Catalonia...#4

A large lake at Banyoles was a little disappointing after the excitement in the upland meadows, but witha bit of work a few things were found...

Estany de Banyoles

Best birds here were Black Kite and 3 Great Reed Warblers. Odonata were represented by Red viened Darter, Norfolk Hawker, Lesser Emperor and Copper Demoiselle.

Copper Demoiselle

Short-tailed Blue

A tiny Short tailed Blue butterfly was egg laying on a vetch near the trackside where Weaver's Fritillary put in an appearance for the list...

Weaver's Fritillary

Catalonia ...#3

Besalu

A Booted Eagle gave great views at Besalu early one morning. The river was full of carp and chub, maybe what the eagle was looking at, as it seemed to lift from near the bank side.

One of my most wanted butterflies landed near us in a car park here..

Nettle-tree Butterfly

A wooded stop looking over a road bridge gave us great views of 6+ Spanish Purple Hairstreaks, with a family party of Western Bonelli's Warblers nearby for good measure...

Spanish Purple Hairstreak

Catalonia...#2

Meadows above the village of Oix

A tiny mountain village called Oix ( pronounced how?) was superb for butterflies. There were stony tracks on a south facing slope with too much to take in really...

Meadow Fritillary

Osiris Blue on Sainfoin, its food plant.

Clouded (top) and Berger's Clouded Yellows.

Cleopatra was abundant with up to 6 on a plant.

Provence Chalkhill Blue

Sloe Hairstreak

Spanish Gatekeeper

Knapweed Fritillary

Red Underwing Skipper

Catalonia...#1

Back home after a week in north eastern Catalonia, Spain, in an area between Olot and Girona, with some sorties into the mountains too. We had two bases, one in lush wooded hills, that was more like eastern europe, and one on lowlands that was more typical of a mediterranean climate.

The main goal here was to see butterflies and dragonflies. I have been birding in the Pyrenees before, but didnt really have time to enjoy the masses of butterflies we saw at the time, so promised myself I would go back, with no goals or targets, just to bumble about taking in anything that appears...

Up at 7,000 feet, the temperature was as low as 6 degrees, something you dont expect in Spain in summer, but on the lower levels it reached 28 degrees. A big variation in a day!

Ski slopes on a high mountain pass.

A few birds were noted - Black Redstarts, 3+ Citril Finch, Crested Tit and Crag Martin but it was mainly too cool for the inverts.

The colour of the Gentians matched the sky...

Possibly Black Mountain Moth?

Citril Finch was an easy find here.

A bit lower into the valley and things warmed up a bit, and our first butterflies were noted. This was the start of the La Garrotxa national park, an area of limestone mountains that proved excellent for butterflies and flora.

Pearly Heath

Western Dappled White

Southern Grizzled Skipper

Heath Fritillary

Scarce Swallowtail

Black veined White

Birds noted lower down were Short toed Treecreeper, Firecrest, Fan tailed Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Nightingales, Golden Orioles (everywhere) and Cirl Buntings.

These Cirl Buntings had large young in a nest in a garden hedge next to our hotel.

To be continued...

The Howick Moth Disaster...

I bet its eating moths...

Well what a surprise when I got up this morning. I went out to the trap bleary eyed and noticed a movement in the trap...a Tree Sparrow! As I approached there were two stuck inside. I lifted the cone and they flew off, then I heard a scuffle under the egg boxes - a third. Three Tree Sparrows in my trap eating my moths.

Wildlife has been culled for less! Thats the thanks I get for putting up nice nest boxes and seed daily...

3 Poplar Hawks, 1 Spectacle, 1 Beautiful GY and several un id'd were in tatters plus they had crapped all over the survivors...

So I'm away on holiday to the Pyrenees looking for butterflies and dragonflies tomorrow for a week, the trap has been put away and will be positioned somewhere else in the garden to try and break the habit on my return.

The catch was something like -

Taxa
0017 Common Swift (Hepialus lupulinus) 1
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0647 Brown House Moth (Hofmannophila pseudospretella) 1
0688 Agonopterix heracliana 1
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 3
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 1
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 13
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 1
1776 Green Carpet (Colostygia pectinataria) 1
1802 Rivulet (Perizoma affinitata) 1
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1
1906 Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 3
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 2
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2302 Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea) 1
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 1
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1
6666 Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) 3 NFY

44 Moths and Birds of 24 sp.

My 1300th post!

I've just noticed that this is my 1300th post on this blog since it began in July 2006. I wonder what I would have done with the time I would have saved if I had not set up the blog...hohum...

Juvvies...

