Monday, 23 September 2024

Vines Rustic


                                                         Vines Rustic

Funny how one minute its a mega rare and then next , it becomes a regular autumn species , only 2 years ago I got my first Vines Rustic , last night had 3.... Plenty good moths this week but could be the end of a poor year here in Northowram , mainly due to weather but also a lack of moth motivation from me. Next year will be better...14 Pied Wagtails , 6 Meadow Pipits , 1 Common Gull and 6 Black -headed Gulls this  morning a Tawny Owl in the night and Robins have got there voices back.......

COMMON DARTER in the garden on the 26th September,,,,,,

Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Northowram Cricket Pitch

 The first 57 Pink -footed Geese over Northowram this morning , Ive seen a few  V formations distantly but this was right over the house. A big move of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipts the last few days with 38 Meadow Pipits and 18 Pied Wags this morning all on the deck this morning  . 3 LBBgulls , 27 BH Gulls , 41 Starlings , 6 House Sparrow ,2 Blackbirds and a couple of Swallows. 2 Raven over on the 19th and a Chiffchaff in the small trees. A few Jays heading south last few days as well....

   The sun has been good for butterfly's with 10 + Small Whites , 1 Large White , 3 Red Admiral , 1 Comma , 5 Small Copper , 10 + Speckled Woods , 1 Peacock and  a late Purple Hairstreak . Silver Y in the moth trap and the usual autumn fare..........

Monday, 9 September 2024

France .......The Dordonge..

 Although the main purpose of this trip was to play cards(Bridge) the garden was quite superb for butterfly's. If I would have had a net and a bit more time 50 + species would have been possible but very happy with 29 . On arriving at the Old converted barn I had to meet everyone as I did not know anyone there , there was an old apple tree right in the centre of the garden with a few  rotting apples still on the branches, on one of these apples was a Lesser Purple Emperor...ahhhhh do I say hello or try and get a phone shot of the LPM....hahahahah.......

  List of Butterfly's in the garden 

Swallowtail

Scarce Swallowtail

Large White

Small White

Brimstone 

Cleopatra

Clouded Yellow

Wood White /sp

Small Copper

Sooty Copper

Common Blue

Silver -Studded Blue

Holly Blue

Brown Argus

Adonis Blue

Chapmans Blue


Red Admiral

Southern White Admiral

Lesser Purple Emperor

Silver -Washed Fritillary

Meadow Fritillary

Weavers Fritillary

Knapweed Fritillary

Glanville fritillary

Gatekeeper

Wall

Speckled Wood (orange form)

Great Banded Grayling 

Small Heath

Also seen from Garden , Black Woodpecker , Great Spot W , Green Woodpecker , Short-toed Treecreeper , Corn Bunting , Alpine Swift , Cragg Martin , Pied Flycatchers , Spotted Flycatcher , Serin , Honey Buzzard , Kingfisher ,  Cattle Egret , GW and Little Egret, ....Also probably missed a 2 tailed Pasha , just flew through the garden at break neck speed ..very large with white band on wing....drat...