Merry Christmas.

 A MERRY CHRISTMAS

TO ALL

 

A Partridge in a Pear Tree 

Design by 

Gordon Jackson

Let's hope the coming year

is a good one for everybody.

P.S. I'm sorry for the typo in Christmas, I've corrected it.

Recent Sightings and DECEMBER MOTH merry xmas....

 On the 12th December Anthony Arak recorded a December Moth in Barkisland a first for our area and one everyone has been hoping for , for the last 20 years...well done AA ..

Last night in Northowram there were 58 male  Winter Moths and 1 female winter moth at Barkisland ..thanks to Mark P for the help in counting them,,,,Cheers all...

Lee Mount - 15th December

Checked the trap this morning - nothing doing in it or nearby.

Went to call at the neighbors house and found this nice moth on the wall.

Angle Shades (another shot taken on the phone)

Lee Mount

Not a lot to report for this last week though Winter Moths have turned up most early evenings and normally cleared off by the morning - maximum of 8 last night (12th). They don't go in the trap but just near it or on the white upvc doors. Not had chance to check the local woodlands for them.

3 different Mottled Umber as well (one on 9th Dec and 2 together on 12th).

Mottled Umber (was just trying this phone shot)

Lee Mount - 3rd December

I put the trap on last night more in hope than anticipation. 4 Moths was a nice surprise though none were in the trap but attracted to it no doubt.

Winter moth x 2

Mottled Umber x 1

Blair's Shoulder-knot x 1 (a bit faded and fairly late I suspect (c20mm) but I can't think it was anything else with the black basal streaks and other black markings just about visible) ?

Blair's Shoulder-knot

Mottled Umber

Winter Moth

Bare Head Tunnel

 Checked Bare Head tunnel at Shibden Head this afternoon

15 Herald

1 Peacock butterfly

lots of spiders

Butterfly chart 2021

 A few dates still to fill in , but nearly finished

Lee Mount - 16th November

 This morning

Winter Moth x 1

Scarce Umber x 1

Mottled Umber x 3

Common Marbled Carpet x 1 (seems a bit late but can't turn it into anything else)

Common Marbled Carpet

Mottled Umber

Scarce Umber

Lee Mount - 14th and 15th November

14th November

3 new Mottled Umber this morning but nothing else. 

(keep hoping against hope for a December Moth) !!!

15th November

Mottled Umber x 2 different ones from yesterday

Blastobasis lacticolella x 1

Winter Moth x 1

Lee Mount - 10th November

Just one moth on the pebble-dashing by the trap.

Silver Y x 1

Lee Mount - 2nd and 9th November

2nd November

Just one moth last week

Acleris sparsana x 1

9th November after a much milder and drier night

Feathered Thorn x 1

Mottled Umber x 4

Red-green Carpet x 1

Tachystola acroxantha x 1

Light-brown Applemoth x 2

Four quite different Mottled Umber

Feathered Thorn

Red-green Carpet

Moth night sat 6th

 5.30pm start I think now, only a couple of hours and done these days. I should have some sugaring out for wood walking. Good footwear and warm clothing and torch would be useful. 

See whoever then.

Lee Mount 27th October

A different Feathered Thorn this morning - on the kitchen window.

Feathered Thorn

Also another Red Admiral from yesterday - info from some friends in Wheatley.

Lee Mount

UPDATE - nearly forgot - Red Admiral this morning stayed briefly on the pebble-dash as the sun came out - it didn't stay long and neither did the sunshine !

 Last few days

Several moths seem to be staying around on part of the fence by the trap - including.

Mottled Umber x 3

Red-green Carpet  x 2

Light-brown Apple-moth x 2

November Moth agg x 2

Common Marbled Carpet x 2

Feathered Thorn x 1

Silver Y x 2 arrived new in this morning

Feathered Thorn

 Both shots here from the phone as a trial!

Mottled Umber

September.

Yesterdays Spruce Carpet had found it's way into the hall, it was on the fanlight. Beause it was backlit and at a better angle for photos, the markings showed up very nicely. I thought I'd post this much better photo. The moth is outside in the hedge now.

Spruce Carpet

Stainland. 19th and 23rd October 2021.

I forgot to post the caterpillar below, from the 19th. October.

It looks a little like a brown Angle Shades cat, it was 4. 5 cm long. Every time I looked at it, over a 15 hour period, it had moved a little. Then it was gone. It's "face" seems odd, flat, or truncated. Along with the off-white patch on the top of it's head and the strange "crease" along its side, suggest it isn't an Angle Shades. It's not in my butterfly book, so must be a moth. Note the brownish bands on it.

I have NO idea what it is. ID please.

Santa is bringing me the "Field Guide to the Caterpillars of Great Britain and Ireland".  Next year it should be a lot eaiser for me to ID caterpillars.

ID please.(I'ts head is on the right).

Detail showing off white patch.

23rd October.

In spite of the rain and wind, two moths arrived during the night. A Silver Y and what I think may be Spruce Moth. If so, it will be yet another first for me, I've been doing well with firsts this year. My second options as a Common Marbled Carpet but I've not seen one in this colour configuration. Not that that means it might not be one. Could someone ID it for certain please?

Silver Y

Spruce Carpet TBC

 LUDDENDEN 

It's been a good October so far in Luddenden with the best ever year for Autumnal Green Carpet, November Moths and Merveille du Jour (5 so far this year - only 2 previous here), also another new species here this Grey-shoulder Knot last night

Grey-shoulder Knot

November Moth agg

Moth night 23rd

 Start about 6.30pm, usual clothing for weather, just need wind to settle.

BArkisland

 Some more great moths from Anthony Arak..

CAlderdale Moths and Butterflies Update

 I am starting to re -write and update ( the last 3 years have been exceptional) the Local Moth report..

If anyone has anything they would like to put in it , drawings , story's , new ideas , things that should be taken out  etc .please email me ..I am hoping it will be finished by March 2022..Thanks