Back in Norfolk: Sprawler and Brick

I returned to Norfolk after my week in Cornwall to find two new moths for the year: Sprawler and Brick.

Sprawler, North Elmham, 26th October

Brick, North Elmham, 26th October

Not much else: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, November Moth, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Merveille du Jour and Red-line Quaker.

 Merveille du Jour and Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 26th October

Honeysuckle Midget (Phyllonorycter trifasciella) and Bindweed Bent-wing (Bedellia somnulentella)

20th October 2015 is a day that will be etched into my memory for years to come, a day when after years of effort my attempts to find a rare bird finally paid off.  And not just any old rare bird, but a Brown Shrike.  But you can read about that in my birding diary - this diary is about moths.  And there was a moth highlight that day too.  On my way to Porthgwarra (where I found the Shrike) I passed through Nanjizal Valley and caught a moth I'd never seen before.  I didn't see many day-flying moths during my week in Cornwall but as I walked through the bracken on the south side of the valley I glimpsed a moth flying across the path.  I managed to catch and pot it to examine later, and it turned out to be a Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella.  It's supposed to be a common moth, common enough even in my home county of Norfolk (where my old garden was rammed full of Honeysuckle), but for whatever reason it's one that had up to now eluded me.  So in terms of my pan-list, more valuable than the Brown Shrike.

Honeysuckle Midget Phyllonorycter trifasciella, Nanjizal, 20th October

The moths caught back at the cottage that night weren't very different from those caught the previous two nights: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Garden Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Autumnal Rustics, 10 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, Black Rustic, 4 Green-brindled Crescents, 14 Feathered Ranunculus, 7 Red-line Quakers, 9 Beaded Chestnuts, 55 Lunar Underwings and Angle Shades.

Among non-avian wildlife seen the next day this Stoat was the best.

Stoat, Hayle, 21st October

With poor weather overnight the moths caught were fewer than previous nights: 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 5 Feathered Ranunculus, 3 Red-line Quakers, 6 Beaded Chestnuts, 35 Lunar Underwings and Rosy Rustic.

Some bigger numbers on the night of 22nd October: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 7 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Large Yellow Underwing, 7 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Square-spot Rustics, 4 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, 19 Feathered Ranunculus, 4 Red-line Quakers, Brown-spot Pinion, 13 Beaded Chestnuts, 74 Lunar Underwings, Angle Shades and Snout.

While at Porthgwarra on 23rd I bumped in to the couple staying at the cottage where we usually stay.  They hadn't yet emptied their moth trap and kindly invited me to pop down and have a look.  They'd caught a lot more moths than I had, and also a much greater variety.  Best among them was this Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis.  Thanks Mike!

Olive-tree Pearl Palpita vitrealis, Porthgwarra, from 22nd October

A few other bits and pieces there too, including this Feathered Brindle.

Feathered Brindle, Porthgwarra, from 22nd October

Later in the day this Betony was a flower tick.  For some reason this species seems to be much scarcer in Norfolk (and elsewhere in the Fens) than pretty much everywhere else in England.

Betony, Little Henda, 23rd October

Not much overnight at the cottage that day: Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 5 Feathered Ranunculus, 2 Red-line Quakers, Beaded Chestnut, 10 Lunar Underwings and Silver Y.

Not much the following night either, our last night in Cornwall: Autumnal Rustic, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Black Rustic, 8 Feathered Ranunculus, Dark Chestnut, 2 Red-line Quakers, 5 Beaded Chestnuts and 22 Lunar Underwings.

Early on our last morning I spent a short while birding at Porthgwarra before heading home.  While there I netted a moth which turned out to be Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, a species I'd only seen once before.

Bindweed Bent-wing Bedellia somnulentella, Porthgwarra, 25th October

Feathered Ranunculus

We headed down to Cornwall for a week on 18th October but had been unable to stay at our usual cottage in Porthgwarra as others had booked it.  We ended up at Trevilley Farmhouse, in Trevilley, just south of Lands End.  We arrived as it was pretty much dark and my first job was to work out where to put the moth trap.  There wasn't a lot of choice really - the garden was small and enclosed but with one small sycamore and some other bushes inside.  In front of the house was open fields, behind it was a farm building and to the side were a few small trees.  Not ideal for mothing as it turned out, but with the trap on the grass in the middle of the garden I hoped it would draw in a few moths from the few neighbouring trees and other vegetation, and perhaps even a few migrants.

Well, no migrants on the first night, but some moths I don't see at home: 8 Feathered Ranunculus and an Autumnal Rustic (both species I usually record at Porthgwarra though).

