June 20th 2011

I was so wrapped up in my moths last night I forgot to look up to see the shed go over but caught up with it on its next pass later in the evening. My trap count of 297 moths included Maiden’s Blush and Small Blood-vein both new for the year while Dave trapped a Blue-boarded Carpet his third record for his garden but the first since 2005.
With so many moths to photograph Bob and I did not get out till after mid-day so took advantage of the sunshine and went looking for butterflies managing 3 Green-veined White, 3 Large White, 2 Common Blue, 30 Large Skipper, 2 Small Skipper, 20 Marbled White, 50 Meadow Brown, 150 Ringlet and 3 Small Tortoiseshell.


Large Skipper

Also around were 100's of vaneers, 15 Cinnabar, 2 Burnet Companions and 2 Amblyptilia acanthadactyla moths plus 10 White-legged Damselfly and Banded Demoiselle while on the birding front we had at least 2 Raven, Buzzard, 6 Garden Warbler and 4 Lesser Whitethroat. While searching amongst the hundreds of Bee and Common-spotted Orchids we found 2 Pyrimidal Orchids. More photos to follow when Bob is back on line.

Pyrimidal Ochid by Bob Hazel

Spent a couple of hours in the evening at Napton Reservoir with plenty of young Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting in the reed bed plus Grasshopper Warbler and at dusk both Little Owl and Barn Owl became active along with at least 3 species of bat. Stayed after dark to do some lamping managing 9 species of moth in 40 minutes including Ghost moth, Rivulet and Small Dotted Buff but the rain spoilt my chances of more.

Richard