Sunday May 31 - Morton Bagot

A very warm morning. Dave arrived and let me know that the breeding Stonechats we saw the other week were not the first breeding record for Warwickshire as I had thought. A student called Joe Parham had been in touch to let him know that a pair had bred at Bubbenhall Meadows near Coventry last year.

Oh well, second record for Warwickshire then. At least we were able to hear and record the Grasshopper Warbler in the Chat Field.



Several Meadow Brown butterflies are now on the wing, and we saw a few more Common Blues. 

Seeing birds remains pretty tricky. Numerous warblers sang from dense cover, while the nearest flash is well on the way to drying up completely.

I remember when all this was water

One bird that announced its arrival onto my year-list for the patch was a Cuckoo. We didn't see it of course.

New dragonflies for the year included Black-tailed Skimmer, Banded Demoiselle, and White-legged Damselfly.

White-legged Damselfly

Black-tailed Skimmer

Banded Demoiselle

I potted a Yellow Shell moth at the raptor watchpoint intending to hand it to Dave, but he is taking social distances very seriously so this is the best way of showing him.

Yellow Shell

Finally, the dragonfly ponds are drying up, but the still moist exposed vegetation attracted four Small Tortoiseshells presumably to drink. This species is doing better this year, although still nothing like the numbers seen in my childhood.

Small Tortoiseshell

The summer recess is now in progress, so it will be insects all the way until August I expect.

An eventful night of garden mothing

The warm weather continues, and so there is every incentive to catch moths. Last night it wasn't just moths. The trap was also frequented by tens of frantic caddisflies, and an enormous queen Hornet. Meanwhile another Cockchafer crashed into the side of the box before I took it to the front of the house for release.

Hornet

The Hornet was still present in the morning and was extracted from the trap with great care. Rather less health and safety was in evidence when I climbed onto a garden chair to photograph what turned out to be the first Mottled Pug for the garden. The chair tipped and I tumbled, somehow getting my leg to straddle the back support and thus sustaining a bruised groin in the process. Fortunately the camera was not dropped and although the moth flew off, its image was captured for posterity.

Mottled Pug

The surreal nature of the morning continued when I heard a cow lowing from the direction of Alders Drive. Not a sound I expect to hear from our Redditch garden. I have no explanation.

The tally of moths this morning was about the same as in recent mornings, but as well as finally cracking Mottled Pug for the garden list I noticed another overdue first, a Middle-barred Minor.

Middle-barred Minor

Neither the Minor nor the Pug are scarce moths in Warwickshire or Worcestershire, and the fact it has taken me three years to catch either species shows that there is still plenty of potential for new discoveries.

The remaining moths included the first Poplar Grey since 2018, and Light Emerald, Marbled Orchard Tortrix, Bryotropha terrella (probably the most boring looking micro in the book), and an exceptionally early Eudonia mercurella. This species doesn't usually emerge until July.

Poplar Grey

Marbled Tortrix Orchard

Light Emerald

Bryotropha terrella

Eudonia mercurella

The full list was as follows:

Ruddy Streak 1
Bee Moth 1
Bryotropha terrella 1 (nfy)
Marbled Orchard Tortrix 1 (nfy)
Codling Moth 3
Eudonia mercurella 1 (nfy)
Common Marbled Carpet 2
Seraphim 1
Mottled Pug 1 (nfg)
Light Emerald 1 (nfy)
Pale Tussock 1
Poplar Grey 1 (nfy)
Middle-barred Minor 1 (nfg)
Heart and Dart 16
Flame Shoulder 1

STOP PRESS: I found a micro which had escaped into the utility room last night, and discovered it was another one new for the year; Clepsis consimilana. (nfy)

Clepsis consimilana

So the addition of that moth brings the overnight total to 35 moths of 16 species.

Even later Stop Press: We were enjoying a socially distanced street party in our road this afternoon when a Red Kite flew over. No bins or camera, just a glass of wine to hand. I must admit that an occupant of number 3 identified it as a Marsh Harrier, but unfortunately it wasn't. Neighbours eh!