Feathered Ranunculus, Trevilley, 18th October

Autumnal Rustic, Trevilley, 18th October

In some ways the most interesting record was 11 Red-line Quakers.  Most - all I think - were very different from any Red-line Quaker I've seen at home, dark and reddish.  It seems that they belong to the form rufa, apparently commonest in the north and west.

Red-line Quaker (f. rufa), Trevilley, 18th October

Other moths in the trap that night were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, 4 Light Brown Apple Moths Epiphyas postvittana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Common Marbled Carpets, Brimstone Moth, Yellow-tail, 2 Large Yellow Underwings, Small Square-spot, 3 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 4 Square-spot Rustics, Black Rustic, Green-brindled Crescent, 7 Beaded Chestnuts, 39 Lunar Underwings, Large Wainscot and Snout.

Unbeknown to me the couple staying at the cottage we normally hire were also birders and moth-ers and they managed much better... a Radford's Flame Shoulder!  Precisely what I was hoping for.  Ah well.

The following night my quest for migrants was, well, not exactly satisfied, but there was a single Dark Sword-grass.

Dark Sword-grass, Trevilley, 19th October

Otherwise it was mostly the same sort of stuff as the night before: White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 3 Large Yellow Underwings, Autumnal Rustic, 6 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, 11 Feathered Ranunculus, 8 Red-line Quakers, 10 Beaded Chestnuts, 43 Lunar Underwings, Angle Shades and Burnished Brass.

Feathered Ranunculus, Trevilley, 19th October

Angle Shades, Trevilley, 19th October

Mervs, Quakers, best count of Black Rustics and Stagshorn

Everyone likes a Merveille du Jour, myself included although I still think they're a tiny bit over-rated.  This was my first of the year:

 Merveille du Jour, North Elmham, 12th October

Personally I prefer these, though I see more of them.  There were 2 Green-brindled Crescents on 12th October.

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 12th October

Red-line Quaker and Yellow-line Quaker both joined the 2015 year list that night.

Yellow-line Quaker, North Elmham, 12th October

Red-line Quaker, North Elmham, 12th October

Other moths were Brindled Flat-body Agonopterix arenella, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, 4 November Moths, Feathered Thorn, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Black Rustics, 2 Dark Chestnuts, 3 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Pink-barred Sallow, 2 Sallows and Large Wainscot.

On 13th October I netted a Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella during my lunch break, at Thornham.  Not much at home that night: Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Feathered Thorn, 2 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, 2 Dark Chestnuts, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing and 2 Pink-barred Sallows.

 The catch on 14th consisted of Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, Dark-triangle Button Acleris laterana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 3 Mallows, Red-green Carpet, 5 November Moths, Feathered Thorn, 2 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut, Yellow-line Quaker, 2 Pink-barred Sallows and 2 Sallows.

Red-green Carpet, North Elmham, 14th October

 November Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 14th October

Chestnut, North Elmham, 14th October

Another typical selection on 15th: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, 3 November Moths, 2 Feathered Thorns, Light Emerald, Black Rustic, 5 Green-brindled Crescents, Merveille du Jour, Dark Chestnut, Red-line Quaker, 4 Yellow-line Quakers, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow and Sallow.

16th was a good night - nothing amazing but 10 Black Rustics was easily my best count yet.  Plenty of other stuff too: Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, 6 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, 5 November Moths, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Blair's Shoulder-knot, 6 Green-brindled Crescents, Chestnut, Dark Chestnut, Red-line Quaker, 2 Yellow-line Quakers, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Sallow, Rosy Rustic, Pale Mottled Willow, Silver Y and Snout.

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 16th October

On 17th October I headed up to Wells for some birding (more about that towards the end of this post in my birding diary).  One moth seen, an Angle Shades, and some curious yellow fungi.  Turns out, I think, that they're Yellow Stagshorn - apparently very common though I don't recall seeing them before.

 Yellow Stagshorn, Wells, 17th October

That evening was my last before heading off to Cornwall for a week.  The trap contained Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Mallow, Common Marbled Carpet, 8 November Moths, 3 Black Rustics, Yellow-line Quaker, Brown-spot Pinion, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, Lunar Underwing, Barred Sallow, 2 Sallows and Rosy Rustic.  Also a worn Pine/Grey Pine Carpet - the upperwing pattern was somewhat intermediate in that it showed a substantial dent in the orangey cross-bar but not quite as long and pointed as I'd expect on Pine Carpet.  Pretty sure it was Grey Pine as on Pine the inner edge of the cross-bar seems to extend more sharply towards the base of the wing as it approaches the costa, and of course Grey Pine is more likely.  You're not meant to be able to do Grey Pine vs. Spruce on genitalia but I don't know about Grey Pine vs. Pine (the upperwing pattern is normally sufficient).  This one was a female and I've not found sufficient reference material on female genitalia of these to determine it for certain.

