MOTH NIGHT PICS

A surprisingly warm and calm night brought in plenty of moths to keep everyone happy. There were quite a few new ones for the year, a new leaf miner for myself, a couple to still ID and a rather "unpleasant" beetle that took a shine to Barry ;-)

Perhaps the one I was most interested in finding was this Bulrush Wainscot. I'd found larval feeding signs in the spring on the nearby Bulrushes in the wheel wash ponds so it was pleasing to eventually see one of the adults.

Two Elder Pearls (Anania coronata) continued our good run of Anania species for this year

A well marked noctuid that had me stumped on the night was taken for ID - it turned out to be a Flounced Rustic.

Another tricky one to pin down was much easier to do the next day under natural light - a Rosy Minor showing the grey and reddish markings.

The late summer/autumn sallows are becoming more regular now including this fine Centre-barred Sallow.

Two of the "bird dropping" micros on the night were Bordered Marbles (Endothenia marginana).

A leaf mine found on Crack Willow last Tuesday on Tag meadow was thought to be Willow Midget (Phyllonorycter viminiella). The adult (below) emerged yesterday to confirm my tentative ID. One of the plainer phyllos.

A very small plume with a forewing of just 7mm was located by Barry. It may be just a small, late generation moth of a common species. I'll have to find out more about this one.

Here's one for any beetle experts out there to have a look at. It took a liking to Barry (!) at first as he approached the light and then tried to wander off along the ground where I potted it up.  It's a Nicrophorus species but I'm not sure which one. It was covered initially from head to toe with dozens of mites and smelt quite disgusting. They're carrion feeders and it's not one I've seen before so was wondering if anyone knows of it's status in Calderdale.

Moth Night!

Dust those nets off!

 

MOTH NIGHT COMETH!

 

This Saturday the 18th we will be running the Moth Trap again.

All the usual crew are invited + anyone else who may be interested.

Please turn up after 8.30pm, light will get turned on around 10-10.30pm.

 

Count this year 228 so far, Hopefully we will improve that by a few more on Saturday.

 

See you there!

 

Todays visit

Birds seen on my visit today were -:
6 Goosander, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch,
Treecreeper, Cormorant, Jay, 2 Blackcap and the regular
viewing area birds.

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Friday night / open day morning moths

Around 60 species recorded with at least 12 to add to the year list which now stands at 226.

Highlights were:

Blood-vein - 2nd Cromwell record this year of this scarce Calderdale moth

Dusky Thorn

Old Lady

Haworth's Minor - a strange record as they usually prefer moorland with cotton-grass and sedges

Chevron x 3

Birch Marble (Apotomis betuletana) - one of the many "bird-dropping" micros

Rush Marble (Bactra lancealana)

Sallow Kitten x 2

Sallow x 2 - First of the autumn

Least Yellow Underwing - the fifth species of Yellow Underwing this year

Six-striped Rustic x 3

PLUS:

Lime-speck Pug - my moth of the night demonstrating that not all pugs are worn and hard to ID

One of two Pale Prominents - the classic "dead twig" moth

Antler Moths becoming quite common now, this one was in the cabin!

Angle-striped Sallow - One of five of this northern speciality

Small Square-spot - a small pinkish noctuid

This Canary-shouldered Thorn kept me company for most of the night so I couldn't resist a photo

One of several Small China-marks of both sexes made an appearance. Possibly coming from the nearby wheel-wash ponds

This Small Birch Bell (Epinotia ramella) was netted before the lights went on - one of twelve new species for me on the night.

 

Last but not least this False Cacao Moth (Ephestia woodiella) was in the trap just before dawn. It's a VC 63 first and only the second county record.

Our 2018 Open Day was Saturday August 4th

It is our Open Day was Saturday the 4^th of August 2018

If you missed it then you missed an exceptional day.

Report to follow.

We will have Birds of Prey, The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, soft toy Tombola, Raffles with cracking prizes, Nature walks to show you around our Reserve, face painting, pond dipping sessions, small mammal handling, craft and photography stalls and of course our Cabin will be open for tea, coffee, cold drinks, ices and snacks. Seating areas at the cabin. toilets.

Free car parking, drive down by "Oils Well" on the A6025 Brighouse to Elland road.

Open 10:00 am till 4:00 pm

ALL WELCOME