Mappleborough Green and garden stuff

For the last 14 years or so I have driven home from work past a substantial plantation of poplars which screens Winyates Green from the A435 at Mappleborough Green, and each year I say to myself "I could imagine a Golden Oriole there at the end of May".

So how many times have I tested this theory? Never. Until this morning, when I finally clambered out of bed at 06.00 and walked there. Spoiler alert: I didn't see any. In fact the odds are that if I had made this effort every May and June daily throughout those years, I still may not have found one. But I bet I'd have stood a chance.

Either way its a lovely spot.

If full lock down had still been on, the road noise would have been less and the experience even better.

Anyway back to the house. Yesterday after we had sat outside for much of the afternoon I found a Large Red Damselfly in our utility room.

Large Red Damselfly reflecting on how to get out

This morning I found two more Pugs in the bathroom. This is proving a more reliable source of Pugs than the moth trap. They were both Green Pugs new for the year, and demonstrating the variation in colour intensity shown by this species.

Very Green Pug

Not so Green Pug

My decision yesterday to protect the previous night's catch from birds by leaving them in the trap and putting that in the utility room during the day had the unintended consequence that several escaped and I spent a considerable time tracking and tracing the escapees in the utility room and kitchen.

At least it meant I was around when a Hedgehog crunched and crackled his way across the leaf litter in the back garden.

Moths in the garden

A clear, but not cool night. I was tempted to grab a small moth on the trap during the evening, and this morning it remains unidentified. It's some kind of tortrix I think, but looks very worn.

A very worn Ptycholoma lecheana

The rest of the catch this morning were more familiar. It included two Common Swifts, a Marbled Minor ag, and an Oegoconia ag (probably quadripuncta). So that's four moths new for the year of which only one can be specifically identified. The Tortrix may yet be identified by an expert from the photograph, but the Marbled Minor ag and Oegoconia ag won't be identified because, for the former I still cannot bring myself to "retain" macros, and the latter escaped during the potting process.

Common Swift

Marbled Minor ag

Oegoconia ag

An update on the tortrix. UKmothID tweeted me to say it was Ptycholoma lecheana. Naturally I looked at the relevant page in my ID guide, and of course he was right. If it had been fresh and new it would have looked orangey brown towards the inner wing and darker brown at the outer wing. The two blackish spots and pale line across half way down the wing are the only vestiges of the fresh markings remaining.

The full catch was as follows:

Oegoconia ag (probably quadripuncta) 1 (nfy)
Bryotropha affinis 1
Ruddy Streak 2
Ptycholoma lecheana 1 (nfg)
Light Brown Apple Moth 2
Codling Moth 3
Common Swift 2 (nfy)
Figure of Eighty 2
Swallow Prominent 1
Spectacle 1
Coronet 2
Pale Mottled Willow 1
Heart and Dart 17
Flame Shoulder 1
Marbled Minor ag 1 (nfy)

Wednesday May 27 - mostly Morton Bagot

My plan this morning was to get away from moths and to head to Morton Bagot for an hour before going to the south end of the River Arrow to search for dragonflies. That was the plan.

Things started to change as soon as I got into the bathroom. A small moth was resting on the inside of the bathroom window. I potted it and took it outside for photographing before releasing it. A cursory glance suggested Small Dusty Wave, or maybe a very dull pug. More of this later.

I got to Morton Bagot and headed for the flash field from the church. On arrival I erected the scope and prepared to see what was there.

Spot the moth

I was quickly distracted by a small moth which landed on my scope. It was the first Garden Grass-veneer of the year. Here's a closer look.

Garden Grass-veneer

I would like to be able to tell you that at the other end of the scope some wonderful rarity was waiting for me. Sadly, a Teal and a Little Ringed Plover was the best on offer. In fact the rest of the site (which admittedly I only partly covered) produced nothing better than a Reed Warbler singing from reed-mace in the top pool, and no sign of the Stonechat family. I'm not sure what to make of that.

I started photographing flowers, a bad sign.

