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

This week's moths

67 species recorded over the past couple of days. A full list below the photos.

Small Elephant Hawk-moth Deilephila porcellus


Small Elephant Deilephila porcellus and Elephant Hawk-moths Deilephila elpenor


Small Elephant Deilephila porcellus, Elephant Deilephila elpenor and Poplar Hawk-moths Laothoe populi


The Cinnabar


Swallow-tailed Moth Ourapteryx sambucaria


Common Emerald Hemithea aestivaria


Cochylis hybridella


Tinea semifulvella


Double Square-spot Xestia triangulum


Canon Powershot A640

67 species recorded over the past two days:
0246 Tinea semifulvella
0870x Oegoconia sp.
0925 Phtheochroa rugosana
0965 Cochylis hybridella
0977 Large Fruit-tree Tortrix (Archips podana)
0980 Variegated Golden Tortrix (Archips xylosteana)
0989 Timothy Tortrix (Aphelia paleana)
0994 Clepsis consimilana
1002 Lozotaenia forsterana
1010 Red-barred Tortrix (Ditula angustiorana)
1011 Pseudargyrotoza conwagana
1032 Aleimma loeflingiana
1033 Green Oak Tortrix (Tortrix viridana)
1076 Celypha lacunana
1083 Marbled Orchard Tortrix (Hedya nubiferana)
1115 Ancylis achatana
1293 Garden Grass-veneer (Chrysoteuchia culmella)
1301 Crambus lathoniellus
1342 Eudonia angustea
1392 Udea olivalis
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella)
1439 Trachycera advenella
1654 Figure of Eighty (Tethea ocularis)
1669 Common Emerald (Hemithea aestivaria)
1682 Blood-vein (Timandra comae) (both forms)
1711 Treble Brown Spot (Idaea trigeminata)
1713 Riband Wave (Idaea aversata)
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata)
1742 Yellow Shell (Camptogramma bilineata)
1758 Barred Straw (Eulithis pyraliata)
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria)
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)
1922 Swallow-tailed Moth (Ourapteryx sambucaria)
1931 Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)
1937 Willow Beauty (Peribatodes rhomboidaria)
1958 Clouded Silver (Lomographa temerata)
1961 Light Emerald (Campaea margaritata)
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)
1991 Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)
1992 Small Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila porcellus)
1994 Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala)
2040 Four-dotted Footman (Cybosia mesomella)
2050 Common Footman (Eilema lurideola)
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)
2069 The Cinnabar (Tyria jacobaeae)
2087 Turnip Moth (Agrotis segetum)
2089 Heart & Dart (Agrotis exclamationis)
2092 Shuttle-shaped Dart (Agrotis puta)
2128 Double Square-spot (Xestia triangulum)
2154 Cabbage Moth (Mamestra brassicae)
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea)
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)
2321 Dark Arches (Apamea monoglypha)
2327 Clouded Brindle (Apamea epomidion)
2333 Large Nutmeg (Apamea anceps)
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens)
2337x Marbled Minor agg. (Oligia strigilis agg.)
2380 Treble Lines (Charanyca trigrammica)
2381 The Uncertain (Hoplodrina alsines)
2384 Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua)
2389 Pale Mottled Willow (Caradrina clavipalpis)
2434 Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) (both forms)
2473 Beautiful Hook-tip (Laspeyria flexula)
2489 The Fan-foot (Herminia tarsipennalis)

Stenurella melanura at Bedford Purlieus

This was new to me. I only identified it because my copy of the excellent new photographic guide to the insects of the New Forest arrived today. This has a good selection of longhorn photos in its comprehensive pages. I've a bit of a soft spot for longhorn beetles and this one, which is smaller than most, is given the common name Black-striped Longhorn Beetle.

Stenurella melanura

Canon Powershot A640

Black Hairstreak, Bedford Purlieus

Found this at Bedford Purlieus this afternoon. I've only ever seen them at Glapthorn Cow Pastures before now. It's had a hard time of it and seems quite early in the season.

Other insects about were Large Skippers, loads of Speckled Woods, a Red Admiral, Southern Hawkers, a teneral Common Darter and a fair few Common Blue Damselflies. Green Oak Tortrixes were flitting around the oak trees and the grass moths Crambus lathoniellus and Chrysoteuchia culmella were in the grassy areas.

Elephants and Hook-tips

Hawk moths have been in relatively short supply so far this year so it was nice to get two Elephants this morning. Beautiful Hook-tip was another highlight as was yesterday's Phoenix (only the second for the garden), which unfortunately did not sit for a photo.

Elephant Hawkmoth Deilephila elpenor




Burnished Brass Diachrysia chrysitis f. aurea


Beautiful Hook-tip Laspeyria flexula


Canon Powershot A640

Mull Mountain Hares

Another cracking week on The Ross Of Mull. The highlights were the confiding Mountain Hares around Fidden Farm.

Mountain Hare Lepus timidus




Skylark Alauda arvensis


Raven Corvus corax


Lapwing Vanellus vanellus


Canon EOS 500D EF 70-300mm IS USM