another good February night in Luddenden
Oak Beauty 1
Chestnut 1
Pale Brindled Beauty 4 (all pale)
March Moth 3
This blog has been set up so local people can find out what is going on in the world of Moths, Butterflys and dragonflies in Calderdale.If you have any ID problems put up your photo's and someone will try and help you to id it.
Rain overnight but I left the synergetic light on with a decent shelter over it ! Always live in hope.
I left the trap on all night even though there was a bit of rain forecast.
Both Pale Brindled Beauty still there on the fence from yesterday with a new one in the trap. Also by the trap a Dotted Border with part of a wing missing. That was it !
Just 2 moths of same species. Top one had me double checking but pretty sure they are both Pale Brindled Beauty. Both show pink abdomen though posture looks a bit different depending on their landing !
Just now in Northowram..
Satellite x 1
Ypsolopha Ustella x 1
March Moth x 1
Pale Brindled Beauty x 1
Signs of life in the garden. My first caterpillar this year, it's an Angle Shades. I've never seen such a small, (short) one before, (about 1 inch). It's still growing. Mature Angle Shades cats have a small, upright oval mark on almost every segment. The marks are off-white, with a red-brown line round them, just above the white line near their feet.This one only has two ovals, one near the tail, the other near the head. A juvenile Angle Shades caterpillar is a first for me.
It's by the bell push on our gate, I hope it finds shelter and survives the winter.
At the trap's first outing of the year, I must have picked a good night. Only one moth, but I'm off the marks now!
Moth Trap 5th Feb
Pale Brindled Beauty f.monocharia x1
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.!!
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.
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.
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.
]
I'm posting this with a heavy heart....
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....
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.