Purple Hairstreak 12.9.13

First one I've seen close up, and not just a streak of black whizzing around the tree tops.

I've gone for quantity rather than quality as these were the only shots I could get before it departed!

It was on a south-facing privet hedge on Albert Promenade ( The Rocks ) Saville Park, Halifax.

Below the rocks is Scar Wood, mostly an oak wood.  5.00pm

I think it was a female - there was a tinge of irridescent purple on top - but a very flight-worn one.

Orange Sallow

Orange Sallow (top) and Grey Chi two moths from last night..Also this week plenty large and Lesser Yellow Underwings still around. Mouse Moths are easily overlooked mixed in with the underwings and plenty of Common Marbled and Garden Carpets as well.On the micro front the Acleris species have been well represented with A.sparsana , variegana,  comariana and emargana this week...

Early september

44 species in the trap last week including Black rustic, Autumnal rustic, Frosted orange Copper Underwing ,Antler and Chevron...Red Admiral , Small copper , Large and Small Whites , Speckled Woods still kicking around the garden....

Baitings Res

Whilst walking round baitings at midday today Cath spotted and photographed this spectacular Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillar. A fantastic find and a lifer for both of us.

Trapping tonight at Cromwell Bottom 7.45 onwards.......

Camberwell Beauty

Spotted this last week. Alas not in Calderdale and under glass in the Manchester Museum

Last Nights Moths Northowram

                                                               2135 Heath Rustic

                                                       455 Ypsolopha scabrella

453	Ypsolopha dentella	Honeysuckle Moth 1
455	Ypsolopha scabrella	1
873	Blastobasis adustella	2
969	Pandemis corylana	Chequered Fruit-tree Tortrix 1
1038x	Acleris laterana/comariana	5
1041	Acleris sparsana	3
1048	Acleris variegana	Garden Rose Tortrix 6
1334	Scoparia ambigualis	2
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet 5
1759	Ecliptopera silaceata	Small Phoenix 3
1764	Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet  1
1937	Peribatodes rhomboidaria	Willow Beauty  1
2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Y Underwing 63
2109	Noctua comes	Lesser Y Underwing 18
2111	Noctua janthe	Lesser BB Yellow Underwing 3
2123	Diarsia rubi	Small Square-spot 1
2134	Xestia xanthographa	Square-spot Rustic 1
2135	Xestia agathina	Heath Rustic 1
2306	Phlogophora meticulosa	Angle Shades 1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches 1
2343x	Mesapamea secalis agg.	Common Rustic agg.  1
2441	Autographa gamma	Silver Y  2

Last nights moths Northowram

2107	Noctua pronuba	Large Yellow Underwing 10
2109	Noctua comes	Lesser Yellow Underwing 9
2111	Noctua janthe	Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing 2
1038x	Acleris laterana/comariana	1
2353	Luperina testacea	Flounced Rustic 1
2166	Hadena rivularis	Campion 1
2321	Apamea monoglypha	Dark Arches 1
1728	Xanthorhoe fluctuata	Garden Carpet 1
1048	Acleris variegana	Garden Rose Tortrix 1
1764	Chloroclysta truncata	Common Marbled Carpet 2
2297	Amphipyra pyramidea	Copper Underwing 1
873	Blastobasis adustella	1

Help with i d !

Struggling with these - AND the photography at night on glass! So apologies for the quality as well.

 I think this is a Vapourer ??

Struggling with this one ??
Thanks
Dave

7th September at Cromwell Bottom

Running trap at CB on 7th meet at 8..................

White letter hairstreak

Found by Sean Johnson at Heath Royd Halifax on his bird bath    .......,,,Great find

Two Cats for id?

Hi all, can anyone help with these two distinctive cats?

Spider id please?

Hi all can anyone id this spider for me?

Back at soil hill

There were fewer clouds today than on Tuesday and this was reflected in the fact that I recorded 3 dragonfly species, not just 2...

-Common Hawker

-Black Darter

There were also dragonflies on other pools today, not just the biggest pool in the middle of the track:

-At least 4, possibly 5, Common Hawkers, including 1 female which was ovipositing

-2 male Black Darters, though they had moved pools

-2 male Common Darters also

Butterflies:

-Meadow Brown

-Large White

-Small White

-Small Tortoiseshell

-Peacock

-Small Copper

Small Copper

Had a site meeting at Beechwood Park LNR, north Halifax this morning. One highlight was a small copper feeding happliy of the plethora of thistles near the top end of the site.

Soil Hill

Went for a quick walk up to soil hill this afternoon. I was surprised to find that the largest pond on the main track was occupied by dragonflies, the first time I have known of them on the hill. There were:

2 male black darters

1 male common hawker

all the dragonflies looked in good condition.

There were also a few butterflies:

Small Copper

Meadow Brown

Peacock

Small Tortoiseshell

Small White

Large White

Green Veined White

Dragonfly and Darter

This immature female Southern Hawker was on the ground motionless. It was barely alive and didn't survive unfortunately.

Also seen yesterday on same hillside at Sunnybank Todmorden this male Common Darter, although not a regular sighting with us.

Also saw a female Purple Hairstreak low down on an Oak but not able to photo.

Moth Night @ Riddlesden, near Keighley

Here is the list from Moth night last week in our garden adjacent to East Riddlesden Hall.
I'm a beginner at Moffin so please forgive any mistaken ID. My method is to take a photograph of every moth captured and then ID it via the Waring guides and confirm any I'm struggling with UK moths website. Last week I took 160 images some with multiple moths caught in or around my new Skinner MV trap.

Here is the list as I have identified them, if there is owt that raises the eye-brows please let me know and I can send you or post an image;

Large Yellow Underwing	75
Willow Beauty	6
Brimstone Moth	5
Common Rustic Ag.	16
Bird Cherry Ermine	28
Willow Ermine	1
Common Carpet	2
Early Thorn	1
Clouded Border	1
Lesser B-bordered Yellow Underwing	15
Lesser Yellow Underwing	1
Dark Arches	3
White-shouldered House-moth	1
July Highflyer	2
Acleris forsskaleana	4
Argyresthia semitestacella	1
Burnished Brass	1
Dun-bar	21
Eudonia lacustrata	1
Eudonia Truncicolella	1
Flame Carpet	1
Mother of Pearl	6
Phoenix	4
Scalloped Oak	3
Small Fan-footed Wave	1
Small Phoenix	1
Spindle Ermine	1

Painted Lady ,,23rd species this year

Nick D reports Painted Lady at Pellon today.......

Grey Chi.

I found this today at Norland (Rishworth) golf course resting openly on a dry stone wall - a new one for me. Looked in pristine condition so may have just emerged.