Moths and Butterflies

2009-04-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

The trap turned out 2 Hebrew Character, 1 Powdered Quaker and 1 Small Quaker at Denver this morning. Not quite the Red Sword-Grass we were hoping for, but at least we got something - you can never be sure this early in the season!

A Garden Carpet flew into the shower room this evening.

2008-09-17T04:21:00.000-07:00

(James) A selection of Common Marbled Carpets, one of the most variable species in terms of colouration.

2008-09-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

(James) This Small Tortoiseshell spent 2 nights in our bedroom, as we didn't want to put it out in the rain.

2008-08-05T02:18:00.000-07:00

(James) Twin-spotted Wainscot, a first for Denver, found on Simeon's bed this morning!

2008-07-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Beautiful China-mark, Ringed China-mark, and European Corn Borer.

2008-07-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

(James) Sycamore (top) and a slightly washed out Four Dotted Footman (bottom) were highlights from a 65-species trap at Bates Wood on 16th July, with a Peach Blossom on 15th, and a beautiful male Ghost Moth earlier in the week.

2008-06-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

(Simeon) Ringlet butterfly at Whin Common this morning (29/6/08)

2007-10-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Pink-barred sallow, Common Marbled Carpet and Sallow. Traps are becoming progressively less productive, so the Denver Mothing Season is likely to end soon.

And now, the end is here!

2007-10-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Alas moth trapping has now ceased for another year at Dersingham and although both numbers of residents and immigrants were down on previous years it has still been a reasonable year. 3 nationally scarce species were caught during the year and these were Large Thorn, Cream-bordered Green Pea and Star-wort, while only one immigrant of note was caught, a Delicate.

Cheers,

Connor

2007-09-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

(James) Mallow (bottom) and Pale-lemon Sallow (top) at Bates Wood, Denver on 15th September. The latter is a Nationally Scarce A listed species associated with poplars, and after catching one at the same venue on National Moth Night last year (but not realising it was rare and therefore not taking a photo of it!) was a big target for 2007. Well worth getting out of bed for!

Dersingham Moths

2007-09-16T13:36:00.001-07:00

(Connor) Lilac Beauty, Maiden's Blush and Large Thorn, Dersingham, September 2007.

2007-09-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

(James) This may look like a Scarce footman, but the grey edge to the hindwing proves this specimen to be a Northern footman - a Red Data Book subspecies of Scarce footman. Incidentally, every Scarce footman type we trapped in North Wales turned out to be Northern, as the ranges do not overlap much there.

2007-09-16T12:36:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: probable Crinan Ear (a speciality of the area we visited in North Wales), Sandy carpet, Narrow-winged pug and Rusty dot pearl (an immigrant micro moth)

2007-09-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

(James) More moths from our August trip to Wales - True lover's knot (top), Magpie (centre) and Lesser swallow prominent (bottom).

2007-09-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

(James) Moths from our trip to Wales: (from top) Small Rufous, Dark Spectacle and Purple Bar.

Bedstraw Hawkmoth

2007-09-02T04:40:00.001-07:00

(Connor) Bedstraw Hawkmoth, trapped Holme Village, August 2007

2007-07-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

(James) Scarce silver-lines trapped at Stow Bardolph... in a Conifer plantation!

2007-07-26T03:15:00.000-07:00

(Connor) Trapped this Star-Wort overnight at Dersingham on 25/7/07. First site record. Also 3 Diamond-backed Moths, Slender Brindle, Purple Clay, Grey Pine Carpet, Bird's Wing, Copper Underwing and Dark Spinach were noteworthy.

2007-07-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

Cream-bordered Green Pea trapped at Dersingham (2nd site record)

(Connor) Trap highlights for 24/7/07 at Dersingham:

Light Arches,

Swallow Prominent,

Lesser Swallow Prominent,

Sallow Kitten,

Slender Brindle,

Diamond-back Moth,

Bloodvein,

Pebble Hook-tip,

Cream-bordered Green Pea.

Trapping in general this year has been poor with poor quantity and quality of resident species and the only immigrants being about a dozen Diamond-back Moths. This trap was an improvement especially in terms of resident species.

2007-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

(James) One of 2 Coxcomb Prominents trapped at Stow Bardolph (first for the area around Denver) thanks to Nigel Davies kindly providing a brilliant generator.

