Saturday 31st May 2008

Sunny, N 1>2

Did`nt go out first thing, waited till it warmed up a bit. My first outing of the day was to Cortonwood, where the only bird highlight was a single Cuckoo. Interestingly, i`ve not seen any broods of Mallard or Tufted Duck, from there.
Not much in the way of Inverts either, with a couple of Common Blue butterflies, being the best ;





My 2nd and last outing was to the Knollbeck area. By this time it had really warmed up, with the best sightings being, 3+ Four-spotted Chaser, Brimstone & several Common Blues, and these ;


Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix


Large Fruit-tree Tortrix


Bladder Campion

Back at home it was the usual ;




" Feed Me "



Rain forecast for tomorrow. I did`nt expect anything else, well, it is Pony Club.

Friday 30th May 2008

( Overnight Rain ), Overcast, N 1>2

The rain overnight was very evident, with huggins of Snails about the garden this morning. Which included this tightrope walking individual on the washing line ;





The Wombwell garden security lights provided a few moths, all of which were firsts of the year : Common Swift, Small Magpie, Brown Silver-line & Chamomile Shark. Only these 2 though, were photographable ;

Common Swift


Small Magpie




Cortonwood produced another 3 firsts of the year, with : Pea Moth, Cinnabar & Common White Wave. The latter, being the only one that i managed to catch up with ;



Holiday Countdown - 8 sleeps ( i hope the coming week does`nt drag too much )

Thursday 29th May 2008

Sunny, S/SE 1>2

A much better day all round. Although i struggled on the photography side, with many of the Inverts being very lively.

Cortonwood ;

Azure Damselflies




Green Shield Bug


Knollbeck ;

Common Blue


Agapanthea villosoviridescens


Sun Spurge


Ox-eye Daisy

Wednesday 28th May 2008

Misty/Murky, Rain, E/SE 1>2

Starting to get fed up with the weather now. Don`t suppose it`s too bad if you`re on the east coast and getting treated to all the scarce migrant bird activity, like Marsh Warblers, Icterine Warblers, Golden Oriole`s to name but a few.

Anyway, back to my world. Nothing much, other than these ;


Pebble Hook-tip


Fungi sp

Never suffered from S.A.D at this time of year before, but like they say " there`s always a first time for everything "

Tuesday 27th May 2008

Rain, NE 2

What a god awful miserable day. So much so, that i have`nt been out of the house.
Thank heavens for my rainy day folder ;

Goldfinch ( my garden )




Speckled Wood ( Wombwell )


Orange Tip - male ( Knollbeck )


Orange Tip - female ( Wombwell )


Mitrophora semilibera ( Cortonwood )


By today`s standards, our holiday can`t come quick enough.

Monday 26th May 2008

Bright, NE 5>6

Another very blustery visit to Cortonwood. Very surprised to see anything, let alone photograph anything.


Epiblema sticticana


Burnet sp

The above is either Narrow-bordered 5-spot Burnet or 6-spot Burnet. Very difficult to id in the larval stage, but very easy in the adult stage.


Blotch Mine on Oak

Another unidentified species. You can see the Larva in the top left of the mine. Not even sure whether it`s Lepidoptera or Diptera.

Nothing back at home, not even a photograph. Guess you`ve seen enough Woodpigeon & Starling pics to last a lifetime.

Moth year list - 67 ( Epiblema sticticana )

Heavy rain forecast for tomorrow. Suppose we had our summer spell during the last couple of weeks.

Holiday Countdown - 12 Sleeps

Sunday 25th May 2008

Hazy Sunshine, Clouding over, E/NE 5>6

Far too windy for my liking today, but i still managed a few pics ;

Cortonwood ;


Small Coppper


Fly sp


Sainfoin


Ragged Robin


Smooth Sow-thistle

My Garden ;


Woodpigeon


Starling


House Sparrow

Saturday 24th May 2008

High Cloud, Sunny Spells, E/NE 4>5

Had a walk round Cortonwood early doors, but not much to report. Although, i did kick up 2 micro-moths, both of which were firsts of the year ;


Aethes smeathmanniana ( big name, small moth )


Crambus lathoniellus

Then, a visit to the Gypsy Marsh/Knollbeck area, during a sunny spell produced these ;


Four-spotted Chaser ( 1 of about 6 seen )


Yellow Flag

Back at home, it was the usual birds, but then this Jackdaw came down to feed. It did`nt stay long, but long enough to get a shot ;



Moth year list - 66

Just 14 sleeps now, to a week in East Lothian. CAN`T WAIT

Friday 23rd May 2008

Low Cloud, E 3

Set the moth trap up last night, only to find that the bulb had cracked. So that`s night mothing off the agenda for a while. Will have to resort to finding species during daylight hours, by whatever means.

