Jul 102011
A weekend of Butterflies & Moths, as the UK birding scene was rather tame in comparison to previous weekends. My overnight garden moth trap produced a superb Elephant hawkmoth when I emptied it on Saturday morning (9th July 2011), the first one this year. A total of 15 species was a disappointment for the time of year, with the only other good species being a Double Square-spot which, surprisingly, was a garden tick.
Sunday 10th July 2011 was the annual trip to Fermyn Woods in Northamptonshire and we pulled in a site at Ketton in Rutland. A total of 18 species was seen during the day with highlights of 1 male Purple Emperor, 10 or so White Admiral, a very obliging Purple Hairstreak, several White-letter Hairstreak and some stunning Marbled Whites on the wing at Ketton. Also a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Fermyn and White Plume moth at Ketton.
My butterfly list is 34 species so far for the year and my garden moth list is 72 species. (on an actinic light trap only)
IMAGES – Elephant Hawkmoth; Double Square-spot; White Plume; Purple Emperor – male; Purple Hairstreak -male; Marbled White; Comma; Common Blue; Small Skipper.