2007-07-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

(James) This micro turned up at Bates Wood a few nights ago (i'm only photographing pretty micros, not the crummy old grey ones, so don't worry I haven't fully lost my mind yet). Anyway, thanks to Peter Tilley of Holme and Jon Clifton of Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies it turns out that Evergestis extimalis (the micro in question) is an occasional wanderer from the Brecks, and not especially common, so it is a pretty decent record!

2007-07-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

(James) The first trap on Stow Estate was fairly decent, especially considering the rain throughout the night, producing about 50 moths of 20 species. Highlights included several Black Arches, Slender Brindle, Bordered Beauty (top), and 11 Poplar Hawkmoths (bottom) - the largest number recorded by me in one trap!

2007-07-22T00:41:00.000-07:00

(James) Small Phoenix and Grass Emerald at Bates Wood. The 7 consecutive traps I have just conducted there for my Biology coursework reeled in 807 individuals with 95 species (excluding the ones that got away!), adding between 10 and 20 new species to the Denver list! Species diversity calculated from the samples using Simpson's index produced a value of 20.8 - I now have another 7 days trapping at a pine plantation on Stow Estate to compare these data.

2007-07-18T02:35:00.000-07:00

(James) Chinese Character (also known as "bird poo moth" because of its unusual choice of camouflage. The effect is very convincing when you find one on top of the perspex!), and Purple Thorn (2nd generation).

2007-07-18T02:26:00.000-07:00

(James) Trap highlights from 17th - Bird's Wing (top), Eyed Hawkmoth (middle), and the classic: Elephant Hawkmoth (bottom). Bird's Wing was somewhat unexpected, and we had been hunting Eyed Hawkmoth for quite some time so it was a lovely surprise!

2007-07-18T02:17:00.000-07:00

(James) Southern Wainscot, another decent addition to the recent run of 'firsts' for denver.

2007-07-16T05:25:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Pine Hawkmoth, Round-winged Muslin, and Buff Tip (aka Random bearded Swedish guy)

2007-06-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

(James) Wood Carpet (top) and Light Brocade, at Bates Wood.

2007-06-02T02:34:00.000-07:00

(James) Sharp-angled Carpet at Bates Wood, trapped by Simeon. Yet another first for Denver!

2007-05-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

(James) In a much better trap at Bates Wood the biggest highlight was a single Orange footman (top), apparently very local in East Anglia. Brown rustic (bottom) was very early.

2007-05-13T01:14:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Muslin moth (male, as females do not come to light) and Waved umber.

2007-04-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

(James) Three new moths for Bates Wood in an otherwise average trap - from top: Chocolate tip (hyper-active so had to be kept in solitary confinement), Oak-tree pug, Frosted green.

2007-04-11T02:03:00.000-07:00

(James) Swallow prominent - 2 weeks early.

2007-04-08T13:07:00.000-07:00

(James) Twin-spotted quaker... what an idiot!

2007-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

(James) Engrailed on 27th March

2007-03-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

(James) March moth from the trap on 27th March. This time only 50 individuals were caught, but 11 species were present - March moth, 3 Oak beauty, Dark chestnut and Engrailed were the main highlights.

2007-03-27T03:52:00.000-07:00

(James) Clouded drab (top) and Red chestnut from the Bates Wood trap on 17th March which produced 156 individuals.

First trap of 2007

2007-03-18T02:47:00.001-07:00

The first trap of 2007 was on 17th March - a week earlier than 2006. In 2006 the first trap (in Denver observatory garden) produced 3 moths. On 17th however, despite a cold night, a total of 156 individuals and 8 species were recorded at Bates Wood (6 spring species and 2 winter species)! Let's hope this is just because Bates Wood is amazing, rather than climate change having anything to do with it...

2007-01-20T04:37:00.000-08:00

Trapping for 2007 will start from the end of March (school Easter holidays) until autumn when the moths stop coming - this year we hope to be trapping regularly at Bates Wood to get an idea of the moths around that area and hopefully discover some more rarities. Primary amongst the target species is Dew Moth which was found at Denver in 2004, but this may only become a reality if we have permission to actually trap on the common. We will also be looking for Pale Lemon Sallow later in the season.

2006-12-11T09:16:00.000-08:00

We have reluctantly decided to end trapping at Denver for the year (without catching the target of December moth!) because the cable runs through our bedroom window and it was getting rather cold... Trapping will recommence around March or April 2007.

