Norfolk Butterflies and Moths (2 Viewers)

[Paul Woolnough]

Friday 19 July

As I waited at the traffic lights on the Cromer Road at the Boundary / Norwich ring road, a butterfly flew low between the two lanes of cars.

Fluttered close to and almost landed on my windscreen.
To my surprise it was a white admiral.
TG218117

 

[Locostella]

Moth Morning Holme NOA

An absolutely brilliant morning spent with a group at Holme's NOA reserve for a moth trap(s) opening, yesterday. Four traps opened in all, with 115 species noted by the staff. Many of these are nondescript micros, with hugely complex Latin names; certainly good stuff for the seasoned 'mother', but lots of big, colourful bits for the terminally novice.

One of the highlights was this stunning Lappet - http://showingwell.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/lappet.jpg

Kieran

 

[Jabberwocky]

Saw my first Grayling of the year in the Brecks today. Also lots of Small Heath, Skipper and Copper along with Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Ringlet all without moving an inch. A few Common Blues around too.

This evening we had another go at the Purple Hairstreaks at Thompson Pingos. Several there but they stayed in the tree tops. Not bad views through the 'scope but not much good for my camera.

Lewis

 

[Ian Simons]

Grayling in my garden near Syderstone this morning sheltering from the rain by clinging to the Upvc window frames. After a while of observing it, it obviously decided that comfort was the order of the day and flew across to sit on the cushion of the swing seat. Ian

 

[peteh]

Hi we are over next week for a week. Based at Stiffkey and was wondering which areas should we definitely not miss out on in our week for Butterflies/moths.
Over here we get very few butterflies our only decent one is Dark green frit i think, the rest are the common bunch so Norfolk in July is going to be an eye opener!
At the moment we are hoping to visit:
Winterton dunes
Strumpshaw fen
Hickling Broad
Holt Lowes
Holkham pines

Is there anywhere else that I have missed off that we shouldn't miss out ?

Thanks

 

[Mister Magoo]

Other Sites

Other obvious one as they should be emerging any time now is the chalkhill blue colony at Warham Fort (near Wells).

If you want the best possible views of purple hairstreak then suggest Sheringham Park and going to top of the observation tower. There you are looking down on the butterflies and can get great views on right day i.e. not too windy.

Also if you did not mind travelling a little then there is Gamlingay woods in Cambridgeshire. The wood itself has silver washed fritillary, purple hairstreak and other usual suspects but next to it is an area called Sugley wood. This is currently a misnomer as it is a meadow which will be allowed, overtime, to succeed into woodland. As such it has a colony of marbled whites. If you visit the Cambridge Butterfly Conservation web page it has an up to date sightings page and hundreds were reported from there on 14th.

Wherever you go to I hope the butterflies live up to your expectations. Good watching.

Hi we are over next week for a week. Based at Stiffkey and was wondering which areas should we definitely not miss out on in our week for Butterflies/moths.
Over here we get very few butterflies our only decent one is Dark green frit i think, the rest are the common bunch so Norfolk in July is going to be an eye opener!
At the moment we are hoping to visit:
Winterton dunes
Strumpshaw fen
Hickling Broad
Holt Lowes
Holkham pines

Is there anywhere else that I have missed off that we shouldn't miss out ?

Thanks

 

[Archie Opteryx]

My first ever, like ever ever Hummingbird Hawkmoth...

 

[Johny121]

Nothing too uncommon but High Ash Farm is well worth a visit if just for numbers - thousands of butterflies of 10 species today, hundreds of burnet moths too

 

[postcardcv]

here are some of the moths that have been in our house in the last few days, given me a desire to get out and see more moths. I think the first two are brimstone and small magpie but don't know the others (if anyone can ID them it would be great), might be time to invest in a moth book, can anyone recommend one?

 

[James Emerson]

Photo 3 is a type of Tortix, maybe Red-barred Tortrix. Photo 4 is a micro called Endotricha flammealis. Photo 5 is a type of Carpet - there are several similar species.

The standard book for macros is by Townsend and Waring - there are two versions, the cheaper one is The Concise Guide to the Moths of Great Britain and Ireland (the larger version is the Field Guide to...). That wouldn't have helped with your middle three though. For micros there is a similar book also illustrated by Richard Lewington called the Field Guide to the Micro-moths of Great Britain and Ireland. I also use British Moths and Butterflies: A Photographic Guide by Chris Manley. It lacks the scale pictures of the Lewington books, but has macros and micros so is handy if you just want one book.

here are some of the moths that have been in our house in the last few days, given me a desire to get out and see more moths. I think the first two are brimstone and small magpie but don't know the others (if anyone can ID them it would be great), might be time to invest in a moth book, can anyone recommend one?

 

[Kieren Allinson]

here are some of the moths that have been in our house in the last few days, given me a desire to get out and see more moths. I think the first two are brimstone and small magpie but don't know the others (if anyone can ID them it would be great), might be time to invest in a moth book, can anyone recommend one?

I think the carpet is large twinspot carpet.

 

[Nigel Davies]

lots of Purple Hairstreaks showing well at Gullpit Drove between Wimbotsham and Stow Bridge near Downham Market

 

[JHDraytonbassettpits]

Moths

here are some of the moths that have been in our house in the last few days, given me a desire to get out and see more moths. I think the first two are brimstone and small magpie but don't know the others (if anyone can ID them it would be great), might be time to invest in a moth book, can anyone recommend one?

Because of their superb camouflage it's difficult to see moths in the countryside, the best solution is moth trapping.

Regards, John

 

[tperry]

here are some of the moths that have been in our house in the last few days, given me a desire to get out and see more moths. I think the first two are brimstone and small magpie but don't know the others (if anyone can ID them it would be great), might be time to invest in a moth book, can anyone recommend one?

I think Large Fruit-tree Tortrix for no. 3.

Tony

 

[HarassedDad]

That;s a fine selection of sites. I'd second Warham - the Chalkhills are out now, and Sheringham Gazebo for purple hairstreaks.
Other sites that might be worth a visit would be Buxton Heath for silver-studded blues (might still be flying when you get here)and (since you'll be nearby) Strumpshaw tip. (That's the closed tip which you can get to by going past the new recycling site (signposted from strumpshaw fen access road) and parking at the little layby on the corner. There's a gate there will let you into a fine grassland meadow good for common blue, brown argus and the usual browns.

The first few peacocks are emerging now, but not in the serious numbers I'm expecting in the next couple of weeks. The first new brood holly blue appeared today. White Admirals continue to do well, as do small torts. Essex skippers seem extremely numerous of late, and the white-letter hairstreaks are out at Zaks carpark in Norwich.

 

[peteh]

Thanks Mister Magoo and Harrassed Dad

 

[James Emerson]

Do you know if any White Admirals have been seen at Mousehold this year? I'm yet to catch up with any around Norwich.

The first few peacocks are emerging now, but not in the serious numbers I'm expecting in the next couple of weeks. The first new brood holly blue appeared today. White Admirals continue to do well, as do small torts. Essex skippers seem extremely numerous of late, and the white-letter hairstreaks are out at Zaks carpark in Norwich.

 

[HarassedDad]

We had one briefly on Tuesday by the new pond

 

[James Emerson]

Thanks. I had a look around the new pond today (nice idea, but it appears to have been dug above the water table). No sign of any White Admirals, but loads of Large Whites, 7 Gatekeepers and a Peacock seen in overcast conditions.

We had one briefly on Tuesday by the new pond

 

[peteh]

Bit of a mad question but does anyone know if anywhere hires out moth traps in Norfolk? The cottage we have rented has a great garden and is screaming for a moth trap I think.
Cheers