White-barred Clearwings

On Friday 2nd June I headed over to Potter Heigham Marsh where I immediately started seeing Swallowtail butterflies - hard to know how many but at least 4 and probably a very much higher number.  A variety of dragonflies included Large Red Damselflies, Four-spotted Chaser, Hairy Dragonfly (though I still await a photo-opportunity for these) and a brief glimpse of what was probably a Norfolk Hawker.  A Common Nettle-tap Anthophila fabriciana was the only moth found.

I knew there was a site for White-barred Clearwing near Catfield but didn't have the details of where to go so, initially unable to contact my source of info (Dave) I headed to the track running east from Catfield Common.  It wasn't the right place, but I put the lure out and in a short while my first White-barred Clearwing was buzzing around it.

White-barred Clearwing, Catfield Common, 2nd June

There was another Swallowtail butterfly here too, along with Common Carpet, Large Red Damselfly and Hairy Dragonfly.  By now I'd got the info about the other site and decided to try it too out of curiosity.  An even quicker response there with one appearing almost straight away.

White-barred Clearwing, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

I also tried for Red-tipped Clearwing at both sites but no luck this time.  I did however find a Variable Damselfly - the first I've seen for ages.

Variable Damselfy, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

There were also several Norfolk Hawkers flying around and a couple of Hairy Dragonflies.  Also a Brimstone butterfly.

Norfolk Hawker, Catfield Fen, 2nd June

Moths at Ryburgh that afternoon included 2 Common Nettle-taps Anthophila fabriciana, Buff Rush Case-bearer Coleophora caespititiella and Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana.

New for the year in the moth trap that night were Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, Buff Arches, Single-dotted Wave, Sharp-angled Carpet and 2 Snouts.

Cypress Tip Moth Argyresthia cupressella, North Elmham, 2nd June

Buff Arches, North Elmham, 2nd June

Single-dotted Wave, North Elmham, 2nd June

Sharp-angled Carpet, North Elmham, 2nd June

Other moths caught were Clover Case-bearer Coleophora alcyonipennella, 3 Buff Rush Case-bearers Coleophora caespititiella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Hedge Shade Isotrias rectifasciana, Barred Marble Celypha striana, 9 Common Marbles Celypha lacunana, Plum Tortrix Hedya pruniana, 2 Triple-blotched Bells Notocelia trimaculana, 3 Hook-streaked Grass-Veneers Crambus lathoniellus, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Small Magpies Anania hortulata, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, 6 Common Swifts, Maiden's Blush, Blood-vein, Treble Brown Spot, 3 Silver-ground Carpets, 3 Green Carpets, 5 Common Pugs, 2 Clouded Borders, 5 Scorched Wings, Brimstone Moth, Scalloped Hazel, 2 Willow Beauties, Common White Wave, Common Wave, 3 Light Emeralds, 2 Eyed Hawk-moths, Coxcomb Prominent, Buff-tip, Orange Footman, 9 White Ermines, Buff Ermine, 2 Cinnabars, Heart and Dart, 2 Ingrailed Clays, Shears, 2 Common Wainscots, Rustic Shoulder-knot, 4 Brown Rustics, Clouded-bordered Brindle, Marbled Minor, Middle-barred Minor, 8 Treble Lines, 3 Mottled Rustics, Spectacle and 16 Straw Dots.

Eyed Hawk-moth, North Elmham, 2nd June

Caddisflies included Limnephilus auricula and new for the year, Limnephilus marmoratus and Limnephilus vittatus.  Mayflies consisted of Small Spurwing Centroptilum luteolum (new for the year) and 2 Pale Evening Duns Procloeon bifidum.  Also a Common Earwig.

Limnephilus marmoratus, North Elmham, 2nd June

Small Spurwing Centroptilum luteolum, North Elmham, 2nd June