Anyone who would like a 2006 Young Norfolk Birders moth report please email jimmyg777@hotmail.co.uk with your address so that we can post it to you.

2006-12-03T01:07:00.000-08:00

Very disappointing trap on 2/12/06 - not so much the fact that not a single moth was caught, but that the previous night had perfect conditions and would have been almost guaranteed to trap the target moth: December Moth! Needless to say, we were not able to trap the previous night, and 2/12/06 started well but rained constantly after about 2 hours of putting the trap out...

On a brighter note, the Young Norfolk Birders moth report for 2006 is complete and will be available very soon.

2006-10-18T12:28:00.000-07:00

(James) Memories of the brilliant first trap at Bates Wood (we have actually only done 2 there in total!). From top - crescent, dog's tooth and slender brindle. It was a pretty packed trap as you can tell from the photos!

2006-10-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

(James) A lovely Merveille du Jour (French for marvel of the day) at Denver. And it would have been had it not been surpassed by Simeon's Yellow -browed Warbler!

2006-10-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: 2 pictures of one of the two reed daggers (nationally scarce B), showing distinctive markings, pinion streaked snout, and convolvulus hawkmoth (one of two) all trapped at Bates Wood during NMN. Also caught was a pale lemon sallow (nationally scarce A), but I didn't know it was rare so no photo!!!

2006-10-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

(James) One of two Pearly underwing caught at Denver in September.

2006-10-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

(James) Large thorn at Denver on 4th September. Notice how the top photograph looks uncannily like Spiro..!

2006-09-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

(James) Some of the highlights from trapping in Wales. From top: great brocade which I nearly trod on, the most beautiful bordered straw you have ever seen, one of 5 large ear, and one of the 8 individual scarce bordered straw caught in 2 consecutive traps! More scarcity photos to come from Denver...

2006-09-22T11:16:00.000-07:00

Denver 21/09/2006

Pearly underwing - a different individual to the one on 17th! It landed on the bedroom window whilst Simeon and I were doing our homework (as rare moths do), and although I passed it off as a lesser yellow underwing Simeon dutifully brought it in - that was a nice surprise! We're on a roll here with 5 rarities in the last 6 traps, so let's hope it continues for National Moth Night on Saturday...

Dissapointing news for Denver - the moth which we identified as hoary footman was probably not. After contacting Dave Hipperson (the county recorder) it turns out that several apparent hoary footmen were trapped around the time we got ours. Jon Clifton dissected his specimen and discovered that it was in fact a continental race of scarce footman which is inseparable from hoary except by examination of genitalea. Of course it cannot be proved that this is what our moth was, but it seems highly likely........ Oh well, we can't complain with the array of moths we've had this year - our time will come (hopefully)!

2006-09-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

Recent Highlights from Denver and Wales as we took the trap with us on holiday!

Denver
20/7/06
Common Rustic 32
Striped Wainscot 2
Rufous Minor 1
Fen Wainscot 2
Beautiful Brocade 1
Broad - Bordered Yellow Underwing 31
Lesser - Yellow Underwing 36
Uncertain 33

Bates Wood (Denver)
21/7/06
White Satin 5
Plain Wave 1
Fen Wainscot 10
Yellow Tail 8
Ruby Tiger 8
Poplar Hawkmoth 8
Lesser Cream Wave 1
Dark Umber 1
Slender Brindle 1
Dog's Tooth 1
Crescent 1
Striped Wainscot 3
Olive 31

Denver
4/8/06
Straw Underwing

Denver
7/8/06
Fen Wainscot 1
Great Brocade 1
Setaceous Hebrew Character 34

Denver
8/8/06
Red Underwing 1
Small Wainscot 1

Wales
16/8/06
Northern Spinach 1
Bordered Straw 1

Wales
17/8/06
Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing 36
Flounced Rustic 29
Lesser Cream Wave 3
Foxglove Pug 1
Scarce Bordered Straw 2
Large Ear 5

Wales
18/8/06
Great Brocade 1 (1st for the county!)
Flounced Rustic 37
Scarce Bordered Straw 7
Lesser Cream Wave 2
Large Ear 3
Swallow Prominent 1 (very rare in that county!)

