Moths moths moths

Another Dusky-lemon Sallow and a late Common Wainscot last night.

0985 Carnation Tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum) 2
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 2
2199 Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens) 1
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri) 3
2248 Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita) 1
2263 Red-line Quaker (Agrochola lota) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 16
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 13
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 3
2274 The Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 3
2275 Dusky-lemon Sallow (Xanthia gilvago) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
7-spot Ladybird (Adalia 7-punctata) 2
Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) 1

Raven at last

Thanks to Karen I now have Raven on many lists including PBC and garden. She heard a call and then spotted two birds flying by. I got bins on them and watched as one rolled over twice and they both headed off west into Northamptonshire.

List totals now:
Garden: 106
PBC: 238
PBC Self found: 214
BIGBY 2011: 148

More moths and Hornets

Another good catch last night with another migrant Rusty Dot Pearl and this form of Garden Rose Tortrix which I don't remember getting in the garden before.

Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana


Large Wainscot Rhizedra lutosa


Hornet Vespa crabro


Canon Powershot A640
0994 Clepsis consimilana 1
1041 Acleris sparsana 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 2
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1395 Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 3
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri) 1
2252 Large Ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 19
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 18
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 3
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 2
2375 Large Wainscot (Rhizedra lutosa) 3
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis) 3
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
Hornet (Vespa crabro) 2

Brown-spot Pinion

Last nights catch included the third Dusky-lemon and Pink-barred Sallows and first Brown-spot Pinion for the garden. Birch Shieldbug is regular at light. Not had that many Brindled Greens either. Unfortunately no photos.

0648 White-shouldered House-moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 1
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 3
1361 Pyrausta aurata 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 2
2110 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (Noctua fimbriata) 1
2248 Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita) 1
2266 Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 15
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 10
2273 Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata) 2
2274 The Sallow (Xanthia icteritia) 1
2275 Dusky-lemon Sallow (Xanthia gilvago) 1
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis) 1
Birch Shieldbug (Elasmostethus interstinctus) 1

Lunar Underwings continue to steal the show

Last night's catch:

1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana) 1
1745 The Mallow (Larentia clavaria) 1
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 1
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 12
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 15
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 1
2361 Rosy Rustic (Hydraecia micacea) 2
2364 Frosted Orange (Gortyna flavago) 1

Migrant Moths

A couple of migrants in the trap last night; Silver Y and Rusty Dot Pearl. The Mallow is only the 6th for the garden and it's the first time I've attracted Dark Bush-cricket to light.

Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis


The Mallow Larentia clavaria


Canon Powershot A640

1309 Agriphila geniculea 1
1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1395 Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) 1
1745 The Mallow (Larentia clavaria) 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 5
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 5
2240 Blair's Shoulder-knot (Lithophane leautieri) 1
2252 Large Ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 5
2269 Centre-barred Sallow (Atethmia centrago) 1
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 15
2272 Barred Sallow (Xanthia aurago) 1
2353 Flounced Rustic (Luperina testacea) 1
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) 1
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis) 1
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma) 1
Dark Bush-cricket (Pholidoptera griseoaptera) 1

Autumn moths

A rare mothing session last night. Nothing remarkable but a couple of photos.

Large Ranunculus Polymixis flavicincta


Beaded Chestnut Agrochola lychnidis


Pale Mottled Willow Paradrina clavipalpis


Canon Powershot A640

1342 Eudonia angustea 1
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 3
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) 2
2109 Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) 1
2134 Square-spot Rustic (Xestia xanthographa) 3
2252 Large Ranunculus (Polymixis flavicincta) 1
2267 Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis) 2
2270 Lunar Underwing (Omphaloscelis lunosa) 9
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis) 1

Western Conifer Seed Bug

This large (18mm body and head) bug appeared in my office near the centre of Peterborough today. Checking on British Bugs it turns out to be an adventive species in the Coreidae (Squashbug) family. It is native to the western USA and first arrived in Europe in 1999. The last couple of years have seen increasing records in the UK but this could well be the first anywhere near here.

Not knowing what it was, I let it go, which sort of makes me a criminal apparently as it is against the law to release non-native animals. Fortunately you have to know what it is and it's taken me a while to get around to sorting out the ID.

Western Conifer Seed Bug Leptoglossus occidentalis

Canon Powershot A640

Wildlife of Barnsdale Gardens

A weekend 'en famille' saw me at the excellent gardens of the late, great Geoff Hamilton. He was a real pioneer of environmentally friendly gardening and this comes through in the abundance of insects and other wildlife we saw today. Here is a small selection I managed to snap.

Common Frog Rana temporaria


Comma Polygonia c-album


Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta


Green Shield Bug Palomena prasina


Stictopleurus abutilon



Bombus terrestris


Honey Bee Apis mellifera


Canon EOS500D 18-55mm

West Penwith Wildlife

Another excellent stay in West Penwith. The highlights weren't photographed unfortunately. Excellent views of Slow Worm and Adder on the cliff walks, a couple of Basking Sharks early on in the week, a Sunfish, several Harbour Porpoises.

There was a huge movement of Manx Shearwaters south past Sennen and on one morning 9 Sooty Shearwaters in an hour (when c.670 Manx flew by). Only one Balearic Shearwater and one Arctic Skua. Peregrines were thin on the ground but Ravens and Choughs showed regularly and a few migrants like Whimbrel.

