A good day all round

It was back to the private estate in the village last night with the actinic and hopes were high given the forecast mild night. 47 moths of 12 species dutifully presented themselves. Highlight was an Early Thorn which is a species I don't see much of and one I needed to study to rule out Purple Thorn. I had to stick the camera in to the trap to take this picture and I was glad I did as the moment I prodded him with a pencil he was up and off.

 

 

Totals were:

 

Early Grey - 5

Small Quaker - 8

Common Quaker - 22

Clouded Drab - 3

Hebrew Character - 2

Twin-spotted Quaker - 1

Chestnut - 1

Satellite - 1

Brindled Pug - 1

Early Thorn - 1

Agonopterix arenella - 1

Diurnea fagella - 1

 

The over-winterers (Chestnut and Satellite) were very tatty and many of the Common Quakers were beginning to look a bit tired. The fresher looking Common Quakers were smaller specimens. I always get the impression that the end of the generation tend to be runts. Some of them were the same size as the Small Qiuakers.

 

Later in the day at the wildlife garden there were four species of butterfly on show. The Green-veined Whites and male Brimstone came nowhere near, but the Comma and Peacocks were more obliging. One of the Peacocks spent all afternoon on sentry duty over the vegetable garden taking on rival interlopers, only to meet his match when this smaller Comma came along. An Angle Shades was spotted tucked up above the barn door as well.

 

Comma

 



 

 Peacock

 

 

Angle Shades