Denver
4/9/06
Common Wainscot 94
Setaceous Hebrew Character 65
Large Yellow Underwing 32
Large Thorn 1

Denver
9/9/06
Frosted Orange 2
Brown Spot Pinion 1
Scarce Bordered Straw 1

Denver
17/9/06
Rosy Rustic 2
Orange Sallow 1
Pearly Underwing 1

2006-09-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry that Denver hasn't been updated for ages. We have decided that it takes too long to upload the full details for every single trap, so we will just be doing the highlights from now on.

Some Good moths!

2006-08-29T02:05:00.000-07:00

A Scarce Bordered Straw was a pleasant surprise when opening the moth trap this morning (29/8/06). Other good moths recently included a Sqaure Spotted Clay (25/8/06), 2 White Points (23/8/06) and a Small Mottled Willow (21/8/06). A good run of moths! (Dersingham)

More Immigrant Moths!

2006-08-23T01:48:00.000-07:00

In recent traps in the garden at Dersingham the following immigrant moths were caught:

23/8/06
White Point 2

21/8/06
Small Mottled Willow 1, Pale Mottled Willow 2, Dark Sword Grass 1

2/8/06
White Satin Moth

28/7/06
Marbled Clover 1, Pearly Underwing 1, White Satin Moth 1, Brown Tail 1

Immigrant Moths!

2006-08-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

It has been a good year for migrant moths at Holme NOA, Norfolk and here are photos of some trapped in recent weeks. From top: Great Brocade, Scarce Silver Y, Small Mottled Willow and Marbled Clover. All these species are known migratory species.

Butterflies, Dragonflies and Damselflies at Welney.

2006-08-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

5/8/06 Welney WWT Simeon and Connor
Brown Hawker
Emperor
Ruddy Darter
Common Darter

Blue tailed Damselfly
Red eyed Damselfly
Common Blue Damselfly
Azure Damselfly

Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Peacock
Comma
Small White
Large White
Speckled Wood
Wall Brown
Gatekeeper
Meadow Brown
Common Blue

Denver Moth Trap 17/7/06

2006-07-19T03:41:00.000-07:00

Grey Dagger - 1
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 8
Scarce Footman - 15
Lesser Broad - Bordered Yellow Underwing - 13
Triple - Spotted Clay - 4
Dun Bar - 6
Striped Twin - Spot Carpet - 1
Common Footman - 14
Least Yellow Underwing - 4
Flame Shoulder - 7
Marbled Minor - 3
Cloaked Minor - 3
Clouded Silver - 1
Small Fan - Footed Wave - 3
Riband Wave - 10
Uncertain - 54
White Satin - 3
Clouded Border - 2
Bordered Pug - 1
Larch Pug - 1
Rosy Footman - 1
Four - Dotted Footman - 1
Burnished Brass - 2
Broad - Bordered Yellow Underwing - 10
Mottled Rustic - 3
Common Carpet - 1
Buff Ermine - 1
Dingy Footman - 2
Pale Prominent - 4
Shuttle - Shaped Dart - 8
Common Rustic - 21
Single - Dotted Wave - 5
Rustic - 11
Rufous Minor - 2
Common Wainscot - 1
Heart and Dart - 1
Nutmeg - 3
The Flame - 2
Light Arches - 2
Large Yellow Underwing - 9
Lesser Common Rustic - 2
Double - Square - Spot - 8
Large Twin - Spot Carpet - 2
V - Pug - 2
Dark Arches - 18
Silver Y - 5
Early Thorn - 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing - 5
Spectacle - 3
Tawny Marbled Minor - 1
Striped Wainscot - 1
Olive - 4
Mottled Beauty - 1
Double Striped Pug - 4
Snout - 1
Cream Wave - 1
Scalloped Oak - 2
Elephant Hawkmoth - 1
Pebble Prominent - 1
Dot Moth - 4
Cabbage Moth - 1
Clay - 1
Smoky Wainscot - 2
Angle Barred Pug - 1
Poplar Hawkmoth - 1
Small Angle Shades - 1
Square - Spot Rustic - 3
Double Lobed - 1
Bloodvein - 1
Small Bloodvein - 1
Hoary Footman - 1 *If this identification is correct, it would be a county first!
Cloaked Pug - 1
Dark - Barred Twin - Spot Carpet - 1
Juniper Pug - 1
Brimstone Moth - 2

A truly amazing trap bringing in more than 300 moths and over 70 species. We spent 3 hours identifying and releasing them all!

