The Bald Birder (and Moffer): June 2015

Thursday, 18 June 2015

17 June 2015 - Nr Sevenoaks, Kent

Went out looking for Common Valerian for future Valerian Pug searching, but left it too late to look for plants and consequently got rather annoyed with myself for not leaving the house until after 9pm (Lesson 1 - plants are easier to find in the daylight). Giving up on finding the right foodplant, I parked up and searched the woodland on my right, only to find the understory a mass of Common Cow-wheat and Bilberry.

Armed with a net I potted the first three moths I saw on the wing - 2 Little Thorns and a Bilberry Pug. Bouyed up by this I quickly set two actinics and spent a very pleasant couple of hours moffin.

I ended the night with 6+ Little Thorns, 5+ Bilberry Pugs, 5+ Lead-coloured Pugs and an Alder Kitten - a nice selection when Eyed Hawk-moth and Green Silver-lines are both added!

The ID of the Bilberry Pugs has swayed to and fro today - when I caught them, I thought they were Bilberry, when I photographed them I thought Green - but now looking on UKMoths and in the Manley book, I'm happy with original ID - I think!

Bilberry Pug

Lead-coloured Pug

Common Pug - I assume

Common Pug - as above

Alder Kitten

Little Thorn

Micro 1

Micro 2

Green Silver-lines

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

14 June 2015 - Covert Wood

Took a walk through Covert Wood and netted a few (quite a few) moths - target was Dusky Peacock, and two were found.

Dusky Peacock

(Small) Engrailed

(Small) Engrailed(s)

Waved Carpet

Brindled White-spot

Clay Triple-lines (please don't tell me it's a Maidens Blush...!)

Alder Moth

A Pug

Another pug

Micro 1

Micro 2

Micro 3

Micro 4

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

12 June 2015 - Orange Moth

And one last moth from Friday night's trip to Orlestone Forest - this fantastic Orange Moth (that previously wouldn't pose for the camera).

Orange Moth

Monday, 15 June 2015

12 June 2015 - Orlestone Forest

Spent Friday night in Orlestone Forest with 3x 125w MVs and 1 x actinic. After all the gloom about numbers, this was a real treat with some superb moths. Scarce Merveille du Jour, Barred Red, Red-necked Footman, Orange Moth, Rosy Marbled and Waved Carpet all made for a great night - the pugs just added for confusion. Micros to be named (possibly!) when I get my micro book in from the car!

Scarce Merveille du Jour

Barred Red

Rosy Marbled

Red-necked Footman

Waved Carpet

Grey Arches

Micro 1

Micro 2a

Micro 2b

Micro 3

Micro 4

Micro 5

Grey Pine Carpet

Foxglove Pug

Dwarf Pug

Common Pug?

Grey Pug?

Micro 6

Tuesday, 2 June 2015

28 May 2015 - Blean Woods

Wanted to take a walk through Blean Woods to see how easy Lead-coloured Pug might be to locate amongst the Common Cow-wheat. With torch and net, I ventured forth... Five minutes of searching later...a Lead-coloured Pug!

Tempted to jack in and go home, I kept out and continued to wander in the woods - ten moth species later, I felt I'd given the evening my best possible attention considering I had no generator going!