Woke up early this morning, to the sound of squawking young Starlings. There were a handful around the garden, but the light was`nt at its best ;





While photographing the above, my first garden Whitethroat of the year was scratching ( singing ) away, along the back hedge.

Talking of finding moths by whatever means. I had 3 year ticks at Cortonwood mid-morning : Platyptilia gonodactyla, Timothy Tortrix & Silver-ground Carpet. Despite the cloudy conditions, there were quite a few other inverts around, and the best of the birds, were singles of Cuckoo & Great Spotted Woodpecker.


Silver-ground Carpet


Dingy Skipper


Azure Damselfly

Back at home, the light was slightly better than this morning. So, i had another go at the young Starlings ;


( after Leatherjackets already )



Late afternoon, went to visit my parents at Rawmarsh, so i had a look around the Stubbin area. The only notables were a couple of butterflies : 2 Small Heath ( my first of the year ) & a single Common Blue.


Small Heath

Year Lists ;
Garden ( birds ) - 70
Moths - 64
Butterflies - 14

Thursday 22nd May 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, SE 2>3

Just 3 moths in the trap this morning : White Ermine, Lychnis & Spectacle. The last 2 being firsts of the year ;


Spectacle

A visit to Cortonwood produced my 2nd ever patch Little Grebe, with a single bird on Morrisons Pond.
Found a Geometrid ( moth ) larva, but i`ve not a clue what species it is. So it came home with me for rearing through. It`s feeding on Flowering Currant, which i have ample supply of, at home ;




Dog Rose

There`s been a Temmincks Stint for the last 2 days, at the Old Moor. So, with it being on the doorstep, i thought i`d better go and have a look.
A cracking little wader, that was feeding along the shoreline of the closest island to the Wader Scrape hide. Trouble was, it was`nt close enough for my camera.
Also saw my first Common Blue butterfly of the year.

Nothing new from the garden, with the same old species, feeding ;


Blackbird


female House Spug

Year Lists ;
Moths - 61 ( Lychnis, Spectacle )
Butterflies - 13 ( Common Blue )
Cortonwood - 93 ( Little Grebe )
Dearne Valley - 119 ( Temmincks Stint )

Wednesday 21st May 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, SE 2>3

Just invert activity to report from Cortonwood. A couple of Blue-tailed Damselflies, were my first of the year. They refused to be photographed, but these did`nt ;


Yellow-tail ( moth ) larva


Scorpion Fly


Solitary Bee sp

A slightly warmer night in store, so i`ll see what moths it brings.

Tuesday 20th May 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, E 1 > 2

A female Broad-bodied Chaser at Cortonwood this morning, was my first of the year, but that was about it. Probably one of the easiest Odanata`s to photograph, because they usually return to the same spot, after being disturbed ;





Lots of too`ing & fro`ing from the birds in my garden. All the usual species : 2 Stock Dove, Woodpigeons, Blackbirds, Starlings, House Sparrows & Goldfinch. Judging by the amount of activity, all must be feeding young.


Blackbird


Starling


male House Spuggy

These recent cold nights have put the kibosh on any moth trapping. Roll on some warm ones.

Monday 19th May 2008

Sunny, Clouding over, N/NE 2

A case of quality rather than quantity, today. Spent about 10 mins stalking a Mother Shipton at Cortonwood, this morning. Every time i got near it with the camera, it`d fly a short distance and settle at the base of the grasses. Feeling frustrated, there was nothing for it, other than to pot it up and photograph it on my trusty blue piece of ply.
A really stunning day-flying species. It`s easy to see where it got its name from ;



Back at home, an Elephant Hawkmoth had emerged in my rearing tank. Another stunning species, that was enhanced by a paint job ( 2nd pic ) ;





Plenty of activity around my feeding station, with this Mistle Thrush posing nicely on the birdbath ;





I think the main talking point of the day, is the weather. Can`t believe how cold it`s been. Two thirds the way through May and i`m wearing a sweatshirt. Unbelievable!!

Sunday 18th May 2008

Sunny, Clouding over, NE 2

Cortonwood ;


Celypha lacunana ( year tick )

Garden ;

Stock Dove




Blackbird ( fledgeling )




Weevil sp ( painted )


A drake Tufted Duck W over the house was a garden year tick, also saw my first House Sparrow fledgeling`s of the year.