Denver Moth Trap 16/7/06

2006-07-19T03:36:00.000-07:00

Riband Wave - 3
Black Arches - 1
Uncertain - 9
Dark Arches - 5
Rustic - 4
Dot Moth - 2
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 2
Common Rustic - 4
Large Yellow Underwing - 1
Double Square - Spot - 2
Common Footman - 2
Clouded Border - 1
Spectacle - 1
The Flame - 1
Snout - 1
Willow Beauty - 1
Lesser Common Rustic - 1
Mottled Rustic - 2
Heart and Dart - 1
Dingy Footman - 1
Square Spot Rustic - 1
Cloaked Minor - 1
Nutmeg - 2

Denver Moth Trap 14/7/06

2006-07-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Common Footman - 3
Common Rustic - 2
Dot Moth - 2
Rustic - 3
Mottled Beauty - 1
Clouded Border - 2
Buff Arches - 1
Poplar Hawkmoth - 1
Uncertain - 9
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 1
Lesser Common Rustic - 2
Small Fan - Footed Wave - 1
Smoky Wainscot - 1
Buff Ermine - 1
Mottled Rustic - 1
Heart and Dart - 1
Satin Wave - 1
Lesser Cream Wave - 1
Straw Dot - 1

Denver Moth Trap 10/7/06

2006-07-18T14:57:00.000-07:00

Willow Beauty - 1
Privet Hawkmoth - 1
Common Footman - 4
Dingy Footman - 2
Least Carpet - 1
Poplar Grey - 1
Rustic - 2
Dot Moth - 2
Spectacle - 1
Dark Arches - 5
Single - Dotted Wave - 6
Uncertain - 6
Small Fan - Footed Wave - 2
Swallowtaailed Moth - 2
Riband Wave - 8
Snout - 2
Heart and Dart - 1
Silver Y - 2
Mottled Rustic - 1
Buff Arches - 2
Buff Ermine - 1
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 2
Cloaked Minor - 1
Green Pug - 1
Cabbage Moth - 1

Denver Moth Trap 9/7/06

2006-07-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

Dark Arches - 12
Buff Arches - 2
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 4
Dingy Footman - 1
Small Fan - Footed Wave - 1
Common Footman - 5
Riband Wave - 2
Treble Brown Spot - 2
Snout - 2
Clouded Silver - 1
Uncertain - 4
Mottled Rustic - 1
Willow Beauty - 1
Mottled Beauty - 1
Heart and Dart - 2
Large Yellow Underwing - 2
Dwarf Cream Wave - 1
Flame Shoulder - 1
Rustic - 3
Scalloped Oak - 1
Light Arches - 2
Dot Moth - 1
Double Square Spot - 1
Heart and Club - 1
Large Twin - Spot Carpet - 1
Cloaked Minor - 2
Common Rustic - 1

Denver Moth Trap 2/7/06

2006-07-18T06:23:00.000-07:00

Willow Beauty - 4
Pale Prominent - 1
Common Footman - 4
Riband Wave - 2
Marbled Minor - 4
Double - Striped Pug - 1
Rufous Minor - 1
Treble Brown Spot - 1
Buff Arches - 1
Poplar Hawkmoth - 2
Large Yellow Underwing - 2
Small Angle Shades - 1
Elephant Hawkmoth - 1
Buff Ermine - 3
Bright - Line Brown - Eye - 2
Mottled Beauty - 3
Common Marbled Carpet - 1
Large Twin - Spot Carpet - 3
Heart and Dart - 4
Dark Arches - 1
Burnished Brass - 2
Flame Shoulder - 6
The Flame - 2
Dwarf Cream Wave - 1
Garden Carpet - 1
Swallow - Tailed Moth - 1
Snout - 2
Privet Hawkmoth - 1
Dot Moth - 1
Green Pug - 1
Barred Straw - 1
Uncertain - 2
Double Square Spot - 2
Setaceous Hebrew Character - 1
Common Wainscot - 1
Small Dusty Wave - 1
Silver Y - 1

2006-07-01T07:13:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 01/07/2006 - Denver

