20 August, 2012

18th Birthday Moths

As I write this, its uncomfortably warm outside, and I've had the worst hangover possible for most of today (the big old 18th last night... don't ask). Weirdly, I woke up this morning to the sight of a moth trap in the garden. I don't remember doing it, but it seemed that somehow, before I went out and did more stuff I don't remember doing, I must have registered the promisingly muggy, calm and warm conditions and put out a moth trap... that is the kind of thing you do before your 18th isn't it?

Anyway, there was some decent stuff waiting for me in the trap this morning, including a nice Hoary Footman, and an even nicer Gypsonoma minutana.

Back on the 16th August I was slightly more sober when I emptied the moth trap, and resting on the last egg box at the bottom was a Toadflax Brocade. It's quite a rare species in Britain, usually confined to shingle beaches along the south coast, but in recent years, wanderers have been turning up further inland, with the likelihood of localised breeding in Surrey and London. It's been on my garden wish list for a long time now, but I never thought it would actually turn up...


Another species that's been on the wish list for ages is Jersey Tiger. Unlike the Toadflax, Jersey Tiger already has a well established population in the London suburbs, so I was expecting it arrival to an extent. Still an absolute stunner, especially as its the scarcer form lutescens which has awesome yellow hindwings...


Hoary Footman- fighting off hoards of these at the moment...


Possibly the most wanted insect in Britain, Oak Processionary. DEFRA would have a fit if they knew how common the species is becoming in the garden...


Sallow Kitten...


Narrow-winged Pug...


Rush Veneer, a very common immigrant, but only the 3rd garden record...






17 August, 2012

Straw Belle and the Road Race

Encouraged by the recent excursions of blogger Steve Gale (of North Downs and Beyond) to Box Hill in search of rare lepidoptera, I couldn't help but make my own way up there on Monday, if it meant the possibility of catching up with my dream Surrey moths, the Straw Belle.

It may have the aesthetic appeal of a folden piece of white paper with two pencil scribbles down either side, and I'll admit it's not really much of a looker, but Straw Belle is the creme de la creme of rare moths, with an extremely restricted range covering just a few isolated sites in the North Downs (including one of the most reliable sites, Box Hill), along with a small isolated population in the west of Ireland.

The routing of the recent Olympic road race through Box Hill caused quite a stur, especially once it was released that crowds would be allowed onto the upper chalk slopes occupied by Straw Belle at this time of year.

On arrival, there were no obvious signs of damage to the wildflower slopes, and careful consideration had clearly been taken to ensure minimum disturbance to the most vulnerable areas, including the so called Straw Belle 'viewing point' below...


Despite a strong breeze, and spells of rain at times, at least 6 Straw Belle were weakly fluttering above the grassy slopes, dropping down to shelter on the underside of grass stems every few seconds. The caterpillars feed on low growing herbaceous plants, and it was worried that the high risk of trampling associated with large crowds could shatter breeding hopes when it came to egg laying on the foodplant. Of course, we'll have to wait until next year to note any possible adverse effects, but the condition of the hill, not to mention the lack of litter, was really pleasing to see...



With a slightly wider distribution throughout Britain that Straw Belle, but a similar restriction to chalky soils, Chalk Carpet were out in large numbers as well, but only started to settle for photographs once the rain kicked in...


A nice supporting cast of late summer butterflies were also about, including this slightly worse for wear Dark Green Fritillary...


Chalkhill Blue were staying low to the ground, perching for long periods of time on grass stems to shelter from the rain. I spent bloody ages with this one butterfly attempting to get an in-focus shot and the stem blew about in the wind. Not to dissatisfied with the results...


Never seen so many Silver-spotted Skipper before in my life...

13 August, 2012

Things Finally on the Tern?

Things haven't been looking too bad in the past few weeks. The moth trap has, rather surpringly, begun to catch some moths, and we've reached that time of year when everyone's favourite migrant birds start to return to the South coast, before ditching us again for hotter climes.

With a few hours free last Saturday, before another evening in front of the Olympics, I thought I'd try my luck down Richmond Park for a few early Whinchats or Wheatears that might have dropped down.

... No luck on that front, but a pair of Common Terns had successfully fledged at least two chicks on Pen Ponds, and there was a smart pair of Little Owls in oak trees a little further up, by the car park...





Sad to see the Olympics coming to an end tonight. I'm far from patriotic, but after watching Team GB's performance this year, it's hard not to feel a sense of pride in what the team has achieved this year. Watching the legendary likes of  Mo Farah make history in the 10,000 metres, and then go on to win the 5,000 metres the other night, and Jess Ennis winning Heptathlon gold, was a real priviledge to watch... not forgetting the cycling and rowing success, and of course the Jamaicans, laughing their way to more incomprehensible world records.

T.V. will be boring for another 4 years, and I guess I'll have to get outside into the field again. A trip down Box Hill for Straw Belle, me thinks.