Around about the garden today, a male Great spotted Woodpecker brought one of its young in to our feeders. It didnt get much peace thanks to the woodpigeons banging about, so I missed the feeding shot. This is the young one on our garden wall, where it was later joined by a rabbit. Bizzarre.

Campion

This is a Campion from last nights catch. Only my second record with the last being in 2010. I diligently scour the Lychnis moths in case I am missing them but they are quite distinctive being a bit darker and having a tinge of paraffin pink to them.

Coxcomb Prominent

Coxcomb Prominent was the pick of the rest, a nice quiet moth, a doddle to photograph.

Also of interest were two Poplar Hawk-moths, one being only half the size of the bog standard one. The pic above shows this quite well...

Kind hearts and coronets...

Marbled Coronet

Dwarf Pug

A couple of pics from this mornings catch. The Marbled Coronet is my first for 2 years. The biggest surprise in the trap though must go to the Hebrew Character, still hanging in there. My latest orthosia record by a couple of weeks.

Dwarf Pug is quite scarce in my garden, this being only my seventh individual. All have been in June.

Thats better!

The mildest night of the year at 11 degrees resulted in my best catch so far in 2013...

Taxa
Coleophora species (Coleophora sp.) 3
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 10
0518 Coleophora mayrella 1
0648 White-shouldered House Moth (Endrosis sarcitrella) 7
0672 Parsnip Moth (Depressaria heraclei) 1
0724 Metzneria lappella 1 NFY
0892 Mompha subbistrigella 1
1111 Bactra lancealana 3 NFY
1126 Ancylis badiana 2
1301 Crambus lathoniellus 1 NFY
1333 Scoparia pyralella 1 NFY
1376 Small Magpie (Eurrhypara hortulata) 2
1428 Bee Moth (Aphomia sociella) 3
1722 Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata) 1
1727 Silver-ground Carpet (Xanthorhoe montanata) 4
1728 Garden Carpet (Xanthorhoe fluctuata) 2
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 2
1764 Common Marbled Carpet (Chloroclysta truncata) 1
1807 Grass Rivulet (Perizoma albulata) 1 NFY
1817 Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) 3 NFY
1819 Mottled Pug (Eupithecia exiguata) 2 NFY
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 6
1837 Grey Pug (Eupithecia subfuscata) 1
1846 Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata) 2 NFY
1857 Dwarf Pug (Eupithecia tantillaria) 1 NFY
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 5
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 1 NFY
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 2
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 2
2003 Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac) 1
2008 Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina) 1 NFY
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 12
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 2
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 4
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2160 Bright-line Brown-eye (Lacanobia oleracea) 1
2164 Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) 1
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 1
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata) 3
2330 Dusky Brocade (Apamea remissa) 1 NFY
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 9
2387 Mottled Rustic (Caradrina morpheus) 1 NFY
2442 Beautiful Golden Y (Autographa pulchrina) 3

122 Moths of 43 sp

Coleophora mayrella

Grass Rivulet

Narrow winged Pug

Mothing in remotest Northumberland...

Sunrise over the College Valley

A cloudy calm and mild night saw four of us head out to the far north west of North Northumberland, to the very remote College Valley. We ran 2 125w MV Robinson type traps and briefly used a 160w blended bulb over a sheet / skinner until some heavy rain put paid to that. Luckily that didnt stop the moths...

We were entertained by roding Woodcock until the moths came in at about midnight, and the first Skylark began singing at 3.16am....

We managed several good county species, best being Barred Umber with only 5 previous records until last in 1971. We had 8. Plus another 3 new species for me.

See below for the catch...

Taxa
0228  Monopis weaverella  1
1301  Crambus lathoniellus  1
1722  Flame Carpet (Xanthorhoe designata)  7

Striped Twin-spot Carpet

1753  Striped Twin-spot Carpet (Nebula salicata)  6
1759  Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata)  11
1760  Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata)  1

Autumn Green Carpet

1761  Autumn Green Carpet (Chloroclysta miata)  1

BBC

1773  Broken-barred Carpet (Electrophaes corylata)  3 NEW
1778  May Highflyer (Hydriomena impluviata)  55
1817  Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata)  1
1834  Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata)  6
1846  Narrow-winged Pug (Eupithecia nanata)  2
1851  Golden-rod Pug (Eupithecia virgaureata)  1
1857  Dwarf Pug (Eupithecia tantillaria)  2
1887  Clouded Border (Lomaspilis marginata)  2
1902  Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata)  39

Barred Umber

1903  Barred Umber (Plagodis pulveraria)  8
1906  Brimstone Moth (Opisthograptis luteolata)  9
1917  Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria)  7
1918  Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia)  6
1920  Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata)  6
1931  Peppered Moth (Biston betularia)  2