Dot moth (5)
Heart and club (13)
Common footman (6)
Large twin-spot carpet (1)
Clouded silver (1)
Tawny marbled minor (2)
Light arches (4)
Swallow-tailed moth (1)
Clouded border (2)
Spectacle (2)
Heart and dart (9)
Double-striped pug (1)
Small elephant hawkmoth (1)
Brimstone (2)
Burnished brass (2)
Dark arches (12)
Common wainscot (2)
Brown rustic (1)
Uncertain (4)
Double square spot (1)
Galium carpet (1)
The flame (5)
Buff ermine (3)
Green pug (1)
Large yellow underwing (3)
Rustic (5)
Buff arches (1)
Bright-line brown-eye (2)
Figure of eighty (1)
Small fan-footed wave (1)
Single dotted wave (3)
Snout (1)
Mottled rustic (2)
Lilac beauty (1)
Flame shoulder (1)
Riband wave (3)

A huge trap reeling in many new species, but unfortunately the moths were very active so several were lost (including a possible second lilac beauty!!*#!*!), so there was no oportunity to photograph the moths.

2006-07-01T07:01:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Buff tip looking just like the end of a stick!, another Privet hawkmoth showing off its colours, woah - the big pink! Elephant hawkmoth (its name is derived from the end of its abdomen which looks like an elephant's trunk), Buff arches.

2006-07-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 29/06/2006 - Denver

Elephant hawkmoth (1) (see picture above)
Riband wave (3)
Burnished brass (3)
Dwarf cream wave (2)
Buff ermine (3)
Mottled beauty (1)
The flame (6)
Grey pug (1)
Common footman (2)
Scarce footman (1)
Heart and club (9)
Green pug (1)
Golden rod pug (1)
Common wainscot (1)
Buff arches (2) (see picture above)
Spectacle (3)
Bright-line brown-eye (2)
Snout (2)
Uncertain (1)
Dark arches (8)
Mottled rustic (3)
Rustic (10)
Heart and dart (9)
Light arches (2)
Single dotted wave (3)
Privet hawkmoth (1) (see picture above)
Setaceous hebrew character (1)
Willow beauty (1)
Brimstone (1)
Buff tip (1) (see picture above)
Broad barred white (1)
Clouded border (1)
Double square spot (1)

This was an excellent trap, with the bonus of high counts for many of the species.

2006-06-28T03:02:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: strikingly pink Privet hawkmoth - absolutely magnificent, one of 2 Buff ermine - one of my favourite moths (yellow is my favourite colour!).

2006-06-28T02:54:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 28/06/2006 - Denver

Common footman (1)
Spinach (1)
Burnished brass (1)
Common emerald (1)
Willow beauty (1)
Heart and dart (5)
Bright-line brown-eye (1)
Buff ermine (2) (see picture above)
Setaceous hebrew character (1)
Privet hawkmoth (1) (see picture above)
The flame (1)
Heart and club (2)
Common quaker (1)

2006-06-28T02:22:00.000-07:00

(James) From top: Poplar hawkmoth - the first hawkmoth for Denver, The flame, a beautiful Small angle shades, Peppered moth (the speckled form is much commoner than the dark form in rural areas).

2006-06-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Although our summer mothing season officially started on the 27th, a female ghost moth was a premature surprise when it flew into the dining room.

Moth trap 27/06/2006 - Denver

Poplar grey (1)
Common footman (2)
Green pug (1)
Clouded border (1)
Heart and dart (1)
Mottled beauty (1)
Bright-line brown-eye (2)
Peppered moth (1) (see picture above)
Setaceous hebrew character (1)
Common quaker (3)
Poplar hawkmoth (1) (see picture above)
Small angle shades (1) (see picture above)
Heart and club (2)
Large yellow underwing (1)
The flame (1) (see picture above)
Flounced rustic (1)
Rustic shoulder-knot (1)

2006-06-11T01:11:00.000-07:00

Welney WWT Butterflies and Dragonflies 10/6/06
Meadow Brown
Peacock
Small Tortoishell

Common Blue Damselfly
Black - Tailed Skimmer

2006-06-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

All these butterflies have recently been photographed. From top: Small Copper, Holme NOA, Dingy Skipper, Narborough, Grizzled Skipper, Narborough, Common Blue and Green Hairstreak, Holme NOA, Holly Blue, Dersingham and Brown Argus, Holme NOA

2006-06-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

The moth trap at Dersingham (29/5/06) provided the following:

Shears 5,
Green Carpet 2,
Heart and Dart 2,
Flame Shoulder 5,
White Ermine 1,
Treble Lines 5,
Garden Carpet 1,
Least Black Arches 1.

