The Bald Birder (and Moffer): July 2014

Sunday, 27 July 2014

26 July 2014 - Cliffe Marshes RSPB

Had a fantastic catch at Cliffe Marshes RSPB with around 180+ species being recorded - a further 4x Starwort, adding to yesterday's 2. Pride of place, I think, goes to this slightly battered Oak Processionary Moth - hopefully just one of the several migrants caught.

Oak Processionary

Dog's Tooth

Marbled Green

Marbled Beauty (left) and Marbled Green (right)

Small Dotted Buff (female)

Silky Wainscot

Bulrush Wainscot

Slender Pug

Friday, 25 July 2014

25 July 2014 - Cliffe Marshes RSPB, Kent

Visited Cliffe Marshes RSPB to see what was on the wing. Star attraction were two Starworts which appeared in exactly the same trap site as last year - a Shark in the next trap was a delightful comparative species.Antler and a whacky micro were both new to the site, for me.

Starworts

Starworts (left & middle) and Shark (right)

Sallow Kitten

Turnip Moth

Antler Moth

White-line Dart

Calamotropha paludella

Fen Wainscot - one of my favourites

Campion (I think) rather than Tawny Shears??

Faded, runt, Common Emerald - to be honest, when I caught this, I thought it was something special.
Now I realise it ain't all that special...

Saturday, 19 July 2014

19 July 2014 - Orlestone Forest

Visited Orlestone Forest to try out a new sugar solution recipe I found in a book - a wizzed-up blend of: three ripe bananas (in their skins), third of a tin of stout, two tablespoons of black treacle and a dash of Jamaican white rum (I still can't the latter as it reminds me of the night of the Great Storm when, as a student, I got so trollied on rum I missed the storm completely!). I applied my sugar to a few trees and returned an hour or so later. The best tree had 20 Copper Underwings, 5 Dark Arches and a few Lesser/Common Rustics. Other moths attracted were Herald (1) and three Old Lady. Total Copper Underwings exceeded 40 - a much better performance than any previous sugar solution I've tried. But.... moth of the night turned out to be netted whilst I caught things in the torch beam as I walked to the sugared trees - a very tatty Olive Crescent!

Olive Crescent

White-spotted Pug (I t hink)

Thursday, 17 July 2014

17 July 2014 - St Margaret's at Cliffe, Kent

Having kindly been granted permission to moth trap in South Foreland Vallay (our regular birding ringing site), John and I ventured out for some noctural investigations.

Although the wind conditions weren't great it was, as ever, exciting to be at a new site - and at one within sight of France... The Four-spotted Footman was a treat - huge great beasts! The (presumed) Bisigna procerella looks to be a nice find for a first trip to a site.