Year lists ;
Moths - 56
Garden ( birds ) - 69

Saturday 17th May 2008

Cloudy, Patchy Rain, NE 2>3

Did`nt get round to running the moth trap last night. Fell asleep on the settee and woke up at an unearthly hour. Not going to bother with it tonight either, feels too much like winter than late spring.

2 Oystercatchers NW over the house this morning, were a garden year tick.
Had a couple of hours down at the Old Moor. Not a lot doing, but a Turnstone on the Wader Scrape was a nice year tick. The best of the rest were : 9 Dunlin, 1 Cuckoo & a bit of floral stuff ;


Black-headed Gull


Common Tern


Bog Bean


Adders-tongue Fern

A full circuit of Cortonwood early afternoon did`nt reveal anything exciting : Highlights ;
Birds - Canada Geese ( 3 broods ), Coot ( 4 broods ) & Moorhen ( 1 brood ).
Moths ( Matalan Store ) - 3 Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet, 1 May Highflyer ( year tick ), 1 Early Grey, 1 Pale Tussock & 1 White Ermine ( year tick ). Only the latter was reachable ;

Coot ( young un )




White Ermine


Doves-foot Cranesbill


Year Lists ;
Garden - 68 ( Oystercatcher )
Dearne Valley - 118 ( Turnstone )
Moths - 55

NB - no sign of any Grass Snakes today, around the Knollbeck area.

Friday 16th May 2008

Cloudy, NE 2

Just Garden Carpets in the moth trap this morning. Very Poor.

No visit to Cortonwood today, but i did have 2 attempts at the Grass Snakes in the Knollbeck area. 2 singles were seen on both visits, but i still failed miserably to get a shot. Think i`ll try early tomorrow morning. I might stand a chance if they have`nt had the time to warm up.

As there`s no pics at all from today. Here`s a couple from my Rainy Day folder ;

Lapwing ( Old Moor )




Redshank ( Old Moor )


Humming & arrrrrhing about whether to run the moth trap tonight. Probably will do, but if i don`t see anything other than Garden Carpets, i`ll take an hammer to the trap.

Thursday 15th May 2008

Sunny, NE 2 > 3

The most notable birds from Cortonwood this morning, were a Common Buzzard NE & a Cuckoo W. Still plenty of Inverts ( not that i photographed many ) ;

Azure Damselfly


Hoverfly ( on the hand, again )




Germander Speedwell


A visit to the Knollbeck during the afternoon, produced my first Common Carpet of the year. 2 Four-spotted Chasers present today.
The main highlight however, were 2 Grass Snakes. I found a large wooden board & instinctively lifted it up and there they were, coiled up. I was that surprised to see them, that i forgot about the camera. Another chance wasted :( Will i ever get a picture of these reptiles.


Prickly Sow-thistle

Moth year list - 53 ( Common Carpet )

Wednesday 14th May 2008

Sunny, Patchy Cloud, NE 2

Despite the cooler conditions, there were still a few Inverts to be found. These were photographed at Cortonwood this morning ;


Mayfly sp


Hoverfly ( took a liking to the back of my hand )


Adela reaumurella

Also had my 52nd moth of the year, with the micro Grapholita compositella.

Tuesday 13th May 2008

Cloudy, Sunny, then Cloudy again, NE 3

Apart from the same old Garden Carpets & Early Grey, there was a moth year tick in the trap this morning. A single Tinea trinotella. No pic unfortunately.

Cortonwood, produced another moth year tick, with a Chinese Character found resting on a leaf. This species, when at rest tucks its head in and relies on its bird dropping appearance to keep it from being eaten ;




Leucozona lucorum


Yellow Pimpernel


Herb Bennet

A visit to the Knollbeck mid-afternoon, produced a lot of Invert activity, but it was difficult going, in the blustery conditions ;


4-spotted Chaser


Large Red Damselfly


not an invert, but White Campion

Moth year list - 51 ( Tinea trinotella, Chinese Character )

Monday 12th May 2008

Mist/Low Cloud, clearing to Sunshine, E/NE 2 > 3

Another poor catch with the moth trap overnight, with just Light Brown Apple Moths, several Garden Carpets & 2 Early Grey.

A Cuckoo flying round the spoil heap at Cortonwood, was the pick of the birds from there. The best of the rest were ;

Small Copper




Common Blue Damselfly


Spider sp on Buttercup


Common Wintercress


Home for some dinner, then off to the Knollbeck area. 100`s of Azure Damselflies ( must have been a mass emergence over the last 2 days. Needless to say i did`nt manage a shot of a single one ).
2 firsts of the year : Four-spotted Chaser & a Clouded Border ( moth ), at the same time. So which one did i go for. Well, the Clouded Border disappeared into the middle of a bush, so i ended up with the ;

4-spotted Chaser


The only other pics from here, were ;


Ancylis badiana


Ox-eye Daisies

Was`nt going to bother with the moth trap tonight, but i might as well. I`ve nothing to lose.