Yellow Rattle

Brooklime

The last two were growing in the damp margins of the top pool, while many Azure Damselflies, Large Red Damselflies, and Beautiful Demoiselles, were great to see, but played second fiddle to two patrolling male Emperor dragonflies. It was very pleasant. So nice in fact that I abandoned the plan to go elsewhere.

Once at the car I thought I had better go for the old token bird shot.

Swallow

Back home I uploaded my shots and took a closer look at the moth. It was definitely a Pug, but didn't fit anything I knew. After a while a suspicion formed that it might be quite a good moth. I tweeted UKmothID for assistance, and my thoughts were confirmed. It was a Sloe Pug.

Sloe Pug

This species was not detected in the UK until 1971 when it was realised that a few of the Green Pugs in collections were actually this species. It is described as local, but is probably overlooked. There are certainly plenty of Sloes in the hedgerows in Redditch and indeed at Morton Bagot. The best diagnostic feature is the shape of the penultimate white line towards the wing tip (straight on Sloe and wavy on Green). This particular individual, while not very worn, is rather faintly marked.

The trap will be out again tonight. Sorry birders.

More garden moths

Apologies to anyone who is sick of looking at my garden moth catches and would rather see stuff about birds. Its getting to the time of year when the variety of birds on offer is a bit limited, while insects, and particularly moths, go through the roof. I particularly like that each time I check my trap I am half expecting to see something I haven't seen before, and also that a great deal of head scratching tends to follow.

This morning was a classic, with moths I recognised, moths I thought I knew and then discovered were something else, and moths I hadn't a clue of and had to work out. I promise I will still go birding too.

I caught 35 moths of 18 species, and apart from the ones resting on the fence or house, or the ones which flew off, they are all resting back in the trap in the utility room waiting to be released at dusk. The local Robins are definitely on the prowl.

The moth which has caused me the most difficulty was a Rustic Shoulder-knot, or at least I think it is. (It was later confirmed to be correct) This is supposed to be a common moth, but I've never seen one.

Rustic Shoulder-knot Apamea sordens

The problem is that there are several similar looking Apamea species to eliminate. One, Large Nutmeg, varies in size and can be the same length. But I think I can see a hint of the black shoulder streaks peaking out from under the fluffy thorax. Unfortunately I had settled on Rustic Shoulder-knot fairly early on, and released it when it started to get agitated in the pot. If I'd held on to it a bit longer I could have brushed he thorax hairs aside to make sure.

Another moth which I nearly cocked up were a couple of geometers resting in the trap. I thought at first they were Common Marbled Carpets, but when I potted one it looked too small. Indeed it was, and it turned out to be a May Highflyer as did the other one.

May Highflyer

I recorded a May Highflyer in 2018, but not in 2019, so I guess I was a bit rusty.

Last evening several moths flew into the bathroom, including one that was new for the year, a Straw Dot. This one is easy to identify and regular in the garden and at Morton Bagot where we often disturb them from the grass.

Straw Dot

Getting my vote for the most attractive moth caught last night was an Ingrailed Clay, although Lyn wasn't very impressed when I shoved it under her nose.

Ingrailed Clay

The final year-tick was a micro, which turned out to be a Bee Moth. This particular individual was quite small, causing me to be unsure what it was until I potted it.

Bee Moth

The full list was:

Codling Moth 1
Light Brown Apple Moth 1
Bee Moth 1 (nfy)
Common Marbled Carpet 1
May Highflyer 2
Common Pug 1
worn Pug though to be Brindled Pug 1
Pale Tussock 5
Swallow Prominent 1
Straw Dot 1 (nfy)
Orange Footman 1
Vine's Rustic 1
Treble Lines 4
Rustic Shoulder-knot 1 (nfg)
Common Wainscot 1
Heart and Dart 10
Shuttle-shaped Dart 1
Ingrailed Clay 1 (nfy)

There was not much by-catch, just the usual black caddisflies, and a smart Mayfly.

