last two years. All were on or near dry stone walls and at quite high altitude. They're often numerous when they do occur.

If anyone does find any other bagworm species I'd be grateful if they could forward me site details.

Charlie.

Lee Mount -6th February

At last - a moth. But what is it doing out in this weather ???!!
First moth of the year on the garage door first thing and still on the door at lunch-time despite the snow.

Dotted Border

Copley garden

Not a moth or butterfly, but nice to be out in the sun today in the garden and have 2 honey bees feeding on flowers. Also a few wolf spiders battling and stalking each other.

LYU

Had this wandering around the garden wall yesterday , the first of the year.

Early Moths

70.282 BF1960 Early Moth Theria primaria a Spring sp Wonder if any one will stumble on one this year they dont appear  widely reported but probably about

http://calderdalemoths.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/early-moth.html

Proofreader needed

Hi all , I have been putting together the updated version of the Moth and Butterflies of Calderdale (including the first micro List)  . I have done all i can and now need someone to give it a read and pull out all the spelling / grammer mistake. (anyone who knows me  will know there will be many ). Any help greatly accepted .leave message below if you can help.....

Sloth Moth

Feeling Lethargic after Xmas ?

Consider the Coprophagus Sloth Moth Cryptoses choloepi,

Not Strictly in Calderdale but I thought this rather obvious example of adaption might reflect a wider lesson of  some of the more subtle adaptions of moths that go unsung throughout the UK and adds to philosophy that it is what we dont know thats counts. So think twice before we Chop it , Cut It , Kill it , Alter it or Remove it !!!!

Its wing markings admirably marked for living amongst the fur of Sloths were  subsequently Larvae feed on dung.The larvae of the sloth moth, Cryptoses choloepi, live in the dung of the three-toed sloth, Bradypus infuscatus. Adult female moths apparently leave the fur of the sloth to oviposit when the sloth descends, once a week, to the forest floor to defecate.

25th Dec 2017

Just finished a Royal Christmas Dinner.  Not being far from my mind most of the time, I thought I should send seasons greetings to those moth people I've had the pleasure to have met and to those I have not met. Merry Christmas to all.

Here is one of my Christmas deigns for this year.

Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas To All on the Blog and I suppose as close as you can get to a Santa Moth

LikelyTrosia nigropunctigera 

Maybe  a moth is not what you would "expects from an empty Santa Sack :-) But if you are a Calderdale Moffer its truly a Gift

Best wishes & Seasons Greetings to All those Creatures of the Night known Collectively as "The Calderdale Moffers "

UK Butterflies.........

merry X -mas

How to Moth an Egg

Ingredients

2 Northern Eggars
Burnished Brass with a lid
Clouded Silver Saucepan
Ruby Tiger Tablespoon
Langmaid’s Yellow Underwing
True Lover’s Knot timer

Method

1. cover the eggs with Chevron by about ½-inch
2. Then quickly but gently Swallow Prominent one at a time using a Feathered Ranunculus
3. Now switch a on Conformist, and give the Drinker exactly 1 min
4. remove the Great Brocade from the heat using the Dark Dagger. 

6 mins will produce a soft White Plume
7 mins will produce a firmer, more creamy Frosted Orange

by Winston Powes...........

Lee Mount - 21st December

Still up to 3 Winter Moths about in the last few days and yesterday a nice Mottle Umber also turned up - and still there on the pebble-dashing all day today.

Mottled Umber

Lee Mount - 18th December

2 Winter Moths tonight near the light in the porch. The first moths here  since 2 in the same place on 3rd December.

10th December

Hi,

As it's still quiet on the moth front, I thought I'd post an image I created two hours ago. It's supposed to represent a moth in flight and the air turbulence around it's wings. I hope you don't mind.

 Moth in Flight.

Bare Head Tunnel

Just 7 Heralds today in Bare head Tunnel............................