Large Wainscots and the first November Moth

A few more days of little interest in the second week of October:

• 6 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Black Rustic, 4 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings and Pink-barred Sallow on 7th
• Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, 3 Green-brindled Crescents and 3 Beaded Chestnuts on 8th
• Feathered Thorn, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, Blair's Shoulder-knot and 2 Beaded Chestnuts on 9th

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 9th October

Blair's Shoulder-knot, North Elmham, 9th October

Marginally more on 10th including the first Large Wainscot of the year.

Large Wainscot, North Elmham, 10th October

The rest were Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Mallow, 2 Feathered Thorns, Shuttle-shaped Dart, 4 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, 2 Black Rustics, Green-brindled Crescent, Dark Chestnut, 7 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings, 2 Sallows, 2 Rosy Rustics and Vine's Rustic.

Dark Chestnut, North Elmham, 10th October

My first November Moth agg. for the year on 11th looked a reasonable candidate for Pale November Moth on external markings, but proved to be November Moth.

November Moth (male, gen det), North Elmham, 11th October

Otherwise much the same: Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, Mallow, 2 Feathered Thorns, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Large Yellow Underwing, 2 Setaceous Hebrew Characters, Green-brindled Crescent, Chestnut, 5 Beaded Chestnuts, 2 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow, 2 Sallows, Rosy Rustic and another Large Wainscot.

Catching up... now into October...

The end of September was very unremarkable for moths: 4 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Light Emerald, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Square-spot Rustic, 4 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Burnished Brass and Snout on 29th and Ashy Button Acleris sparsana (which was at least new for the year), 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 4 Lunar Underwings and 2 Snouts on 30th.

Ashy Button Acleris sparsana, North Elmham, 30th September

October didn't start much better:

• Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Common Marbled Carpet, Turnip Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 4 Lunar Underwings and Burnished Brass on 1st;
• 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 4 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Turnip Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 10 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Burnished Brass and Snout on 2nd;
• 2 Rhomboid Tortrices Acleris rhombana, 3 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 2 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Small Square-spot, Setaceous Hebrew Character, Black Rustic, 3 Beaded Chestnuts, 11 Lunar Underwings, Pink-barred Sallow, Rosy Rustic and 3 Burnished Brasses on 3rd;
• Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Common Marbled Carpet, Setaceous Hebrew Character, 2 Beaded Chestnuts and 14 Lunar Underwings on 4th.

Things improved a bit on 5th October with two new for the year - Green-brindled Crescent and Barred Sallow - and also Pale Mottled Willow which was my first of the autumn.

Green-brindled Crescent, North Elmham, 5th October

Barred Sallow, North Elmham, 5th October

Pale Mottled Willow, North Elmham, 5th October

Plenty more to look at too: Brown House Moth Hofmannophila pseudospretella, Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Rhomboid Tortrix Acleris rhombana, 2 Garden Rose Tortrices Acleris variegana, 5 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, Blood-vein, 4 Mallows, 2 Dusky Thorns, Large Yellow Underwing, Square-spot Rustic, 4 Black Rustics, 2 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Lunar Underwings, 3 Pink-barred Sallows, Sallow, Rosy Rustic, Burnished Brass and Snout.

Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, North Elmham, 5th October

Mallow, North Elmham, 5th October

6th October was another good night with 4 new for the year: 3 Garden Midgets Phyllonorycter messaniella, Feathered Thorn, Blair's Shoulder-knot and Brown-spot Pinion. A Chestnut was also the first of the autumn.

Garden Midget Phyllonorycter messaniella, North Elmham, 6th October

Feathered Thorn, North Elmham, 6th October

Brown-spot Pinion, North Elmham, 6th October

Also recorded on 6th were Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Garden Rose Tortrix Acleris variegana, 3 Narrow-winged Greys Eudonia angustea, 2 Mallows, Brimstone Moth, Dusky Thorn, Turnip Moth, Lesser Yellow Underwing, 2 Black Rustics, 11 Beaded Chestnuts, 4 Lunar Underwings, Barred Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, 3 Sallows, Burnished Brass, Straw Dot and Snout.

Beaded Chestnut, North Elmham, 6th October

Not entirely sure which beetle this is.  Nicrophorus interruptus is supposed to differ from N. investigator in having the front orange band interrupted in the middle.  That would appear to be the case here, but some online photos of investigator (which certainly occurs here) seem similar.

Nicrophorus sp., North Elmham, 6th October

Also not sure about this leafhopper - can find several similar species, across different genera, but none quite like it.  Looks familiar though - have a feeling I've sorted one like this out previously.

unidentified leafhopper, North Elmham, 6th October

Also on 6th a birding visit to Burnham Overy turned up a single moth - Narrow-winged Grey Eudonia angustea.