Rained off

Last Monday night looked good for moths, according to the weather forecast.  Overcast and relatively mild with not much wind.  Dave and I headed up to Gypsy Lane near Brancaster hoping for a few specialities of that bit of coast.  But as we reached our preferred spot we found the breeze still stronger than we'd expected and with skies still far from cloud-covered the temperature much cooler.  For this sort of location the weather wasn't good enough - there seemed to be no point in setting up here.  Instead we headed inland to Bunker's Hill at Anmer, 3.5 degrees warmer and very sheltered.  I've trapped here a couple of times and done ok, including my first new moth for Norfolk (Cydia illutana).

Well it started off ok, if unremarkable, and might have turned out to be a reasonable night if the weather forecast hadn't got it even more wrong than we realised.  Rain was due at about 5 or 6 in the morning but there were no rain drops in the forecast for tonight, so when it started to rain at about 10 o'clock we thought it would be just a quick shower.  Some time later there was no sign of it letting up, and it became clear that the forecast was just completely wrong, again.  We packed up disappointed that we'd wasted our efforts due to yet another poor weather forecast.

In the short time we were there we amassed a few moths but nothing staggering: 2 Common Oak Purples Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, Common Oak Midget Phyllonorycter quercifoliella, 6 Beech Midgets Phyllonorycter maestingella, Peach Blossom, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Water Carpet, Spruce Carpet, 3 Brindled Pugs, 4 Purple Thorns, Great Prominent, Pale Tussock, 5 Orange Footmen, 8 Least Black Arches, Common Quaker, Twin-spotted Quaker, 3 Hebrew Characters and 16 Nut-tree Tussocks.

Peach Blossom, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestigella (male, gen det), Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Spruce Carpet, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Purple Thorn (with Nut-tree Tussock and Common Quaker), Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Two Brown Lacewings proved to be Micromus paganus and Wesmaelius nervosus, both species I'd not identified before (not surprising as they were my second and third Brown Lacewings since owning the key for them).

Micromus paganus, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Wesmaelius nervosus, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

The caddisflies were represented by Glyphotaelius pellucidus, 4 Limnephilus affinis and 2 Limnephilus auricula.

Limnephilus affinis, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

The beetles were more interesting: among the 6 or so Cockchafers were Orange Ladybird, Cream-spot Ladybird, 2 Eyed Ladybirds and Phyllobius argentatus.

Cream-spot Ladybird, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Eyed Ladybird, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

Phyllobius argentatus, Bunker's Hill, 9th May

I didn't look close enough at all the things on the sheet as looking through my photos of various moths I found some Springtails that I failed to realise were there at the time.

2 different-looking springtails (and a fly), Bunker's Hill, 9th May

I had found my first Treble-bar for the year in the garden during the afternoon and the trap produced a few bits and pieces overnight.  New for the year for the garden were Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, Beech Midget Phyllonorycter maestingella, Red Twin-spot Carpet, Grey Pine Carpet and White-pinion Spotted.

Hazel Slender Parornix devoniella, North Elmham, 9th May

Red Twin-spot Carpet, North Elmham, 9th May

Grey Pine Carpet, North Elmham, 9th May

White-pinion Spotted, North Elmham, 9th May

Bringing the total up to 26 species, I think the most so far this year, were Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, 2 Brindled Flat-bodies Agonopterix arenella, 2 Many-plumed Moths Alucita hexadactyla, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, Shoulder Stripe, 4 Streamers, 2 Brindled Pugs, 2 Double-striped Pugs, Yellow-barred Brindle, Scalloped Hazel, Brindled Beauty, 2 Waved Umbers, Pale Tussock, Cinnabar, Least Black Arches, Shuttle-shaped Dart, Clouded Drab, 6 Hebrew Characters, Early Grey and Nut-tree Tussock.

Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, North Elmham, 9th May

Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, North Elmham, 9th May

Most of the caddisflies were Limnephilus auricula but Limnephilus sparsus was new for the house.  Also recorded were the leafhopper Empoasca vitis, 2 Green Lacewings Chrysoperla carnea, 2 Black Sexton Beetles and a Common Rough Woodlouse.

Limnephilus sparsus, North Elmham, 9th May

Empoasca vitis, North Elmham, 9th May

Knapweed Bells (Epiblema cirsiana)

Last Sunday my garden produced my first Large White of the year and an Orange-tip, and in the evening Dave and I had a pre-dusk wander round Lolly Moor and Honeypot Wood, two small NWT reserves in the Dereham area.  We'd had some considerable success 'dusking' at Lolly Moor last year and hoped the warm evening sunshine might produce the goods again this time.

We found quite a few moths at Lolly Moor but the highlight was 3 Knapweed Bells Epiblema cirsiana.  This is a new species for me and a scarcely recorded one - just 2-3 records a year in Norfolk in the last 5 years and very few before that.  Males can be separated from the similar Thistle Bell Epiblema scutulana by their dark hindwing - I examined two of ours, both were males and both showed a dark hindwing.

Knapweed Bell Epiblema cirsiana (male, with dark hindwing), Lolly Moor, 8th May

We also recorded 10 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella, Little Slender Calybites phasianipennella, Common Cosmet Mompha epilobiella, Common Grey Scoparia ambigualis, 2 Grass Rivulets and a Brindled Beauty.

Plain Gold Micropterix calthella, Lolly Moor, 8th May

A single caddisfly proved to be my first Limnephilus sparsus (not an uncommon species - I've only just started keying these out).

Limnephilus sparsus, Lolly Moor, 8th May

A search of tree-trunks along the wooded path turned up 5 Kidney-spot Ladybirds, another new species for me.