C.R

2006-04-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 07/04/2006 - Denver

Small quaker (11)
Common quaker (6)
Early grey (1) (see picture below)
Hebrew character (3)
Powdered quaker (1)
Clouded drab (1)

With a total of 23 this trap made a nice end to the Easter mothing season.

Visit this site in July, when we will commence trapping again.

2006-04-08T03:44:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 07/04/2006 - Denver

Hebrew character (1)

A very demoralising trap!

2006-04-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 05/04/2006 - Denver

Common quaker (3)
Hebrew character (3)
Small quaker (2)
Clouded drab (1)

The past two nights have been much colder and as a result the traps have generally been less good. The cold weather may also be bad for the moths, so we have decided not to trap until the conditions improve.

2006-04-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 04/04/2006 - Denver

Hebrew character (1)
Common quaker (1)
Clouded drab (1)

2006-04-06T12:33:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 03/04/2006 - Denver

Clouded drab (3)
Hebrew character (3)
Early grey (1)
Small quaker (1)
Oak beauty (1)
Common quaker (2)

2006-04-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

(James) A lovely oak beauty from the 03/04/2006 moth trap, found on a wall nearby.

(James) Early grey - another new one for Denver.

The 03/04/2006 moth trap has not been entered yet as one moth's identity is still being checked.

2006-04-03T07:02:00.000-07:00

Moth trap 02/04/2006 - Denver

Early thorn (1)
Lead-coloured drab (1)
Common quaker (4)
Small quaker (5)
Hebrew character (1)
Twin-spotted quaker (1)

2006-04-02T01:11:00.000-08:00

(James) Grey shoulder-knot, showing all the diagnostic markings.

2006-04-02T01:09:00.000-08:00

Moth trap 01/04/2006 - Denver

Clouded drab (1)
Grey shoulder-knot (1)
Hebrew character (2)
Common quaker (1)

2006-04-01T00:07:00.000-08:00

(James) A beautiful early thorn certainly livened things up after the poor start to the moth-trapping season.

(James) Shoulder stripe - a new one for me.

2006-03-31T23:20:00.000-08:00

Moth trap 31/03/2006 - Denver

Shoulder stripe (1)
Lead-coloured drab (1)
Small quaker (2)
Common quaker (2)
Twin-spotted quaker (1)
Clouded drab (1)
Early thorn (1)

A much better trap, thanks to the first night with no rain.

2006-03-31T23:06:00.000-08:00

Moth trap 30/03/2006 - Denver

Hebrew character (2)
Small quaker (2)
Lead-coloured drab (1)

(James) Our lead coloured drab was very different from Connor's, showing the huge variation within species.

2006-03-31T23:01:00.001-08:00

Moth trap 29/03/2006 - Denver

Hebrew character (1)
Powdered quaker (1)
Common quaker (1)

Moth trap 28/03/06

2006-03-28T22:43:00.000-08:00

Moth trap 28/03/06 - Denver

Due to rain there were only 2 moths in the trap:

Common quaker (1)
Hebrew character (1)

2006-03-26T02:21:00.000-08:00

Lead Coloured Drab
Chesnut

(Connor) The first moth trap of the year provided the following:
Common Quaker (1),
Chesnut (1),
Lead Coloured Drab (1).

2005-12-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

(photograph by James)

(Simeon) We recently found a Winter Moth on the window of our dining room, it was a first for the observatory. We got a moth trap for a christmas present and we can't wait to put it out! (Denver)

A Hibernating Butterfly...and a late one!

2005-10-28T05:20:00.000-07:00

Fairly recently my brother discovered a Small Tortoiseshell hibernating on the underside of his fold-up table in his bedroom. We are taking great care not to disturb it and keep it safe. When the table is folded it just flicks the edge of its wing so we keep it open most of the time. We look forward to it spreading its wings and flying away in the spring.
Also, there has been a Red Admiral flying around the garden because it is still warm. We are worried that it won't find a place to hibernate before Winter comes.

2005-09-30T11:19:00.000-07:00

This silver Y spent the night on our ceiling - not surprising considering the cold weather there has been recently!!! Photograph taken by James.

2005-09-30T11:15:00.000-07:00

This burnished brass spent two days in my brother's bedroom, giving a good opportunity for photographs. Photograph taken by James.

