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Isles of Scilly Pelagic – 15th – 19th August 2024

2024, Birds, Birds of 2024 No Responses »

Sep 072024

My very first Scilly Pelagic took place during 15th -19th August 2024. John and I attended five pelagics, all very well organised by Scilly Pelagics (https://www.scillypelagics.com/). During the trips we saw 41 Wilson’s Petrel; 145 European Storm Petrel; 147 Cory’s Shearwater; 489 Great Shearwater; 20 Sooty Shearwater; 5,300 Manx Shearwater; 8 Bonxie; 1 2cy SOUTH POLAR SKUA; 3 Arctic Skua; 1 Pomarine Skua; 3 Mediterranean Gull; 1 Kittiwake; 1 Common Gull; present Herring Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Great Black-backed Gull; Fulmar; 19 Arctic Tern; c20 Whimbrel; c700 SB Common Dolphin; 1 Risso’s Dolphin; 5 Fin Whale (inc i calf); 1 Minkie Whale; 12 Bluefin Tuna; 2 Blue Shark; 2 Sun Fish. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a photograph of the South Polar Skua, but others did, and it was well watched and photographed. Many thanks to Bob Flood and Joe Pender for a fabulous few days at sea and for the South Polar Skua, a new British bird for me. If you want to see seabirds up close and personal, get yourself on a Scilly Pelagic, simple.

A rare moth from the Afrotropics

2024, Micro, Moths No Responses »

Sep 032024

I ran my usual garden light trap overnight on 27th August 2024 in Melbourne, South Derbyshire. Whilst processing the trap on the morning of 28th August I discovered an unfamiliar Olethreutinae species. I managed to pot it and put it to one side for viewing later. I had a second Olethruetinae species, this time one that I had seen before, but couldn’t put a name to it. So this was also potted and put to one side. These two moths were the last ones to be processed. I then spent the next three hours trying to ID both of them., in the end I gave up. One I thought was Large Marble (Phiaris schulziana) but the patterning didn’t look right despite my moth having a very distinctive white spot about two thirds in the centre of the forewing. I even looked at False Codling Moth, but when I discovered it was an Afrotropical species, often being occasionally imported as a larva in oranges and other fruits and seeds, I decided this was too far fetched.

I consulted with one of the members of our records team and good friend Will Soar. He very quickly identified one of the moths as Eudemis profundana, but was very intrigued by the second, saying that the moth was something far more interesting. A False Codling Moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta. After checking photos on Lepiforum.org, it was a perfect match. A first record of the species for VC57 and for Derbyshire. This was the third that Will has identified in Britain, one in Norfolk and Essex and now this one.

*Thaumatotibia leucotreta* – False Codling Moth – Tony Davison©

*Eudemis profundana* – Oak Marble – Tony Davison©

Moth Trap – 23rd July 2024

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Aug 112024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight on 23rd July 2024 – Results as follows – Dusky Sallow (1); Leopard Moth (1); Pale Prominent (1); Small Phoenix (1); Riband Wave (18); Chinese Character (1); Marbled Beauty (4); Common Carpet (2); Brimstone Moth (1); Common Rustic agg (2); Uncertain/Rustic agg (3); Scalloped Oak (1); Cloaked Minor (1); Flame Shoulder (1); Common Footman (4); Buff Footman (1); Dingy Footman (1 x f.stramineola) (3); Large Yellow Underwing (3); Bright-line Brown-eyes (1); Small Blood-vein (1); Willow Beauty (3); Small Fan-footed Wave (1); Single Dotted Wave (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth) (7); Galleria mellonella (Wax Moth) (2); Yponomeuta (Orchard/Apple/Spindle) agg (17); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth) (4); Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) (1); Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House Moth (1); Lyonetia clerkella (Apple Leaf-miner) (2); Spilonota ocellana (Bud Moth (1); Pyrausta aurata (Mint Moth) (1); Blastobasis adustella (Common Masoner) (2); Bryotropha affinis (Dark Moss Moth) (3); Bryotropha domestica (House Moss Moth) (1); Acleris forsskalleana (Netted Tortrix) (1); Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth (5); Epiphyas postvittana (Light Brown Apple Moth) (3); Yponomeuta evonymella (Bird Cherry Ermine) (1); Hypsopygia glaucinalis (Double-striped Tabby) (1); Yponomeuta rorrella (Willow Ermine) (1); Udea lutealis (Pale Straw Pearl) (1); Pammene fasciana (Acorn Piercer) (1); Agriphila straminella (Straw Grass-moth) (2); Coleophora sp (1); Coleophora trifolii (Melilot Case-bearer) (1); Acrobasis advenella (Hawthorn Knot-horn) (1); Scrobipalpa acuminatella (Common Thistle Miner) NFG / lifer (1); Ancylis achatana (Hedge Hook-wing) (1). 119/49 species

