Pinion Streaked Snout

Yet again I've recorded a species that I think may have slightly more value than I first thought. I recorded PSS last weekend but if Mark or Andy can put me straight, is this species commoner now than in recent years? I note Keith Tailby had his first ever for his garden this month and Mark had them at Pickworth and Gisbornes Gorse over the weekend. Comments Gentlemen........................

Trap Result 26/07/08

Another bumper night. 139 moths of 40 species. Plenty of good stuff including three new ones for me although all three are common moths. Dun-bar, Plain Golden Y and Small Blood Vein. Other good moths were 2 Poplar Hawk, Buff Arches and Burnished Brass. Lots and lots of Large Yellow Underwing, Dark Arches and Riband Wave. Dave trumped me again with White Satin and Leopard Moth. Dave also found Little Egret on Friday night which I managed to glimpse on Saturday. A Thornton tick no less.....................

Saddington Reservoir - Breaking News

You heard it here first (unless you saw it on Birdguides) but a bird has been seen at Saddington. I suspect that this is the only bird ever to be seen here since the Purple Heron (although a vague Green Winged Teal is ringing a bell). The bird in question was a Little Egret and I have no idea who works Saddington these days (maybe my old mentor Barry Raine?) but fair play to you for getting the normally bird free zone of Saddington back on the map..............

Trap Result 22/07/08

At last a really good night. 101 moths of 34 species (not including some micros for ID). Highlights were newbies in the form of Poplar Grey, Bordered Pug and the incredibly variable Clepsis spectrana (Cyclamen Tortrix). Other goodies were Buff Arches, Swallowtail and lots of Common and Scarce Footman.

A lady in the village rang me last night about a moth she found whilst painting her fence. She brought it round and it was a female Leopard Moth. A species I have only ever once trapped in Thornton (2004 I think). As of this morning she has laid hundreds of eggs (the Leopard not my neighbour).

Butterflies

At last a sunny, warm lunchtime. Lots and lots of Whites. Small Tortoiseshell, Comma, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue were also highlights. Plenty of Brown Hawkers near the river with a few Banded Demoiselles were also good to see.

Trap Result 19/07/08

I had a text from Dave Wright on Saturday to let me know he had caught not only Scarce Silver Lines and Blackneck the previous evening in Thornton. That prompted me to plug in on a less than ideal night on Saturday. If I describe the catch as disappointing then that would be the understatement of the year.......

Emmelina Monodactyla *
Large Yellow Underwing
Dark Arches (2)
Single Dotted Wave *

* And these are cheating, as I disturbed them later on whilst tidying up the borders....................

Books on ebay

If anybody is remotely interested I have the following on ebay. Spiders of Leicestershire & Rutland

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230271424250&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:GB:1123

And the two volume work South's Moths of the British Isles

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Moths-of-the-British-Isles-Richard-South-2-Volumes_W0QQitemZ230271427174QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230271427174&_trksid=p3911.m14.l1318

Clearing out with a few other bits to follow once I get round to it including Grasshoppers and Mantids of the World (Ken Preston-Mafham)

Phyllonorycter platani

There is a recent post on Skev's blog (see links) of tenanted mines of this species in Belgrave Gardens. I went at lunchtime but it was chucking down, however, a little way along from the gardens along Vicarage Lane was a small group of London plane and bingo, mines aplenty. Only first recorded in VC55 in 2006...........

Bee Moth

No mothing this weekend but a male Bee Moth Aphomia sociella was on the kitchen window Friday night. Pretty common moth but a new one nevertheless. Banded form of Riband Wave was also nearby. Dave had a few bits and bobs over the weekend including Short Cloaked Moth which, although common, was a new one for me. Cracking little thing it was too.......

Cameraria ohridella

Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner (Cameraria ohridella) is in Belgrave Hall Gardens I noted today. Since being found in Wimbledon in 2002 this moth has continued to spread north and is now being reported regulalrly in the Midlands. Interesting to see unless you happen to be a Horse Chestnut tree......

Norfolk Pubs

Sort of following on from the post about my village local I wanted to give a shout out to the Kings Head at Letheringsett. I've been here countless times and will no doubt be back when I'm next in Norfolk in October. If you have kids then it is THE place to go. If you don't have kids you may not appreciate the facilities quite as much but I can assure you of excellent food, excellent beer (the Elgoods Black Dog is special if its on) and a really good welcome. Check out the link and go NOW
http://www.letheringsettkingshead.co.uk/

Plodia interpunctella

Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) in the office this afternoon. Odd really as I have only ever seen them associated with animal feeds. I used to encounter them regularly during the winter when I had guinea pigs. Unless somebody in the allotments behind our workshop is keeping rabbits?