Lee Mount - 29th January

First moth of the year last night but it had gone this morning - don't blame it in that cold blustery north easterly with snow flurries.!!

 I've had the trap on last 3 nights more in hope than anticipation so this was a nice surprise.

Pale Brindled Beauty x 1

A few to look out for this Year..

Data Supplied by C.Fletcher .....

 Privet Hawkmoth ,

 Red dots 2020. Black dots 2000 - 2019. Grey dots pre-2000. A record number of Privet Hawk-moths this year. 80 records is double 2019 and is by far the most ever, with sightings as far as Leeds and York. Seven new 10K squares involved this year. Perhaps that privet hedge in the garden is a good idea after all. 

Maidens Blush.

Other species to look for are Scarce and Four Spotted  Footman ......

Tunnel check

We checked this small tunnel near Shibden Hall just before Christmas but we couldn't find anything hidden away amongst the stonework. Thought maybe we might find a Herald Moth but most of the archway throughout was dripping wet and obviously not attractive to moth or butterfly species.

Stainland.

 Hello and season's greating to you all. I hope Santa brings you everything you asked for. Let's hope next year is a good one. Every year, I design a card for my friends. The image below is my card to you all. (It's best view from a short distance away, say 2 feet.)

A Merry Chrismas everybody.

 ]

Christmas Chess.

 

Stolen from Facebook

 I'm posting this with a heavy heart....

As much as I love mothing and everything that comes with it..it is taking up too much of my time. I am struggling to keep up with the everyday basics of cleaning and cooking and maintaining my home, so something has to give.

I have decided to get rid of my gear.

Below is a list of what is available. Serious inquiries only, and please, no low ball offers.

Thanks for reading and understanding. Here is what I have:

1. Vacuum cleaner

2. Broom and dustpan

3. Mop and bucket

4. Lawnmower

5. Leaf blower

6. Laundry detergent

7. Iron

8. Toilet brush

Thank you

December 19th 2020

Found this Fox Moth Cat today on Ned Hill track , i was surprised to see it on such a grim day..!!

3 Heralds in Bare Head Tunnel and 1 Winter moth in the local wood...

Merry X mas and many thanks for all your posts in 2020....
 

Stainland.

 I was thinking about butterflies and how much I liked to see them flitting around in the sun. Butterfly season will be a long time coming. I decided to create one for my amusement. Then, as it's a quiet time on this blog, I thought I'd post it, to brighten the day.

Lee Mount - 7th December

From overnight synergetic light...

Mottled Umber x 1

Winter Moth x 1

Only House Wood Northowram 5.Dec 2020

 Winter Moth 28 males , 2 females and 2 Brick tonight..

6th Dec

Winter Moth x 94 males and 5 females , 1 Brick and 1 Yellow Line Quaker which seems a bit late now.....

7th Dec

Winter Moth x 33 and 1 Yellow Line Quaker...

11th Dec

47 Winter moths and 1 female (calm and clear skies)

12th 

21 Winter Moth 1 female ( heavy rain and strong wind)

13th 

9 Winter Moth ( heavy rain and strong wind)

14th 

7 Winter Moth/....(cold with  slight breeze)

Rishworth - Overnight Moths - 29th November - I'm Back

 Yep, as hoped from my post last night - 7 moths this morning - they all turned up after 11 o'clock interestingly. Unfortunately, no Northern Winter Moths after one of 2 records in Yorkshire coming from the garden here.

Moth Trap 29th November 2020

Satellite x2 [NFY]  - 1x Orange dot, 1x white dot

Mottled Umber x2 [NFY]

Winter Moth x2 [NFY]

Chestnut x1

                                      

Rishworth - Back!

 After an extensive period of not running the trap here in the garden I flicked it on tonight. Various factors like bad weather and stuff to do have stopped me moffing for about a month but I have 2 weeks of home and garden confinement now so I may get some more trapping in after tonight's efforts. The weather is quite warm so after all the amazing moths that I have recorded I'm hoping for something tonight.

Anyway the point is, I'm back. So if I get anything in my efforts a post will come in the morning.