*Scrobipalpa acuminatella* (Common Thistle Miner)

*Acleris forsskalleana* (Netted Tortrix)

*Acrobasis advenella* (Hawthorn Knot-horn)

*Agriphila straminella* (Straw Grass-moth)

*Blastobasis adustella* (Common Masoner)

Moth Trap – 19th July 2024

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Aug 112024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth trap from my garden, overnight on 19th July – Results as follows – Scarce Silver-lines (1); Uncertain (3); Riband Wave (6); Marbled Beauty (6); Chinese Character (1); Common Footman (4); Scarce Footman (1); Dingy Footman (3); Willow Beauty (1); Least Carpet (1); Common Carpet (3); Yellow Shell (1); Dark Arches (1); Heart & Dart (1); Large Yellow Underwing (3); Lesser Yellow Underwing (1); Snout (2); Cydalima perspectalis (Box-tree Moth) (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth (16); Hofmannophila pseudospritella (Brown House Moth) (2); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth (4); Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer) (21); Yponomeuta agg (Orchard/Apple/Spindle) (27); Yponomeuta rorrella (Willow Ermine) (5); Acleris notana/ferrugana (1); Spilonota ocellana (Bud Moth) (1); Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth) (4); Anania coronata (Elder Pearl) (1); Ditula angustiorana (Red-barred Tortrix) (1); Cydia pomonella (Codling Moth) (1); Scoparia ambigualis (Common Grey) (1); Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) (1); Cnephasia sp (1); Bryotropha affinis (Dark Moss Moth) (2); Lyonetia clerkella (Apple Leaf-miner) (1); Ancylis achatana (Hedge Hook-wing) (1); Grapholita janthinana (Hawthorn Piercer)(1). 132/37 species.

*Grapholita janthinana* (Hawthorn Piercer)

*Plutella xylostella* (Diamond-back Moth)

Moth Trap – 16th July 2024

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Aug 112024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight on 16th July, the results as follows – Silver Y (1); Common Footman (3); Buff Ermine (1); Uncertain agg (9); Uncertain (1); Heart & Dart (1); Riband Wave (1); Common Rustic agg (2); Dark Arches (2); Spectacle (1); Plutella xylostella (Diamond-back Moth (3); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth) (3); Yponomeuta agg (Orchard/Apple/Spindle) (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth) (1); Ancylis achatana (Hedge Hook-wing) (1); Celypha striana (Barred Marble) (1). 32/16 species.

*Yponomeuta* (Orchard/Apple/Spindle Ermine) agg

Moth Trap – 7th July 2024

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Aug 112024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight on 7th July 2024 – Results as follows – Scalloped Oak (3); Brimstone Moth (2); Buff Ermine (1); Uncertain/Rustic agg (4); Elephant Hawk-moth (2); Pine Hawk-moth (1); Spectacle (1); Willow Beauty (2); Scarce Footman (1); Common Footman (1); Dingy Footman (1); Heart & Dart (1); Heart & Club (1); Short-cloaked Moth (1); Cydalima perspectalis (Box-tree Moth ) (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth) (1); Borkhausenia fuscescens (Dingy Concealer) (1); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth) (2); Eudonia lacustrata (Tawny Grey) (1). 26/19 species.

Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth)

Moth Trap 25th June 2024

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Aug 112024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight on 25th June 2024 – Results as follows – Box-tree Moth (4); Brimstone Moth (1); Short-cloaked Moth (1); Riband Wave (10 inc 3 f. aversata); Poplar Hawk-moth (1); Uncertain (5); Buff Ermine (1 male); Willow Beauty (2); Heart & Dart (3); The Snout (1); Common Rustic agg (1); Yellow-tail (1); Small Dusty Wave (2); Garden Carpet (1); Common Emerald (1); Scalloped Oak (1); Heart & Club (1) NFG, Lifer; Common White Wave (1); Common Pug (1); Large Yellow Underwing (1) ; Evergestis forficalis (Garden Pebble) (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth) (2); Acentria ephemerella (Water Veneer) (2); Scoparia ambigualis (Common Grey) (3); Plutella Xylostella (Diamond-back Moth) (2); Elophila nymphaeata (Brown China-mark) (1); Acleris schalleriana (Verburnum Tortrix) (1) NFG, Lifer; Tineola bisselliella (Common Clothes Moth) (1) NFG, Lifer; Lozotaenia forsterana (Large Ivy Tortrix) (1); Ancylis achatana (Hedge Hook-wing) (2); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth) (1); Agapeta hamana (Garden Straw) (1); Eudonia mercurella (Garden Grey) (2); Udea olivalis (Garden Pearl) (1); Notocelia uddmanniana (Bramble Shoot Moth) (1); Ephestia woodiella (Blushed Knot-horn) (1); Monopsis crocicapitella (Pale-backed Detritus Moth) (1) NFG, Lifer; Dichomeris marginella (Juniper Webber) (1); Ditula angustiorana (Red-barred Tortrix) (1); Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) (2); Coleophora sp (possibly gryphipennella) (Rose Case-bearer) (1). 69/41species

Heart & Club New for Garden (NFG) a lifer for me.

*Acleris schalleriana* (Verburnum Tortrix) NFG & Lifer for me.

*Monopsis crocicapitella* (Pale-backed Detritus Moth NFG & Lifer for me.

*Notocelia uddemanniana* (Bramble Shoot Moth)

*Elophila nymphaeata* (Brown China-mark)

*Coleophora sp (possibly gryphipennella)* (Rose Case-bearer)

*Plutela xylostella* (Diamond-back Moth)

*Ephestia woodiella* (Blushed Knot-horn)

*Dichomeris marginella* (Juniper Webber)

Moth Trap – 22nd June 2024

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Aug 102024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden overnight on 22nd June 2024 – Results as follows – Swallowtail Moth (1) Bright-line Brown-eyes (1); Willow Beauty (2); Heart & Dart (2); Dark Arches (1); Buff Ermine (1); Riband Wave (1); Uncertain (1); Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) (4); Pyralis farinalis (Meal Moth) (1); Eudonia lacustrata (Tawny Grey) (1); Cydalima perspectalis (Box-tree Moth) (1); Chrysoteuchia culmella (Garden Grass-moth) (1); Celypha striana (Barred Marble) (1); Crambus pascuella (White-banded Grass-moth) (1); Bryotropha domestica (House Moss Moth) (1); Hedya pruniana (Plum Tortrix) (1). 22/17 species.

*Chrysoteuchia culmella* – Garden Grass-moth

*Crambua pascuella* – White-banded Grass-moth

Moth Trap – 3rd June 2024

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Aug 102024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight on 3rd June, the results, in no particular order, are as follows – Lime Hawk-moth (1); Sallow Kitten (1); Heart & Dart (1); Setaceous Hebrew Character (1); Large Yellow Underwing (1); Marbled Minor agg (3); Freyer’s Pug (2); Light Emerald (1); Riband Wave (1); Anania hortulata (Small Magpie) (1); Bryotropha affinis (Dark Moss Moth) (3); Bryotropha domestica (House Moss Moth (1); Aphomia sociella (Bee Moth) (1); Crambus lathoniellus (Meadow Grass-moth) (1); Coleophora trifolli ( Melilot Case-bearer) (1) NFG. 20/15 species

Crambus lathoniellus (Meadow Grass-Moth)

Coleophora trifolii – Melilot case-bearer

Moth Trap 27th May 2024

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Aug 102024

I ran my 20W Actinic Moth Trap from my garden, overnight 27th/28th May 2024 – Results, in no particular order, as follows – Turnip Moth (1); Sandy Carpet (1) NFG; Silver Y (1); Foxglove Pug (1); Common Pug (1); Pale Mottled Willow (1); Endrosis sarcitrella (White-shouldered House Moth) (1); Bryotropha affinis (Dark Moss Moth) (1); Eudonia angustia (1); Zelotherses paleana (Tomothy Tortrix) (1); Hoffmannophila pseudospretella (Brown House Moth) (1). 11/11 species

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