Colden Clough

Took a walk through Colden Clough today, before the rain started. A few Green Veined Whites around Lumb Bank and about 12 orange tip males fighting it out around Hebble Hole.

Heath rustic

This is a pic of heath rustic just before it pupated..

Powdered Quaker

the highlight of last weeks GMS

Knott Wood sat night(the ups and downs)

A brilliant night mothing at Knott wood with Oak Nycteoline the pick of the bunch and an early Lesser swallow prominent.The down side was brian had his genny nicked and my bulb broke as we were setting up so only one trap was run(shame)we are now having a whip round to buy bri a new genny(there only £70quid now)
6 Eriocrania subpurpurella 20
663 Diurnea fagella 6
697 Agonopterix arenella 2
1524 Emmelina monodactyla 1
1760 Chloroclysta siterata Red-green Carpet 1
1761 Chloroclysta miata Autumn Green Carpet 1
1852 Eupithecia abbreviata Brindled Pug 42
1853 Eupithecia dodoneata Oak-tree Pug 3
1862 Gymnoscelis rufifasciata Double-striped Pug 1
1881 Trichopteryx carpinata Early Tooth-striped 19
1883 Acasis viretata Yellow-barred Brindle 1
1917 Selenia dentaria Early Thorn 1
1919 Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn 2
2006 Pheosia gnoma Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
2139 Cerastis rubricosa Red Chestnut 8
2182 Orthosia cruda Small Quaker 5
2187 Orthosia cerasi Common Quaker 184
2188 Orthosia incerta Clouded Drab 4
2189 Orthosia munda Twin-spotted Quaker 16
2190 Orthosia gothica Hebrew Character 16
2243 Xylocampa areola Early Grey 4
2256 Eupsilia transversa Satellite 3
2258 Conistra vaccinii Chestnut 39
2423 Nycteola revayana Oak Nycteoline 1
+ a worn flame carpet(?) and 418 Apple Fruit Moth Argyresthia conjugella.

Knott Wood sat night

I am meeting with Bri in Knott wood on Sat night about 8.15,we are going to run two traps ,all welcome

British Cave Research Association

Summer Cave Biology Field Meeting

Wednesday 8th September 2010

Scoska Cave, Littondale, Yorkshire
Below are details of the field trip to the cave where they hav been studying the moths, he would like to invite all Calderdale "moth-ers",


The British Cave Research Association is pleased to invite you to its Summer 2010 cave biology field meeting that will be held from 10.00am on Wednesday 8th September 2010. The meeting will be led by David Hodgson of the Craven Pothole Club, who has studied the biology of Scoska Cave for many years. The Village Hall, Arncliffe, (SD93187195, www.arncliffe.net for full details including local accommodation) will be used as the base venue. The aim of the meeting is to present information on the biology of British caves with Scoska Cave as a prime example. Topics covered in talks will include cave flora, Herald and Tissue moths, David’s work at Scoska, and the Hazelton database of British subterranean biology. These talks will be followed by a visit to Scoska Cave where David will describe his work and point out interesting aspects of the ecology of the cave. The day will end back at the Hall with a summary of the days events and will conclude at 1530-1600.

This event should appeal to those interested in subterranean biology, especially those who want a brief but diverse introduction to the subject. A collection of books and other literature will be available for consultation.

Intending participants should register their interest by Friday 6 August 2010 by email to the meeting secretary, Graham Proudlove: g.proudlove@manchester.ac.uk or, for initial queries, by telephone at: +44 (0)1706 839752. Final communications about the programme will be sent by email to those who have registered. There will be a small charge, to include morning and afternoon refreshments, of £6, or £5 for BCRA members, or £4 for students. Parking will be available close by in Arncliffe Village. We are most grateful to Mrs. B. McKenzie for permission to visit Scoska Cave and to the people of Arncliffe for the use if their Hall.

Equipment required: We will not be travelling very far into Scoska Cave so full caving gear is not required. Wellingtons are highly recommended as greater than boot-depth water may be encountered. Warm clothing and a waterproof jacket are necessary in case of rain. A helmet and light are certainly required. If you cannot supply your own helmet and light we can do so provided you let us know in advance. A small charge will be made for this. You should also provide your own lunch as there is little provision in the village

Two Recent Butterflies

Two recent sightings of butterflies during a week spent with my daughter... The Peacock nectaring on sallow on Barlow Common Nature Reserve near Selby on Fri 16th and the comma the next day near Luddenden foot.

