Big Bertha

Red Underwing

This gigantic moth - a Red Underwing - was snoozing on the wall next to the trap when I turned up at just after 5.30 this morning.

Though it was really warm overnight, I didn't catch big numbers - c110 moths of 25 species. But there were some interesting ones nonetheless.

It's been 8 days since I last put the trap out, and it feels like things have changed in that time... There were no Orange Swifts back then, and Setaceous Hebrew Characters seem to be on the rise.

Poplar Hawkmoth

Square-spotted Clay - the second for the garden and quite fresh-looking 

Orange Swift

Small Blood-vein - garden tick

Hornet - one of four around the trap

Boring moth list follows...

Gahhhhhhh!

Hornets have a fearsome reputation, so I was mildly perturbed when I put my hand into the moth trap, got out an egg box (which is what you provide for the moths to hide in), and found this whopper resting on the underside.

Fortunately it was very docile, perhaps being a bit cold, and seemed more interested in the cardboard than the moths - or my hand.

Hornet

It wasn't a bad night, moth-wise, with c110 moths of about 30 species. This Sallow Kitten was one of the prettiest, and I caught Broad-bordered, Lesser Broad-bordered, Least and Lesser Yellow Underwings. No Large though!

Sallow Kitten

The moth list...

Stand well back

photos taken with Canon EOS 30D, EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Sleeping beauties and other things

When I got to work this morning, it was beautifully sunny. Cold, but sunny, so I went for a quick walk around the garden. I found these wasps clinging to the ivy flowers for dear life. They were almost completely still, except for a few wiggling antennae and twitching thoraces.




I went back at lunchtime and found lots more wasps, looking much more lively, feeding on the ivy nectar. At this time of year, it must be a lifeline for them.

Vine leaves on the turn






Common Darters are still around in good numbers. Every day, I think 'they'll all be gone tomorrow', but it hasn't happened yet.

Red Admirals are probably the most numerous butterflies

Several Commas seen today, too.

Holly berries

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Lunch at The Ivy

Not the London restaurant, but a clump of ivy in the Memorial garden, now in flower and attracting insects of all shapes and sizes.

The Hornets (above) were the most impressive diners today - they were about an inch long but seemed fairly docile and allowed a relatively close approach with the camera.

More about Hornets here.

Comma

Red Admiral

One of the last few Common Darters I'll see this year

photos taken with Nikon Coolpix 995

Grimeshaw Wood, Bretton

Went for a stroll at lunchtime to Grimeshaw Wood with Weedon's World of Nature. Upon entering the wood, we spotted some Hornets buzzing around and soon discovered they were going in and out of a fallen, hollow tree stump. Mike was keen for some photos so we were brave and tried to macro them... Bit scary.




This is some kind of cricket, just next to the hornets' nest.


Pollen beetles on a thistle flower.


A fungus thing growing on some more dead wood.


A leaf.


Leaf from a Lime tree.