Thursday, August 13, 2009



Above - Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing, thats a gobful! A common moth.



Above - Now then I'm going for it in public. White spotted Pug.? It is, isn't it. I think so? Or is it.

Last nights pug that I thought was Common Pug has been reidentified. Twice. Josh fancied it might be a Foxglove Pug, but it doesnt look uniform enough in its patterning for me, but many thanks to Josh for his assistance. Skev has a more technical solution, that it is another Tawny speckled Pug of the race cognata. If I was on 'Call my Bluff' I would go with Skev's answer, he seems to know his stuff.

Now if anyone has any tips for that White spotted Pug....according to the old Parrack / Dunn info it is rare in North Northumberland....


Right, now something I do know what I'm on about.

Waders. One or two in wholly unsuitable rocky habitat on our coastal path today -31 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sand and 3 Dunlin. The best count of the year so far.

3 comments:

Skev said...

Hi Stewart,

Pugs are a pain in the proverbial. Many species have common melanic forms that are pretty much impossible to identify, and worn individuals usually go in the unidentified pile.

Some are more identifiable in life when you can gauge the size and wing-shape.

As for this one, not convinced it is a White-spotted Pug (apart from melanic ones they are usually more obviously white-spotted). The wing markings are not very clear but my gut feeling is that this is a Grey Pug - wing shape and resting position, size and shape of black discal spot and what I can see of markings all fit pretty well. Only hesitation is that Grey Pug is usually out and about in May and June here, though all my references indicate an occasional August brood.

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1835
http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1837

Robyn said...

More lovely camerawork! xoxox

Unknown said...

Hi Stewart

Without checking genitalia you can't be absolutely sure but my best option would be Golden-rod pug.