Only House Wood 25th Nov

53 Winter Moths tonight inc 2 pairs in cop and 3 females ,,1 Scarce Umber and a Brown House Moth at home..... 

 27th November .......  150 + Winter Moths including two pairs in cop and a yellow Line Quaker was a great find thanks for your help Mark P....

Lee Mount - 25th November

Limited return from overnight but interesting all the same and better than nothing !
Silver Y x 1
Mottled Umber x 2
Winter Moth x 1 gone up to 3 this evening !
Tachystola acroxantha x 1

Silver Y

Winter Moth

Mottled Umber

Only House Wood , Northowram

3 nights tree searching .. Winter Moth x 127 Winter Moth female x 4 Mottled Umber x 2 Mottled Umber female x 1 Scarce Umber x 3 Chestnut x 1 Light Brown Apple Moth x 1

Lee Mount - 19th Nov

Shut the trap off last night in the wet and windy conditions. Surprised this morning to find a Scarce Umber on the outside door. I thought it was dead, with the wind blowing it's wings, so potted it up and put it in a more sheltered position. It moved so I was pleased it was still alive.

Sent via BT Email App

Gracillaria syringella

Found some old vacated mines of Gracillaria syringella on a 6 foot tall ash seedling on the road down into Millbank this morning. Checked for any pupa on the leaves or still in the mines but no joy. This is a species I have found in the past as an imago in my moth trap but only ever found the mines on ash seedlings despite it being recorded on privet (Ligustrum) and lilac (Syringa)

Lee Mount - 17th November

 Four moths so far today but still hoping for some tonight.

Red-green Carpet x 1

Light-brown Apple-moth x 1

Winter Moth x 1

Blastobasis lacticolella (c 9 mm) - this had me puzzled for a while as the ones I get here are usually much paler and B adustella is usually much darker.

The textbooks and then the photos on Norfolk Moths seem to suggest B lacticolella. A consistent feature appear to be the pair of spots next to each other at around two-thirds.

More Mines

Found various mines today on my walk along Kennel Lane at Soyland and down into Millbank. Found on Hawthorn what I think are the abandoned intital mines of Scythropia crataegella which intially leaf mines and then feed communally in a web. I have only ever found and reared through species this from its communal web stage so I would be happy to be proved wrong and the mines are another species.

Lots of Stigmella anomalella on Roses throughout the walk

Just at the end of the lane from my new house is a St. John's-wort bush(Hypericum)which someone has planted for decoration and it had a large number of Ectoedemia septembrella mines on it

Apologies for the crappy photos but I had to borrow my wifes compact camera to use and it appears to not have a close up/macro function :( I am enjoying my daily walks around the area not only for the lovely scenery but also the chance to get my eye back in looking for moths, mines and larva after a 10 year break from any mothing at all. Finding the mines and moths is easy enough but making a ID of the plants and the mines is a steep learning curve all over again :)

Only House Wood

After 3 recent nights with little to show , tonight produced--- 38 x Winter Moths , Winter Moth ...3 pairs in cop , Scarce Umber x 1 , Chestnut x 1 ,and Light brown Apple Moth x 1 All with just a torch and for 1 hour just after dusk...

Leaf Mines and Cases on Juncus

A wander round on Kennel Lane at Soyland searching various trees still with leaves I found various still tenented and empty mines on Birch, Hazel, Rose and Ash. My ancient camera decided it was time to die so no photos this time sadly :( Species Phyllonorycter messaniella Phyllonorycter nicellii Stigmella anomalella I also found various mines on Oak which to be certain of species I will try and rear through over winter in plant pots covered with "pop socks" and hopefully get some adults emerge next year. I also found some patches of Rush with a few scattered cases on the seed heads still, these I suspect are Coleophora alticolella but could possibly be Coleophora glaucicolella and as I simply dont have time yet to tease out the larva from the cases to check I will again try and rear these through. I have to admit not having done any leaf mining for years (or any mothing for that matter ) I am enjoyinmg the roming round looking for species rather than running my MV trap which is still in a box waiting to be unpacked at my new house. Hopefully I will be able to sort out a new camera soon and be able to post some images of my various trips out over winter seeing what I can find using Ben Smarts superb Micro Moth Field Tips book.