Historical records from 1945

1945 was said to be a 'Plusia' year in the Hebden valley, taken at ' Light'were Gold Spot,Burnished Brass,Golden Plusia Lesser Yellow underwing ,Clouded Magpie and Snout.It may be noted that 'Light' consisted of an open kitchen window with a 150 watt bulb on a white kitcen table,The Naturalist 1945 p154.Gibson,Mills and Sunderland

Knott Wood sat night

What a night,clear skies and cold,but there were plenty of moths about from dusk.-
Common Quaker 152
Powdered Quaker 1
Small Quaker 6
Twin st quaker 38
Hebrew Character 26
Clouded drab 37
Red Chestnut 24
Early Tooth Striped 17
Chestnut 7
Early Thorn 1
Early Grey 2
Brindled Pug 6
Red Sword Grass 1
Satellite 4
D.Fagella 3
Eriocrania subpurpurella 10

Historical records from 1924/5

Recived a load of old records via winston the other day and have just had time to have a look at them.Realy great stuff about sugaring in the Tod /Hebden area 85 years ago, and were still at it.??? There is refernce to sugaring stones on the moor tops and a few sightings of Wood Tiger.Here is the list below of sugaring in hardcastle craggs near the stepping stones on a cloudy 28th june evening in 1924.
Galium carpet x 2
Bordered White (many males and 12 females)
Clouded B Brindle
Welsh wave - many
Broken barred Carpet - several
Small Rivulet x 1
Shears x 1
Flame Carpet x 1
Map winged Swift x 1
Common Swift x many

Midgley GMS

Hebrew Character 11
Clouded Drab 2
Common Quaker 1
Early Grey 2
Chestnut 1

Red Sword-grass

Had a visit from 2241 Red Sword-grass Xylena vetusta on wednesday night. They really are something different arn't they. Was trying to gently persuade it to open its wings for a pic but it prefered to skuttle (And was very good at it too)

Knott Wood last night

Another good session at Knot wood last night with and expert catcher on our side,Maisey Moffer was a dab hand and put us all to shame.
Common Quaker 30
Small Quaker 4
Twin spot Quaker 11
Engrailed 4
Early Thorn 1
Early Tooth Striped 10
Red Chestnut 11
Brindled Pug 3
Clouded Drab 11
D.Fagella 1
Hebrew Character 8
We will be there on Saturday night if any one would like to join us.

Latest Birdguides moth article

Can be found at

http://www.birdguides.com/webzine/article.asp?a=2041

Some great photos.

Strange goings on............?

I hav'nt had the trap on for a couple of nights because its been so cold,but it felt a little warmer.So I went to tidy out the trap and set the egg boxes in place.I found this cat curled up in one of the egg boxes.....any ideas.??

News from Todmorden

Bri is having laptop problems at the moment but is well chuffed with two leaf mine emergences this week 363 Phyllonorycter platanoidella and 316 Phyllonorycter roboris.Pics to follow.

Last Night in Knott Wood

Brian and I met in Knott Wood last night. As usual for this week any cloud cleared and the stars all apeared. Also it felt colder than of late to me. Despite this the catch was still a good one. Brian has the official list and is off line at the moment but we had well over 100 moths of 11 species which included 10 Early Tooth-striped, all well marked and one of the target species Brian earmarked for this location. Yellow Horned and Orange Underwing already ticked off.

Clouded Drab x 13
Early Tooth-striped x 8
Diurnea fagella x 3
Red Chestnut x 17
Chestnut x 6
Common Quaker x 41
Twin-spot Quaker x 5
Engrailed x 3
Hebrew Character x 19
Brindled Pug x 2
Early thorn x 1
Small quaker x 2

(numbers from Bri by text)

Winston

Mystery moth

a friensd of mine on the Orkneys caught this on Friday night any ideas,>?????

Orthosia gothica

A massive 43 Hebrew Characters last night in the trap.By far my favourite spring species.,Double Striped Pug,E.Monodactayla and a large collection of common Orthosia sp also.

Last Nght in Hebden Bridge

Engrailed 1

Early grey 1

Early tooth-striped 1

Chestnut 1

Common Quaker 7

Hebrew Character 3

Total 14

Winston