The Mothing Month - June 2010

Quite a deliberate change of title this time. With practically no birding to speak of recently, I have been fully absorbed in the art of mothing. The trap has been out on a regular basis and I have added a total of 47 species to the life list.

Some of my favourites are pictured below.



Spectacle



Scorched Wing



Pine Hawkmoth



Pale Prominent



Buff-tip



Pebble Prominent



Gold Spot



Green Silver-lines



Elephant Hawkmoth



Lime Hawkmoth



Poplar Hawkmoth

The mothing has also caught the interest of the local robins, who frequently turn up for breakfast as I'm inspecting my catch. In order to protect the moths I have now had to keep them cooped up during the day, releasing them the following evening.

Then last Tuesday I had another avian visitor to the garden at about 11.15pm, just as I was checking the trap before I headed off to bed. It was a splendid tawny owl, who took up residence on the top of a telegraph pole in the garden behind us. Despite the fading light, the owl afforded good views for several minutes, then gave a few screeches before flying off across our garden. Top dollar! I wonder if the owl was taking an interest in the moths too?

There are a couple of other pictures that I was pleased to get this month. Firstly, a fine red-eyed damselfly, which I have only seen once before, and secondly an early silver-washed fritillary in the Wyre Forest. Hoping to go back to see some more of these during July. Other butterflies added to the list during the month include meadow brown, large skipper, ringlet, small skipper and marbled white.



Red-eyed damselfly



Silver-washed fritillary