Moth year list - 49 ( Clouded Border )

Sunday 11th May 2008

Sunny, E 1 > 2

The moth trap produced 2 firsts of the year, with : Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet & Flame Shoulder. The only other species was Garden Carpet ( 3 ) ;


Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet

Spent most of the day at Rawmarsh. Where a visit to the Stubbin area produced at least 6 Dingy Skippers ( my first of the year ) ;



Dingy Skipper




Field Mouse-ear


I`m afraid that`s all for today. See what my local area produces tomorrow.

Year lists ;
Moths - 48
Butterflies - 12

No Show

Just spent about an hour and half watching the Fox den with no luck. Could`nt stay any longer, too many biting things about. It goes without saying, i will try again.

Just had my 46th moth of the year. A 20-plumed Moth at the kitchen window, but the damn thing evaded capture.

Saturday 10th May 2008

Sunny, E 2

Bit of a disappointing haul from the moth trap overnight, with just 4 Light Brown Apple Moths & this beastie ;


Ichneumon sp

Waited for it to warm up a bit, before i ventured out to Cortonwood this morning. Did a full circuit, but not a lot to show for it ;


Click Beetle sp


Ribwort Plantain


Pink Oxalis

Then i decided to continue along the Trans-Pennine Trail towards the Knollbeck area. This area produced 2 moth year ticks, with : Mother Shipton, spent about 10mins trying to get a pic, but gave up and turned my attention to this Small Yellow Underwing ( which did`nt give me the runaround ) ;



A few more shots from here ;


Cercopis vulnerata


Campion ( Red x White hybrid )


Herb Robert


Celery-leaved Buttercup


Wild Pansy

Another hour then i`m off to watch for any Fox activity. Wish me luck !!

Moth year list - 45

Friday 9th May 2008

Hazy Sunshine, E 1 > 2

The warmest night of the year so far ( last night ) and i did`nt even have the moth trap out. However, i still managed a few moth year ticks today.
The first of which came from the Wombwell Garden, with : Adela reaumurella ( day-flying micro ), Garden Carpet & Small Phoenix ;


Garden Carpet


Small Phoenix


not a moth, but Bush Vetch

Then onto Cortonwood, where i added another 2 species to the ( moth ) year list, with Ancylis badiana & Latticed Heath. Unfortunately, i was`nt quick enough with the camera. Never mind, they`ll save for another day. These did`nt get away so easy ( obviously ) ;


Birds-foot Trefoil


Lords & Ladies

I had intended to go and watch for any activity around the Fox den that i found yesterday, but due a number of setbacks, that`ll have to wait till tomorrow.

Moth year list - 43

Thursday 8th May 2008

Sunny, E 3>4

The Evidence ;

Headless


and partly eaten Mute Swan


just metre`s away from two large entrance holes


Conclusion ;
I have breeding Foxes on my patch.
I can`t imagine that a Fox could take down an adult Mute Swan, so i think this bird must have been either injured or already dead. There was a trail of feathers through the nearby trees, so the Fox must have dragged it some distance.
I only saw the entrances to the den, because i went to have a look at the Swan. Otherwise i would`nt have known it was there. The timing`s right as well. Foxes give birth anytime from March > May and this is the only time that dens ( earths ) are used
All that remains now is to catch a glimpse of the animals themselves.
Well chuffed :)

Not much else about, apart from my first Common Footman ( larva ) of the year ;



Back at home, i had another moth year tick. This Grey Dagger ( collected as a larva, last year ) emerged from my rearing tank ;



And finally, managed to pot up & photograph one of the Esperia sulphurella`s that i mentioned the other day ;



Moth year list - 37 ( Common Footman, Grey Dagger )

Wednesday 7th May 2008

Hazy Sunshine, E 2



2 Early Grey`s were a very disappointing result from my garden moth trap this morning. The Wombwell garden on the other hand, produced 3 moth year ticks ( even without the aid of a light trap ) ;


Early Thorn


Red-green Carpet


Lunar Marbled Brown

NB - The Tawny Owl nest box remains un-occupied ths year. For what reason, i`m not sure.

Still the same old birds & butterflies at Cortonwood. This Wild Strawberry was a first for the year though ;



No sign of any Grass Snakes around the Knollbeck area, this afternoon. Just these ;


Drinker ( it may not be an adult yet, but it`s going on
my moth year list )