Walking back along Bosistow Lane one afternoon we passed a couple of birders. I asked them what they were looking for but didn't get an answer (why are birders so uncommunicative?) so had a look as went by and saw this (sorry about the very poor shot):

Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli


I had no idea this was present (this was its last of three days) and it is my first in the UK (but seen quite a few abroad, including in Morocco earlier this year). The question is was it self found? I would probably have walked straight past it had there not been birders hanging around and it wasn't calling at the time. It didn't feel like a find anyway.

Here's a selection of other beasties from the week. The shieldbug is new to me; the sharp pronotal spines are distinctive. It is a predator of caterpillars. The Sand Wasp was quite abundant.

Picromerus bidens


Sand Wasp Ammophila sp.


Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene



Common Blue Polyommatus icarus


Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae


Common Lizard Lacerta vivipara


Canon EOS 500D 18-55mm

Wood Warbler, Ferry Meadows

Found by Matt Webb this morning near Lynch Bridge while I was stood next to him. Fabulous views of this really bright individual.

Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix


Digiscoped with Canon Powershot A640 and Leica APO77 x20

Horntail, Hathersage Moor

A couple of these large spectacular sawflies were on the millstone grit outcrops around Over Owler Tor. They seem to be of the northern taiganus subspecies.

Horntail Urocerus gigas taiganus


Canon Powershot A640

Juvenile Bullfinch

The latest bird to hit our windows at home. Most are only stunned and this one seemed fine after being placed in a window box away from the cats to recuperate.

Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula, juvenile

Canon Powershot A640

Green-veined Whites

A pair in cop along the Nene near Elton Bridge.


Canon Powershot A640

Winging it

Another garden first in the moth trap this morning but unfortunately something had been eating its way through the contents and chose this as one of its first victims. There were also the wings of a Brimstone Moth but this one is very scarce indeed and it's a real shame it was killed and we couldn't see the whole moth.

There are only two other recent records for VC31. Not totally unexpected though as there are known breeding sites not far away.

The Four-spotted Tyta luctuosa

Canon Powershot A640

Least Carpet

A welcome garden first.

Least Carpet Idaea rusticata

Canon Powershot A640

Bombus horturum

A few of these bumblebees appearing in the moth trap lately.

Bombus hortorum


Canon Powershot A640

July's moths

List of the 79 species (48 macros) recorded so far this month (preceded by B&F catalogue numbers). Orthopygia glaucinalis and The V-pug were both third records for the garden.
0411 Argyresthia goedartella
0424 Bird-cherry Ermine (Yponomeuta evonymella)
0866 Brachmia blandella
0874 Blastobasis lacticolella
0937 Agapeta hamana
0986 Syndemis musculana
0994 Clepsis consimilana
1001 Lozotaeniodes formosanus
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)
1016x Cnephasia sp.
1020 Grey Tortrix (Cnephasia stephensiana)
1036 Acleris forsskaleana
1048 Garden Rose Tortrix (Acleris variegana)
1063 Celypha striana
1076 Celypha lacunana
1082 Plum Tortrix (Hedya pruniana)
1261 Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella)
1288 Twenty-plume Moth (Alucita hexadactyla)
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
1334 Scoparia ambigualis
1337 Eudonia pallida
1338 Dipleurina lacustrata
1344 Eudonia mercurella
1361 Pyrausta aurata
1390 Udea prunalis
1392 Udea olivalis
1398 Phlyctaenia coronata
1405 Mother of Pearl (Pleuroptya ruralis)
1415 Orthopygia glaucinalis
1424 Endotricha flammealis
1524 Emmelina monodactyla
1651 Chinese Character (Cilix glaucata)
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)
1705 Dwarf Cream Wave (Idaea fuscovenosa)
1707 Small Dusty Wave (Idaea seriata)
1708 Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata)
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata) (all ab. remutata)
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)
1825 Lime-speck Pug (Eupithecia centaureata)
1858 The V-Pug (Chloroclystis v-ata)
1887 Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)
1919 Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria)
1921 Scalloped Oak (Crocallis elinguaria)
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia) (all typical)
1976 Privet Hawk-moth (Sphinx ligustri)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
2029 Brown-tail (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)
2030 Yellow-tail (Euproctis similis)
2031 White Satin Moth (Leucoma salicis)
2047 Scarce Footman (Eilema complana)
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2098 The Flame (Axylia putris)
2107 Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba)
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)
2155 Dot Moth (Melanchra persicariae)
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
2193 The Clay (Mythimna ferrago)
2198 Smoky Wainscot (Mythimna impura)
2278 Poplar Grey (Acronicta megacephala)
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha) (incl. 1 f. aethiops)
2322 Light Arches (Apamea lithoxylaea)
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)
2341 Cloaked Minor (Mesoligia furuncula)
2345 Small Dotted Buff (Photedes minima)
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)
2382 The Rustic (Hoplodrina blanda)
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus)
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)
2441 Silver Y (Autographa gamma)
2477 The Snout (Hypena proboscidalis)
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)

Elton Bridge

Very productive walk along the Nene dowstream of Elton Bridge with plenty of butterflies. The Chaser was rather far away for a photo, hence the rather ropey shot, but good to see. Emperor and Brown Hawker also on the wing here.

Six-spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae


Essex Skipper Thymelicus lineola


Scarce Chaser Libellula fulva

Red Kite bird table

There are now two or three Red Kites that patrol Elton village looking for food all day every day. Every now and then we put some food out on a high table in the garden and it isn't long before a kite is along to take it. There were three birds circling the garden today so we gave it a go and this one took it on the third attempt. Spot a second bird swooping in to try to steal it.

Red Kite Milvus milvus

Canon EOS 500D 18-55mm IS USM