Grey Birch

1951  Grey Birch (Aethalura punctulata)  1 NEW
1955  Common White Wave (Cabera pusaria)  2
1981  Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi)  4
2000  Iron Prominent (Notodonta dromedarius)  1
2003  Pebble Prominent (Notodonta ziczac)  1
2006  Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma)  2
2008  Coxcomb Prominent (Ptilodon capucina)  3
2011  Pale Prominent (Pterostoma palpina)  4
2060  White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda)  10
2102  Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta)  7
2158  Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina)  3

Glaucous Shears

2162  Glaucous Shears (Papestra biren)  6 NEW
2250  Dark Brocade (Blepharita adusta)  2
2289  Knot Grass (Acronicta rumicis)  4
2302  Brown Rustic (Rusina ferruginea)  1
2305  Small Angle Shades (Euplexia lucipara)  11
2326  Clouded-bordered Brindle (Apamea crenata)  4
2425  Nut-tree Tussock (Colocasia coryli)  4
2434  Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis)  1
2450  Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita)  3

251 Moths of 42 species

Not a bad selection last night...

Taxa
0464 Diamond-back Moth (Plutella xylostella) 1
0892 Mompha subbistrigella 2 NFY
1126 Ancylis badiana 1
1738 Common Carpet (Epirrhoe alternata) 2
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1759 Small Phoenix (Ecliptopera silaceata) 1 NFY
1760 Red-green Carpet (Chloroclysta siterata) 1
1844 Ochreous Pug (Eupithecia indigata) 1 NFY
1902 Brown Silver-line (Petrophora chlorosata) 1
1917 Early Thorn (Selenia dentaria) 1
1918 Lunar Thorn (Selenia lunularia) 1 NFY
1920 Scalloped Hazel (Odontopera bidentata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2006 Lesser Swallow Prominent (Pheosia gnoma) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 4
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 1
2102 Flame Shoulder (Ochropleura plecta) 1 NFY
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 3
2158 Pale-shouldered Brocade (Lacanobia thalassina) 1
2173 Lychnis (Hadena bicruris) 2
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2326 Clouded-bordered Brindle [melanic form] (Apamea crenata ab. combusta) 1 NFY
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 2
2450 Spectacle (Abrostola tripartita) 1

33 moths of 24 sp

Ochreous Pug

New moth...

In a year as dismal for moths as this, its a surprise to get a new macro for the garden...

Another cool night down to 7 degrees.

Taxa
1750 Water Carpet (Lampropteryx suffumata) 1
1834 Common Pug (Eupithecia vulgata) 1
1981 Poplar Hawk-moth (Laothoe populi) 1
2060 White Ermine (Spilosoma lubricipeda) 5
2061 Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum) 1 NFY
2123 Small Square-spot (Diarsia rubi) 1
2164 Broad-barred White (Hecatera bicolorata) 1 NFG
2190 Hebrew Character (Orthosia gothica) 1
2334 Rustic Shoulder-knot (Apamea sordens) 1 NFY

13 moths of 9 sp

Broad barred White

You are...GOLD!

Not that I ever was a Spandau Ballet fan, but this morning really did turn up some gold...

A last minute arrangement saw me and JWR up to Newton Pool for an early morning bash. We bumped into Gary who was just leaving saying all was quiet, and the Rosefinch from a couple of days ago had not returned. Not to worry, we decided to have a look around anyway and enjoyed Willow Tit, a Little Tern and a singing Lesser Whitethroat before we went into the hide.

After five minutes it was clear there was little here other than a female Gadwall and a lone shot-up Pink footed Goose that flew N.

That was until John said 'What's this coming over the pond?'

A quick glance saw a medium sized bird with a skylark -like flight pattern heading north . Before I lifted the bins I had my suspicions. As soon as I got the glass onto the bird - Golden Oriole! A green and yellowish streaky bird with darker wings landed in the cottage garden.

I rang Gary to tell him ( mind, he sounded well excited ;) who said he was along the track and on his way. He and Jimmy Steele arrived in minutes and soon located the bird in trees in the garden as it crept about like a huge warbler, eating insects, and even a bee.

Through the scope its bright greeny yellow plumage offset with yellow undertail and red bill made for a very handsome bird, a patch first for Gary and only my third in Northumberland. After half an hour feeding up, it flew out of the tees and Jimmy pronounced that 'its f*cked off!' as it moved high west. A poetic tribute to a Mediterranean tourist in the county I think. [You can take the man out of Newbiggin but you cant get Newbiggin out of the man...]

Nice to get one back for Gary after all the birds he has given me.

GoldyO before it F*cked off...

A Barn Owl hunted in the sunshine near the car too...