Saturday 18 June 2022

Mainly Moths


Peach Blossom. This common but utterly gorgeous moth is a regular in the trap but it's always a thrill to see the first one each year.

All predictably quiet on the bird front still, with just 6 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Sandwich Terns and 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese off Mudbank. Eight Swifts were noted flying upriver. Thankfully there's plenty of other wildlife to enjoy, on the doorstep, so there's never a dull moment. The moth trap has provided plenty of variety but nothing particularly unusual...


European Corn-borer.


Silver-ground Carpet.


Four-dotted Footman.


Marbled White Spot. I frequently see these up on the local pebbled heaths, during the daytime, but they're a very irregular visitor to the garden.


Common Cudweed. I always pause to have a look this patch, growing on the edge of Blackhill Quarry. There's something about the Cudweeds that I just love. They have a distinctly architectural quality. A few yards away is the only patch of Small Cudweed I've ever found - not as striking looking but still very nice...


Small Cudweed.


Bog Asphodel - this stunning flower is now growing in profusion on the pebbled heaths. 


The majority of Early Marsh Orchids ( ssp pulchella) have gone over now but this one still looked pretty good.



Inlaid Grass-veneer Crambus pascuella.


July Belle.


Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary.


Still on its favored perch. A creature of habit!


Silver-studded Blue. Good numbers seen today, despite the overcast conditions.



Just two Dark-bellied Brent Geese remain off Mudbank.


Struggling with this distinctive little micro. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Edit - Garden Lance-wing Epermenia chaerophyllella - many thanks to Nick for the identification.


I think this could be Common Spotted x Heath Spotted Orchid.

Common Spotted Orchids at the entrance to Blackhill Quarry.

Ruddy Carpet.

Portland Ribbon Wave.

Thrilled to see this Coxcomb Prominent. I used to catch this classy species more regularly, when we lived out at Rockbeare. It's not a rare one but this is my first in our garden here, in Exmouth.

2 comments:

  1. Great moths Matt. I ran your micro through the amazing Obsidentify app just installed on my phone and it came up with Epermenia chaerophyllella which looks a good match to me. Now I can pretend to a real expert!!

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  2. Hi Nick - I'm a bit annoyed because I checked the Epermenia group and completely overlooked chaerophyllella! It looks to be very variable. Great to put a name to it though, so a big thank you! All the best and hopefully see you soon. Matt.

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