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.