Moths etc

Cloud building then rain, 19°, light SSE.

A call from Tony Rayner this morning to say he had caught a rare moth. As I was along Green lane at the time I made my way to Tony’s.

The moth in question was a Light Crimson Underwing, a moth of Oak woodland and is very rare outside of the New Forest.

There have been a few records today in both Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and one could surmise that these moths have been dispersed by the south westerly wind over the last 24 hours.

This is a first for Cholsey.

Another moth that has been appearing frequently in Tony’s trap recently is a Tree Lichen Beauty. This is a southern European species that has recently begun to colonise the UK.

With only a handful of records prior to 1991 it is arriving in some numbers now to successfully breed in the UK.

By the way, all moths are released after identification.

Birdwise, still fairly quiet although a good passage of Swallow, House Martin and Swift with around 50 of each overhead.

Several Blackcap and Chiffchaff also noted and a Blackcap in the garden.

A few insects around during a few brief early spells of sunshine.

Dragonflies: Banded Demoiselle & Southern Hawker.

Butterflies: Large White, Small White, Brown Argus, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Gatekeeper & Meadow Brown.

Moths: Silver-Y & Six Spot Burnet.

A Yellow Fieldcap found along Green lane.

Light Crimson Underwing

Some of the Swallow

Yellow Fieldcap

Six spot Burnet courtesy Alan

A Butterfly day

Sunny intervals, 21°, breezy SSW.

A walk out to the Lees area before the rain came and some good butterflies found today by others.

Around 20 Lesser Blackback Gull and 2 Black-headed Gull on a recently ploughed field along with a Rook and Jackdaw flock and a Yellow Wagtail over.

A Peregrine Falcon and a Sparrowhawk out by the Lees and a few Chiffchaff and Yellowhammer and 5 Reed Bunting along the “Long ditch”.

A reasonable passage of Swallows today c100.

And that was about it!

Alan along Bunk line. Several Yellow Wagtail, Common Sandpiper, good numbers of Swallow, a Raven, Lots of Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chiffchaff and similar dragonflies and butterflies.

Dragonflies: Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter.

Butterflies: low numbers but some quality, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown and Small Heath.

Alan had a Painted Lady in his garden today, only the 2nd one this year as far as we are aware.

Tony Rayner has found a Chalk Hill Blue butterfly in his meadow today, the first record for a long time and another Clouded Yellow.

Also another scarce moth, a Tree Lichen Beauty.

Chalk Hill Blue (courtesy Tony Rayner)

Painted Lady (courtesy Alan)

Yellow Wagtail (courtesy Alan)

 Reed Bunting

Yellowhammer

Another new Moth

Tony Rayner caught another new Moth for Cholsey recently. The 4th new Moth for Cholsey this year.

The Moth in question is a Tree Lichen Beauty.

A mostly migrant species with only a handful of records prior to 1991, since when it has become quite frequent in the southern and south-eastern counties. More recently it has arrived in sufficient numbers to breed and possibly establish small resident populations in certain localities.

The species occurs in southern Europe, where the larvae feed on lichens growing on trees, and the adult moths fly between July and September. Most British records are during July and August.