Sunday May 24 - Morton Bagot produces the goods

Sunny intervals and a brisk south-westerly. A stroll around the patch was initially enlivened by the sounded of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler. Unlike last year's bird it was not at all showy, in fact we couldn't see it at all as it sang from the middle of a large grassy field.

Normally that would constitute the bird of the day, but not this time. We were scanning a different field when Dave spotted a Stonechat. Unprecedented here in May, the reason for its presence was revealed when we discovered it was accompanying a brood of three recently fledged juveniles.

Most of the family

Rubicola ?

A closer view of one of the juveniles

I've had a flick through recent WMBC reports and Birds of the West Midlands, and I think this could represent the first breeding record for Warwickshire (discounting Sutton Park which is now in West Midlands - politically at least).

The male was very bright with a restricted orange breast and pale flanks, inviting the temptation to identify it as belonging to the continental race rubicola. However, its a fine line between rubicola and hibernans, and the impression could be affected by feather wear as I would think they look at their most striking in summer before they moult.

The rest of the patch produced nothing better than the continuing presence of the drake Teal on the flash field.

Insects were putting on a good show too. Newly emerged dragonflies included Four-spotted Chaser, and Broad-bodied Chaser, while new butterflies included Large Skipper, Brown Argus, and Common Blue.

Four-spotted Chaser

Broad-bodied Chaser

Brown Argus

Common Blue

Large Skipper

The conditions became more overcast towards midday which was good insofar as the butterflies were easy to get close to, but not so good in that they tended to settle with wings closed.

Finally, no trip to Morton Bagot would be complete without a mystery insect. In this case a stack of small beetles is presented without a name. My guess is that they may be an early instar, and that the adult beetles may be easier to identify.

Nymphs of European Chinchbug Ischnodemus sabuleti

I will add a caption if I find out what species they are. - And sure enough thanks the Tristan Bantock I now know they are the nymphs of a bug, not a beetle. The Internet is fantastic for giving answers to seemingly unfathomable questions.

Garden moths after a windy 24 hours

Two nights ago conditions were perfect for mothing, but as I try not to put the trap out on consecutive nights I relied on opening the bathroom window. More of that later.

Yesterday it was blowing a gale, and although it eased a bit overnight, I wasn't massively optimistic when I examined the trap this morning.

Sure enough it contained fewer moths than my last two efforts and almost no flies. No micros, no Pugs, clearly it was a night for the tougher, harder moths. Indeed the first egg box I looked in revealed a very hard moth, but only in the sense it was dull as ditchwater to look at, and I didn't know what it was. A good sign.

After combing my way through the pages noctuids in my moth guide I came up with the answer. A Mottled Rustic.

Mottled Rustic

Further research revealed that it was described as common (even abundant in one reference), so why has it taken me two years of regular trapping to see one? A possible answer came in the latest UK Moth Atlas which describes it as much reduced in abundance. Also, a "Flying Tonight" blog (for Hampshire) has it well down the list of commonest moths being caught at the moment, although this could simply be a reflection of it being at the start of its flight period.

I did catch a couple of pretty moths last night; White Ermine, and Buff Ermine. The latter I seem to catch every year, but the former not since 2018.

White Ermine

Buff Ermine

The full list is as follows:

Buff Ermine 1 (nfy)
White Ermine 1 (nfy)
Treble Lines 1
Mottled Rustic 1 (nfg)
Flame Shoulder 1
Heart and Dart 7
Shuttle-shaped Dart 1

I also found a very spectacular beetle, one which I remember seeing regularly in my student days in Swansea as they buzzed around the Hall of Residence at Clyne Castle, Swansea, most ending up splattered by bloodthirsty, and slightly terrified, fellow students. A Cockchafer.

Cockchafer

If it had made it through the bathroom window the night before, there may have been screams (and that's just me).

Instead two very smart moths turned up; a Spectacle and a Flame Carpet. both were new for the year, but seem to be annual here.

Spectacle

Flame Carpet

The only bird worth reporting was a Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling this morning, although it may be worth mentioning that there seems to be only one pair of Swifts flying around the district this year.