Surreybirder's lep blog (1 Viewer)

[Surreybirder]

7 Feb

Got home after dark today and found an early grey on the house wall (even though there were no lights on) - first for year.
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

8 March

Things are slowly picking up. I ran my actinic this evening and had two new ones for the year: Hebrew character and yellow horned.
Small quaker are still the most numerous species. There were three march moths and a few common quakers.
Ken

 

[Nerine]

Things are slowly picking up. I ran my actinic this evening and had two new ones for the year: Hebrew character and yellow horned.
Small quaker are still the most numerous species. There were three march moths and a few common quakers.
Ken

Wow you seem to be having a lot of success, Ken. I have finally acquired a moth trap!! Just a small actinic portable. So far I've caught a measly fly and a spider but that was in February. If it's not too windy or wet tonight I think I'll give it a go.

Nerine

 

[Brian Stone]

Don't let the wet put you off too much (unless it's really tipping down). It was wet here last night and I had my best catch so far: 5 Common Quaker, Clouded Drab and Hebrew Character. It's cold and wind that ruins my chances.

 

[Surreybirder]

9 March

The variety is slowly increasing.
Last night:
D fagella
small quaker
common quaker
clouded drab (2) nfy
Hebrew character
brindled pug (I think) nfy
yellow horned

 

[Surreybirder]

10th March

The Orthosia species are really getting going now. Last night I had a minumum of (there were more moths in the surrounding vegetation that I didn't count):
Oak beauty
small quaker 35
clouded drab 5
Hebrew character 1
common quaker - several (c20)
twin-spot quaker (nfy)
small brindled beauty 2
chestnut
March moth
small micro (possibly an Acleris)

Ken

PS I've put the clouded drabs up in case anyone disagrees - they were all a size larger than the common quakers, about the same as the twin-spot.

 

[Basher]

Hi Ken,

I've just fired up the moth trap for 2007, running an actinic in my small Sussex garden has pulled in a similar array of species; apart from the lovely Oak Beauty I havent had to stray too far from page 318 of Waring/Townsend!

Was surprised when I checked the trap at midnight last night; I found an Angle Shades sat on the wheelie bin!

Just posting to see if anyone can help with the i.d of this tortrix. I found it in woodland near here and have spent most of the afternoon trying to work out what it is.

If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate it.

 

[Surreybirder]

Hi Basher
Could it be Acleris ferrugana/notana? If so, it needs a gen det.

My wife found a caterpillar in the garden today. Is it large yellow underwing?
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

possibly off-topic ??

I wrote the following for the birders-online website but I thought I'd post it here, too, as it gives a bit of an idea of the area where I live (and do my mothing)

My house is about a mile to the west of Lingfield.
Key habitats are:
A Hedgecourt Lake - a decent sized but very shallow lake which was created when a mill was built. It has a few reed patches and one end is a SWT reserve. This is the Cley of my patch and has produced most of my more exotic sightings - black tern, little gull, kittiwake, garganey, goldeneye, shoveler, water rail, goosander, ferruginous duck, bittern etc
http://www.noble1.plus.com/temp/Hedgecourt.jpg

B Beaver Farm Fishery is a strange mixture of alder carr, swamp and fishing ponds. It can be good for redpolls and siskins
http://www.noble1.plus.com/temp/Beaver Farm Fishery 011.jpg

C Wire Mill Pond - smaller but same origin as H/ct - good for reed warbler, reed bunting and grey wag.
http://www.noble1.plus.com/temp/wire_mill_lake.jpg

D Shawlands Wood Small but mature oak woodland - has the advantage that you can walk through it (unofficially)

E Green Wood large mature oak woodland used for rearing pheasants and strictly private

F British Wildlife Centre strange 'zoo' for British native animals. But a new wetland area has been created, giving me several patch 'ticks'.
http://www.noble1.plus.com/temp/snowy_owl.jpg

G Shawlands Farm rather boring sheep grazing land but much loved by gulls, skylarks, winter thrushes and occasional wheatears.

H One of the best areas is a hedge just to the east of Wire Mill. It seems to be particularly attractive to migrants and has given me both flycatchers, both -chats, and lots of the commoner birds.
http://www.noble1.plus.com/temp/top_field.jpg

 

[Angus T]

brindled pug (I think) nfy

Agree, and also agree with your Clouded Drabs.

I've been getting high numbers of Common Quaker. More than 120 in an actinic trap. Previous highest single trap total was 75. Numbers of other species seem to be high as well.

Its a good start to year.

 

[Surreybirder]

Thanks, Angus. Nice to have your input! Is the little one helping you with the moths yet?
You always get phenomenal nos of moths but 120 common qs is very impressive!
Ken

 

[Surreybirder]

I'm still getting quite a lot of moths but not much variety. Tonight I had:
oak beauty (2)
Small brindled beauty (1)
Hebrew character (not counted)
Small quaker (nc)
common quaker (nc)
Clouded drab (2)
Early grey (1)
yellow horned (2)
and a fairly large micro that didn't seem to have any significant markings on it.

 

[Angus T]

and a fairly large micro that didn't seem to have any significant markings on it.

Diurnea fagella?

 

[Surreybirder]

Diurnea fagella?

I don't think so, Angus. It has pointy wings and they are noticeably curled around the body (half way towards scarce footman). I've retained it for my CR.
Ken

 

[Angus T]

I don't think so, Angus. It has pointy wings and they are noticeably curled around the body (half way towards scarce footman). I've retained it for my CR.
Ken

Never seen a Scarce Footman

Y. ustella?

 

[Surreybirder]

Never seen a Scarce Footman

Y. ustella?

That was quick, Angus. I was surprised you hadn't seen scarce footman... you always seem to get so many I don't get but I suppose there must be some gaps in Ireland.
I don't think we're going to be able to do mine by this method! ustella is about the right shape but too large! Think 20mm wingspan. I realise I said large micro, but I suppose I should have said, not particularly small micro.
all the best
Ken

 

[Angus T]

That was quick, Angus. I was surprised you hadn't seen scarce footman... you always seem to get so many I don't get but I suppose there must be some gaps in Ireland.
I don't think we're going to be able to do mine by this method! ustella is about the right shape but too large! Think 20mm wingspan. I realise I said large micro, but I suppose I should have said, not particularly small micro.
all the best
Ken

ustella wingspan 15-20mm.
I've always seen it rest with antennae pointing forwards. Extremely variable from plain to multicouloured stripes.

Scarce Footman is a local species in Ireland with very few records away from coast.

 

[Basher]

25 moths in my sussex trap last night

Small Quaker (13) Twin Spotted Quaker (4) Clouded Drab (2) Early Grey (2) Common Quaker (3) Hebrew Character (1)

Did find a tortrix drowning in the bird bath in the back garden though.


You'll be pleased to know that I dived in and rescued it and after giving it some mouth to moth resucitation it has made a full recovery (albeit with one antennae missing) and flew off into the neighbours garden.

Can anyone suggest an identification?

 

[Surreybirder]

I'm useless on Micros, Basher.
If it's not E postvittana I would guess Acleris ferrugana/notana, but other than that....

 

[Basher]

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check them out. I've pencilled micros into my diary for 2009. Going get to grips with the big stuff first!