Scarce Silver-lines

I've only ever seen one Scarce Silver-lines before so was delighted when Nick came over with this stunning specimen - 'fresh out the box'. Thank you Nick!

An as yet unidentified caterpillar that was stuck to the outside of the trap this morning.

With all the Painted Ladies and Red Admirals around I had high hopes for the moth trap least night. This Maiden's Blush was the highlight, despite being a bit tatty, with one Dark Sword-grass and a single Silver Y the only immigrant species.

Nick and I headed over to Topsham to see Yellow-legged Clearwing - a truly stunning little moth that you'd probably never see without a pheromone lure.

Banded Demoiselle - male, Topsham

Painted Lady Influx and Marsh Grass-veneer

Masses of these around today. Every time I looked out a window at work they were bombing past and a late afternoon walk on the local heathland produced dozens more sightings. Always exciting to see these influxes. They were accompanied by plenty of Red Admirals too.

 

 

Marsh Grass-veneer - Crambus uliginosellus - a brand new 'grass moth' for me and a very localised species by all accounts, found in a bog whilst continuing my, so far fruitless, quest for Southern Damselfly.

 

Painted Lady and Red Admiral on Buddleia in the front garden. No escaping these today!

 

Dingy Shell in its typical resting posture. My first trapped in Exmouth, following my first ever last year which was trapped in Saint Hill by Martin.

Clouded-bordered Brindle - one of two trapped last night.

Adult summer-plumaged Mediterranean Gull. Three first-summers also present. Also 14+ Sandwich Tern and my first juvenile Black-headed Gull of the summer.

 

Adult summer Black-tailed Godwit - Mudbank - either very early returning from Iceland or very late arriving. Presumably the former.

 

 

Small Elephant Hawkmoth - in the trap this morning with four Elephant Hawkmoths and a heap of other common stuff that included c10+ Dusky Brocade, L-album Wainscot, Treble Brown Spot, Haworth's Pug, Foxglove Pug, Sandy Carpet and a Rusty Dot Pearl - the only immigrant species.

Dotted-margin Bagworm

Dotted-margin Bagworm - Diplodoma laichartingella. According to the 'Field Guide to the Micro Moths of Great Britain and Ireland' the larvae feed on decaying plant matter, fungi, mosses, lichens and dead insects. They live in a larval case.

Sandwich Tern - Mudbank. At least 36 present today, along with two Common Tern and c40+ Black-headed Gulls. This individual is ringed but I couldn't read any details.

Somersetting

Pyramidal Orchid - Berrow - no luck with Red-belted Clearwing at this site today, but a good day out with Dave and Martin looking for moths.

Orchid sp.

Forester or possibly Cistus Forester - Stock Hill, nr Priddy - one of c12+ seen - an absolutely sensational moth and a lifer for all of us. I think size-wise this is likely to be Forester but I'm not confident enough to be 100% certain.

 

Chimney Sweeper - Stock Hill - one of c10+ seen. Two or three Tree Pipits on territory at this site too.

Stock Hill near Priddy in the Mendips, Somerset. Burnet Companion, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Small Heath, Large Skipper and Common Blue also seen at this site.

On Thyme.

Orchid sp.

The view from Collard Hill, near Street on a quick stop-off to see Large Blue...

Large Blue - Collard Hill - will need to go back for open wing shots... Two or three individuals seen.

 

Bee Orchids - Topsham - had a quick look at these before picking up Dave and Martin.

Rosy Starling and Yellow-legged Clearwing

Rose-coloured Starling - Exminster - caught up with it on second attempt.

Black-tailed Skimmer - Topsham

Spotted Redshank - Bowling Green - crap views of a smart bird.

Peacock Butterfly caterpillar

Yellow-legged Clearwing - Topsham - to ves pheromone lure on second attempt. Good to catch up with Tim Worfolk today.

Rosy Starling - Exminster - in its favoured cherry tree - Deepway Green.

A Couple Hours in a Bog

Small Red Damselfly - teneral male - superbly camouflaged amongst the rushes.

 

Only a brief look at the estuary today, just as the tide was dropping. Best bird was a single Black-tailed Godwit but I also recorded 27+ Sandwich Tern, 2 first-summer Mediterranean Gulls and 75+ Black-headed Gulls.

Speckled Fanner - Glyphipterix thrasonella - a beautiful and common 'micro' but not one I've seen before!

Clouded Buff on Round-leaved Sundew. What a moth!

Brown China-mark - a remarkable moth. The larvae are aquatic, constructing a case similar to those made by caddisfly larvae.

Bog Asphodel

Pretty Chalk Carpet

July Belle

 

Yesterday off Mudbank - 18+ Sandwich Tern and a second-summer Mediterranean Gull. On the 16th a relatively high count of c30+ Sandwich Terns in the estuary.

Pretty Chalk Carpet

Dusky Brocade