Kidney-spot Ladybird, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Among the snails were at least 4 Two-toothed Door Snails, the first time I've identified these, and both Brown-lipped and White-lipped Snails.

Two-toothed Door Snail, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Brown-lipped Snail, Lolly Moor, 8th May

We found several clumps of Lords-and-Ladies but were surprised to see this purple example.  Not noticed one like this before, but presume it's just a variant rather than some different species (nothing like that in my book).  There was another that was intermediate showing purple edges.

presumed Lords-and-Ladies, Lolly Moor, 8th May

Honeypot Wood wasn't so successful for moths, though we did see a Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella and another 15 Plain Golds Micropterix calthella (on Pendulous Sedge).  There were more Two-toothed Door Snails here and a variety of Slugs including Netted and Tree.

Two-toothed Door Snails, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

Netted Slugs, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

Tree Slug, Honeypot Wood, 8th May

That night was unexpectedly good for moths at home.  Common Oak Purple Dyseriocrania subpurpurella was new for the house and several species were new for the year here: Pebble Hook-tip, 2 Common Pugs, Scalloped Hazel, Cinnabar, Least Black Arches, Shuttle-shaped Dart and Herald.

 Herald, North Elmham, 8th May

Cinnabar, North Elmham, 8th May

Scalloped Hazel, North Elmham, 8th May

Common Pug, North Elmham, 8th May

Shuttle-shaped Dart, North Elmham, 8th May

Least Black Arches, North Elmham, 8th May

Bringing the list for the night up to 21 species were White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana, Many-plumed Moth Alucita hexadactyla, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, 2 Streamers, 2 Brindled Pugs, 2 Waved Umbers, 2 Swallow Prominents, Chocolate-tip, Muslin Moth, Clouded Drab, 3 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, North Elmham, 8th May

Once again caddisflies were represented by Glyphotaelius pellucidus and 3 Limnephilus auricula.

A Tiger with no stripes

Went birding at Minsmere last Saturday.  Didn't see much of non-avian interest - a few common butterflies and 7 Red Deer, plus this caterpillar in the dunes which I think has to be Cream-spot Tiger (but please correct me if I'm wrong).

Cream-spot Tiger, Minsmere, 7th May

That night's moth trapping at home produced 3 new for the year: Little Dwarf Elachista canapennella, Bee Moth Aphomia sociella and Coxcomb Prominent.

Bee Moth Aphomia sociella, North Elmham, 7th May

Coxcomb Prominent, North Elmham, 7th May

The other moths were 4 Streamers, Brindled Pug, Brindled Beauty, 2 Waved Umbers, Pebble Prominent, 2 Lesser Swallow Prominents, Swallow Prominent, Chocolate-tip, Pale Tussock, Muslin Moth, 4 Hebrew Characters and Early Grey.

Chocolate-tip, North Elmham, 7th May

Caddisflies included Glyphotaelius pellucidus and 2 Limnephilus auricula.  This wasp was in the trap, seemingly a German Wasp judging from the facial markings and large size.  Apparently German Wasps are native the the UK, despite their name.  Mind you, I doubt if that would stop Boris or Farage using them to support their case for Brexit if they knew about them - facts aren't important if you can play on fears, as any Trump will tell you.

German Wasp, North Elmham, 7th May

I hoped to put a name to this one too, but have failed to do so.  I think it's possibly one of the Brachonid family of parasitic wasps but not sure about that.

unidentified insect, possibly one of the Brachonid wasps, North Elmham, 7th May

Mullein and more

Dave and I have been keen to get our first moth session of the year at Hilgay Fen, the normally inaccessible reserve where Dave has permission to moth-trap.  Perhaps we were a little too keen as the conditions last Friday evening clearly weren't quite good enough for a decent session.  The forecast had been for cloud but this was revised shortly beforehand and we turned up to a clearer and cooler night than we had hoped for.

Consequently the moth list was quite poor: White-shouldered House Moth Endrosis sarcitrella, Brown-spot Flat-body Agonopterix alstromeriana, Common Carpet, Lunar Marbled Brown, White Ermine, Flame Shoulder, Red Chestnut, Powdered Quaker and 2 Hebrew Characters.

Flame Shoulder, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Caddisflies included Agrypnia pagetana, Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Limnephilus affinis, 4 Limnephilus auriculas, Limnephilus griseus and Molanna angustata. Of those 3 were species I'd not identified before (pagetana, affinis and angustata).

Agrypnia pagetana, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Glyphotaelius pellucidus, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Limnephilus affinis, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Limnephilus auricula, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Limnephilus griseus, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

I think this beetle must be Carabus nemoralis, another new one for me assuming my ID is correct.

presumed Carabus nemoralis, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Other inverts included Common Earwig, what I think must have been a young Common Garden Slug, Kentish Snail and White-lipped Snails.

 presumed Common Garden Slug (juvenile?), Hilgay Fen, 6th May

Kentish Snail, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

White-lipped Snails, Hilgay Fen, 6th May

At home that night the clear highlight was a Mullein, not only a fantastic looker but one I rarely encounter - indeed it was my first for 5 years (and therefore also new for the garden).

Mullein, North Elmham, 6th May

A good showing of Prominents too with Pebble Prominent, 3 Lesser Swallow Prominents and 4 Swallow Prominents, the Pebble and Swallow being new for the year.

Pebble Prominent, North Elmham, 6th May

Also Common Flat-body Agonopterix heracliana, Common Plume Emmelina monodactyla, Streamer, Yellow-barred Brindle, Waved Umber and Hebrew Character.

Caddisflies were Glyphotaelius pellucidus and Limnephilus auricula.