Latest Moth images

Poplar Hawk-moth

Sycamore

Mullien 2nd record

216 Nemapogon cloacella

892-Mompha subbistrigella

All from Dave's trap this week and kindly taken by Bob Hazel

Space Shed time

Union of South Africa

LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 no 60019 Bittern [4464] which was due to haul The Cathedrals Express London Euston to Chester steam tour was unavailable at the last minute so she was pulled instead by LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 no 60009 Union of South Africa. She arrived nearly on time and filled her tanks with water before continuing. Two Peregrines were mobbing a Crow overhead when she left.

In the evening I met up with Dave, John, Bob Alfie and Ma & Pa Phillips to watch her return but for some reason she was delayed 16 minutes at Rugby before heading south.

Pussy in the trap

One of my holy grail turned up in the trap with my first garden and county record of Puss Moth. A real stunner despite a worn head and was larger than I expected. Bob came round to take images before leaving for the pond while I had a cardiology rehabilitation appointment. Bob managed a few pictures of a dusky Canada Goose at the pond which has returned from last year.

Puss Moth

dusky Canada Goose

Six-spot Burnet

The last three days

June 2nd

After a poor visit to the pond a Curlew flew over Southam Quarry towards Long Itchington and the only other sightings of interest was of a Grizzled Skipper and Raven in Ryton Woods.

Grizzled Skipper

June 3rd

Gentle stroll out to the screen at Brandon Marsh with Mark produced 3 Hobbies and a Holly Blue plus a few Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselfly plus Banded Demoiselle.

Blue-tailed Damselfly by Mark Phillips

June 4th

Two Common Terns and 4 Buzzard at Draycote Water in a brief visit with Bob this morning and a Hobby flew over Northampton Lane, Dunchurch as we passed through. Holly Blue in garden this afternoon.

The Cathedrals Express London Euston to Chester hauled by LNER A4 Class 4-6-2 no 60019 Bittern [4464] is due to arrive at Rugby at 10:21am and leave at 10:36am heading north on the Trent Valley line on Thursday 6th June.

Duke of Burgundy

Well at least the month started on the right footing with pleasant weather for my first trip out of the county for some time looking for butterflies and whatever else came our way.

We decided on Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire because of its variety and the chance of Duke of Burgundy and arrived at the National Trust reserve 3 miles northeast of Tring late morning. Unfortunately further south had more cloud than we anticipated so not as fruitful as we hoped so we kept away from the cold breeze on the chalk land and concentrated on the scrub clearings and managed to find our target species with two located.

Final butterfly count was poor with 2 Duke of Burgundy, 2 Small Heath, Green-veined White, 2 Large White, Speckled Wood, Brimstone and Dingy Skipper in two hours of searching. Our search also produced 6 Common Carpet and Burnet Companion while on the birding front we had 2 Red Kite, Buzzard, Raven and many Garden Warblers and Blackcaps.

Duke of Burgundy fritillary

We called in on College Lake on our way home but nothing special of note just a few nesting Common Tern, Redshank and Lapwing plus a single Little Ringed Plover. Large Red and Common Blue Damselfly present.

A Cuckoo flew across the road near Wilstone Reservoir and 6 more Red Kite near Stoke Mandeville while a Hobby flew over the garden this evening.

Draycote Water & Napton Cutting

After a dull wet week and getting frustrated at being confined by my limitations I finally managed a trip down to the pond at mid-day with Dave for lunch then a brief look in intermittent sunshine at Napton Cutting.

Bloody Hell it was good to get out even if the pond had every grockle and its kid out, never seen the places so packed and could hardly find a parking place let alone a seat in the visitor center, luckily the cutting was more tranquil. The pond only had adult Yellow-legged Gull and single Buzzard on show while the cutting had 3 Dingy Skipper, 2 Brimstone, 8 Large White, 2 Green-veined White, Peacock and Orange-tip plus 2 Cinnabar, 3 Blue-tailed and 2 Common Blue Damselfly. Birds included Garden and Sedge Warbler and the Butterfly Orchids should be flowering in a week.

In the morning my garden had 2 Buzzard and a Raven over along with 2 Common Blue, 4 Large White, Small White and 2 Green-veined White butterflies.

Not surprising the moth trap has been dire the first part of the week but as this warm weather front moves in the last two nights have produced Grey Dagger, Heart & Dart, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Grey Pug and Scoparia ambigualis new for the year.