A few from the archives

                                                                Northern  Eggar (f .olivacea)

                                                                Latticed Heath (f.alboguttata)

                                                                   Mottled Grey ( f.nubilata)

                                                   Peppered Moth dark and pale form

Id help photo ..

ETS should be out any day now

Rishworth - Two productive nights.

Moth Trapping Session 31st March

List of Species
Clouded Drab x1
Common Quaker x5
Chestnut x1


Moth Trapping Session 1st April

List of Species
Common Quaker x8
Twin Spotted Quaker x2
Small Quaker x1

Since I've had a few how many individuals of Twin Spotted Quaker are on a regular year, on Yorkshire Moths it says 'never as common as the other Orthosias' is this the same in Calderdale as they seem to be doing well here in Rishworth?

Lee Mount - 1st April

In the trap this morning. Didn't really expect anything given the conditions last night so anything is welcome !
Mottled Grey x 1
Hebrew Character x 3
Small Quaker x 1

Mottled Grey

1st April 2020 Only house Wood Northowram

Only thing flying about last night was this monster......WOW.........yes its the 1st April (added after 12..)

Ghost Town

For my daily exercise I had a walk on to Cromwell Bottom yesterday and had the whole reserve to myself. Sad to see really but peaceful none the less. It gave me plenty of time to search for the mines of Triple-spotted Dwarfs (Elachista maculicerusella) in the clumps of Reed Canary-grass on Tag Loop and to stage a couple of selfies. I thought as we all will be seeing a lot less of each other for the next few months it might be a good idea to post the odd photo of us going about our mothing activities as a nice way to keep in touch. 

Three tenanted Elachista mines were found and taken to rear through. Now I no longer have access to the library PCs I can't post high res pictures, so you'll have to make do with these screen grabs using my iPhone. 

Rishworth - The night of the Orthosias!

A good night last night providing the temperature with some nice smart Twin Spotted Quakers.

Moth Trapping Session 30th March 2020
Trap brought in at 22;00

List of Species
Common Quaker x4
Small Quaker x3
Twin-Spot Quaker x2
Hebrew Character x1

                                                          Hebrew Character above

                                                           Twin Spot Above and Below

More March Dagger...

This top one is one of the very pale males and in the local wood they are pretty scarce.most are the melanic form...I also caught a female last night and she laid some eggs , reckon they should hatch out about the 20th April ( below pic)....

Rishworth - Nothing doing

Nowt on Friday or tonight

March Dagger / Diurnia fagella

Another couple of photos of female March Dagger from last nights tree search, only 7 males and 1 female but it was bitterly cold........Looks like its a very good year for Oak Beauty with more reports from the last few days 3 on 2 different nights at Luddenden and a total of 11 so far this spring......and 1 over the hill at Thornton

Stainland.

I have my first moth of the season. I'm fairly sure it's a Grey Shoulder Knot. (It's actually an Early Grey, thanks Andy) .I looked at my past shots of Early Greys, it's didn't quite look like any of them. It's about 3/4 of an inch nose to tail. I'm quite happy to be corrected.

Anne and I also saw one Small Tortoiseshell, whist we were out walking, it was the only butterfly we saw, I'd have expected more. It's still a little on the cold side however.

Early Grey.

Orange Tip

First male Orange Tip reported today from Hebden Bridge on Old lees road..thanks Nigel..5 Small Tortoiseshell together  in display flight along Hedge Top lane Northowram.....

Rishworth - 2 Catch Reports - Beautifully Drab (get the pun once you read it) Also Clouded Drabs needing Confirmation

As it has been another busy week with my camera being repaired this is the first chance I have had this week to get these catch reports up with pictures.

Moth Trapping Session Wednesday 25th March 2020
A nice surprise with a busy (ish)  trap for the temperature

List of Species
Common Quaker x4
Small Quaker x3
Oak Beauty x2

Moth trapping Session 26th March 2020
Suspected Clouded Drabs needing confirmation x2
Common Quaker x1
Small Quaker x1

Oak Beauty, Rishworth, 25th March

Possible Clouded Drab FW c17mm, Rishworth, 26th March

Possible Clouded Drab FW c16mm, Rishworth, 26th March

Craggs 13th March 2020

Weather

Cool , Light Breezey V Occ. drizzle

Method

MV 120

Other Entomology

Birch SB
Cream Spotted Ladybird
White Legged Millipede

Present

AC BL CD  EE


Two Spring favorites

 1930 Oak Beauty Biston strataria ABH 70.251 










1659 Yellow Horned Achlya flavicornis ABH 65.016 







2187 Common Quaker Orthosia cerasi  ABH 73.244 

Quick Quiz...........

March 25th 2020

A real day today for butterflys with reports of Comma , Peacock  and Small Tortoiseshell from all over Calderdale and in good numbers..At least 10 Small Torts and 4 Peacocks at Northowram mid afternoon..,,,

Ogden Water lock down

Had to lock down Ogden Water this morning, there was a distinct lack of people but a few who could not read the signs or did not think social distancing applied to them.

However I did manage 3 species of butterfly
Comma and Small Tortoiseshell on dam
Peacock on Withens Road

Lee Mount - 24th March

Best night so far this year. Both traps on till midnight then just the Synergetic overnight.

Oak Beauty x 1
Brindled Pug x 3
March Moth x 1
Hebrew Character x 5
Small Quaker x 3
Chestnut x 2
Common Quaker x 9
Agonopterix heracliana x 1

 Brindled Pug (1 of 3) (double check please)

Oak Beauty

Rishworth - A moth extravaganza!

Moth Trapping Session Tuesday 24th March 2020
An extremely busy trap for this time of year.

List of Species
4 Small Quaker
1 Oak Beauty
2 Brindled Pug
9 Common Quaker
1 Chestnut
1 Hebrew Character

I am rather pleased with this catch and I hope for more. Any thoughts welcome.

Stainland.

Saw four bees as I was out walking, all were Red-tailed Bumblebees. It was nice to see them.

It was also nice to go in the the fields without lots of dog walkers etc. Little old misanthrope me eh?