Moth Trap 28/8/05

2005-08-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

The garden moth trap did well last night and the following species and counts were recorded:
Riband Wave 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing 6
Treble Bar 1
Willow Beauty 3
Brimstone 3
Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing 2
Flame Shoulder 7
Sertaceous Hebrew Character 10
Common Wainscot 15
Uncertain 4
Vines Rustic
Lesser Swallow Prominent 1
Silver Y 2
Large Yellow Underwing 13
Svensson's Copper Underwing 1
Flounced Rustic 3
Lesser Common Rustic 1
Olive 1
Light Emerald 2
Common Rustic 1
Satin Beauty 1
Pale Oak Beauty 1
Small Square Spot 1
Square Spot Rustic 1
Lessser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing 2

Loads of Butterflies!!!

2005-08-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

A trip to the mill, Snettisham (see sightings) provided the following species :
Essex Skipper 1
Small Skipper 4
Common Blue 6
Holly Blue 3
Large White 9
Small White 4
Small Copper 1
Brown Argus 1
Comma 1
Peacock 2
Red Admiral 1
Meadow Brown 4
Small Heath 3

Moth Trap 15/8/05

2005-08-14T23:46:00.000-07:00

Leaders: Connor
The garden moth trap this morning provided the following species with the amount caught in italic:

Mottled Beauty 1
Dot Moth 1
Lesser Yellow Underwing 7
Pebble Hook Tip 1
Iron Prominent 1
Heart and Dart 1
Flame Shoulder 1
Large Yellow Underwing 5
Garden Dart 1
Shuttle Shaped Dart 1
Orange Swift 1
Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing 1
Lesser Common Rustic 1
Sertaceous Hebrew Character 3
Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing 1

2005-08-14T23:41:00.000-07:00

Chalkhill Blue. A local species in Britain, I found this one while on holiday in Cornwall (see trip reports.)

2005-08-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

Garden Tiger. What a moth !

Matthew's House 13/07/05

2005-08-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

Onthe 13th of July Connor let me borrow is U.V. moth trap to use in my garden for the night. This is what we caught. (The numbers indicate how many we caught.The moths in italics are highlights.)

Engrailed-2, Peach Blossom-1, Dot Moth-10, Common Footman-16, Yellowtail-1,
PoplarHawkmoth-1, Elephant Hawkmoth-1, Spectacle-7, Small Bloodvein-1,
Common Wainscot-4, Dingy Footman-3, Buff Ermine-5, Dark Arches-13, Heart & Club-2,
Heart & Dart-4, Small Rivulet-2, Small Angled Shades-1, Common White Wave-2,
Shark-4 ,Early Thorn-2, Suspected Moth-1, Riband Wave-4, Rosy Footman-1,
Brown-Line Bright-Eye-4, Burnished Brass-1, Fan-Foot-2, Scalloped Oak-1,
Bright-Line Brown-Eye-3, Scarce Footman-1, Broad-Barred White-1, Birds-Wing-1,
Light Arches-1, Broad-Boarded Yellow Underwing-1, Light Emerald-1, Flame Shoulder-1, Setaceous Hebrew Character-2. Total species =39 Total Moths=108

Bates Wood Survey

2005-07-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

17/7/05 Bates Wood Leaders:Simeon and James
James and I went to Bates Wood for the usual birdwatch, but this time we decided to do a butterfly survey. Here is a list of what we saw;
Large White - 4
Small White - 11
Green - Veined White - 1
Small Skipper - 7
Large Skipper - 1
Common Blue - 2
Meadow Brown - 6
Speckled Wood - 9
Red Admiral - 2
Small Tortoiseshell - 1
Comma - 5
There were six species of butterfly seen over all.

Ryston Survey

2005-07-26T09:26:00.000-07:00

20/7/05 - 21/7/05 Ryston Leaders:Simeon, James and Matthew
We camped in Ryston for a night to do a survey of the birds, butterflies and other wildlife we saw. Here is a list of the butterflies we saw;
Speckled Wood - 3
Large White - 6
Peacock - 2
Small White - 10+
Red Admiral - 3
Holly Blue - 1
Meadow Brown - 10+
Common Blue - 4
Comma - 3
Gatekeeper - 3
Green-Veined White - 3
Small Skipper - 3
12 species were seen over all.

Butterflies and Moths

2005-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

This is were we will show you our sightings of butterflies and moths we catch in our moth traps and on trips we go on around the U.K. The moth traps will be in the gardens of the observatories and it will be indicated which observatory the report is from.