Moths and Butterflies

Last weekend's moth trapping session produced 3 new species for the year - Black Rustic, Blair's Shoulder Knot and Lunar Underwing. I couldn't find any micro moths in the trap but there were several crane fly, an ichneumon wasp and red-legged and hawthorn shieldbugs.

Lunar Underwing



Black Rustic - the photo doesn't do this lovely velvety black moth justice



Blair's Shoulder Knot



Summary of Moths Trapped Saturday 24th September

7.00 p.m. until dawn
Minimum Temperature 13.8 degrees centigrade
15w Actinic Skinner Trap

Large Yellow Underwing x 5
Lesser Yellow Underwing x 2
Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing x 3
Black Rustic x 2 New for Year
Blair's Shoulder Knot x 1 New For Year
Lunar Underwing x 2 New for Year

2011 Total Number of species = 91
(will I reach the century??!!)

As always if any of the above id's are wrong please let me know.

Small tortoiseshell and speckled wood butterflies were nectaring in the garden on Sunday - poor record shots below - in fact, you may need to click to enlarge to spot the butterflies! (I only had chance to take one photo of each as they fluttered over the garden fence as I tried to approach closer!)

Speckled Wood on Ice Plant



Small Tortoiseshell on Michaelmas Daisy



Spotted another chiffchaff in the garden yesterday. The bird feeders are fairly quiet at the moment ( a sure sign its week 1 of the BTO's Garden Bird Feeding Survey!).

A bumper pyracantha, rowan and whitebeam berry crop this year. The wood pigeons and blackbirds have already started on the feast. Regretfully, I suspect all the berries will have disappeared before the winter thrushes and waxwings arrive.