Speckled Yellow Moth. 22nd May 2010 - Treskilling Downs (thanks to Roger Lane for identification).

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We had a good day today and I took a lot of photos, but I have to dedicate this post to the Marsh Fritillary. We met up with the very friendly John Nicholls. He showed me “Micro-Moths”. I have never heard of them before and if I had seen one on a Buttercup I would have thought it was some kind of bug! He showed us: Glyphipterix Simpliciella (aka Cocksfoot Moth) and Micropterix Calthella. Now, there is no way I could get a picture of these Moths, especially hand held so here’s some links to UK Moths’ website for anyone who is interested. Amazing!
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=391 and http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=723.
John went off hunting for Moths at Ninestones after our chat, only to return a short while afterwards to show us what he had really been looking for; Marsh Fritillaries. Not one, but two and copulating! They were beautiful. What a privilege. We took some pictures and then left the loving pair to it, under a leaf! We met up with Steve and Patricia a short while afterwards and went back to the site. By the time they parted they must have been copulating for about an hour and a half that we knew of, so who knows how long they were actually together. Roger told me this evening that he knew of a record of copulation, which was 9 days (I hope that’s right). The ones we saw looked exhausted today so I cannot imagine what 9 days would do to them! My photos are below, but treat yourself to a viewing of Steve Rogers’ images and information on the rare Marsh Fritillary at: http://www.swopticsphoto.com/
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. I took this one with my camera on Steve's tripod; Steve set up the camera and I just pressed the button!

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We had a very lively visitor this evening. I grabbed a few shots with the Nikon Coolpix after cooling it down a little, but I didn't like to keep it for too long!

I think it's a Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata), but would appreciate it if anyone can correct me.
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My last Devon post :-

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You cannot go to Devon without seeing Branscombe (a pretty little village with lots of flowers and birds!), after which we went to Beer; then Seaton (where we should have gone with friends a few weeks ago, but I was working, and hopefully we will do that soon). Seaton was great. The hide is perfect for an all round view and great for seeing Kingfishers. We then went to Powderham, Cockwood and then finished the evening at Dawlish Warren. It was a beautiful evening and having chased a Kingfisher around the pool, and then a Wheatear around the beach we decided we were too tired to go looking for waders (although it would have been a perfect time as the tide was low and the light was fabulous). Instead, we sat on the beach and watched the sun set. These are the last of my pics (I think!)...

Wheatear on the beach at Dawlish Warren...


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Robin at Seaton...

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Robin at Dawlish Warren...

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Carrion Crow - Dawlish Warren...

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Stonechat (It was acting very strange - I thought it may be a Whitchat at first)...

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Llamas (I think). We passed a gateway and I spotted them and summoned the Abbot to turn the car around and go back :-)

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Dragon Fly at Seaton...

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I think this may be the result of a hatched Moth or Butterfly. Spotted at Dawlish Warren. I do find some strange things - I was intrigued by it :-)

Lackey Moth Caterpillar Tent? Taken yesterday. I've taken shots of small caterpillar tents at Par, but this one was huge and covered the whole bush.

ADDITIONAL NOTE 23.11.09 - Jowan suggested that this was "furze mite Epitetranychs lintearius". Many thanks.

Another quick post as I have to prioritise membership work as opposed to sorting out my pictures from the day. My day list for Butterflies seems to be increasing with the warm weather (8 today), but the bird day list is declining at 39!
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A delightful place to pose for a piccie...
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Rook
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Not my best Wheatear, but I do like these lively birds and cannot resist taking lots of pics!
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I wish I could have done this one more justice, but I think the car was still moving (that's my excuse anyway!)...
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Wall Brown

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Not sure which Grasshopper or Cricket this is. By the way it was hopping around I would go for Groundhopper!... He was livlier than the company he was keeping... In a churchyard!
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Red Admiral (I think)
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Another Silver Y - There seems to be a lot of these about at the moment...
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Spider - I just don't have the time to ID!
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A quick post, as we have visitors. I had a couple of hours out this afternoon at Par and including my morning head count my day list for birds is: 43. My day list for Butterflies is: 7. It was warm, but windy and trying to photograph a Butterfly on a swinging plant is VERY frustrating! I went off alone. I said to the Abbot we must go our separate ways as we just keep photographing the same things! So off we went... me one way and Trevor the other, although I could see him every now and again appearing through the gorse and keeping an eye on me!

This guy cheered me up. I've been trying to catch one for a while. I took it from two different angles. I have lots of shots, but not enough time to go through them! He rested for a long time - unusually. I think it is a Common Darter...


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Butterflies...
Red Admiral

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This Green Veined White managed to find a small amout of Budlia still in bloom!
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This one I am not sure about. I have looked through my Collins guide - I got as far as Thorn/Hawk! HELP!!!

NOTE: Thanks to John Swann - The Moth is a Silver Y.
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BIG Bumble Bee... I love Bees...
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With reference to my last post, I saw a lone Swift circling above the house when I came home from work (late) this evening - put a smile on my face :-)

Some moth images, which I have collected at home. I think they are: i) Buff Arches; ii) Magpie; iii) Brown House Moth.

Un-ID'd moths visiting my kitchen recently...

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18.07.09 - Now ID'd thanks to John Rowe ... Small Magpie & below... Buff Arches
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I’ve been out and about with the Abbot & Derek again today, covering quite a large area. The weather was perfect (which I did not expect after yesterday). We saw lots of Butterflies (most of which were ID’d by Derek of course, but I am learning – albeit slowly). Saw Mediterranean Gulls in 1st Summer, 2nd Summer, Adult and Juvenile plumage. Whether or not I remember all this if and when they turn up at Par is another matter! :- )

Best not to click on the images to enlarge them today as you may damage your eye sight!!!


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My day list of birds (including the morning garden count):

1. Cormorant
2. Shag
3. Little Egret (lots)
4. Grey Heron (lots)
5. Mute Swan
6. Canada Goose
7. Shelduck
8. Mallard
9. Buzzard
10. Sparrowhawk
11. Kestrel
12. Red Legged Partridge (life tick for the Abbot)
13. Moorhen
14. Oystercatcher
15. Black Tailed Godwit
16. Curlew
17. Whimbrel
18. Black Headed Gull
19. Mediterranean Gull (first seen this year)
20. Herring Gull
31. Lesser Black Backed Gull
22. Great Black Backed Gull
23. Sandwich Tern
24. Woodpigeon
25. Collared Dove
26. Swift
27. Swallow
28. Skylark
30. House Martin
31. Pied Wagtail
32. Wren
33. Dunnock
34. Robin
35. Song Thrush
36. Blackbird
37. Blackcap (heard)
38. Whitethroat (seen by Derek in the hedgerow, but I missed it!)
39. Chiffchaff
40. Great Tit
41. Blue Tit
42. Coal Tit
43. Long Tailed Tit
44. Magpie
45. Jackdaw
46. Rook
47. Carrion Crow
48. Starling
49. House Sparrow
50. Chaffinch
51. Goldfinch
52. Greenfinch
53. Linnet
54. Bullfinch (heard)
55. Corn Bunting

My day list of Butterflies/Moths:-

1. Large White
2. Wall
3. Gatekeeper
4. Meadow Brown
5. Green Veined White
6. Red Admiral
7. Painted Lady
8. Comma
9. Ringlet
10. Speckled Wood
11. Skipper
12. Six Spot Burnett