Mission - to tick Beaver Castor fiber. I'm not sure about fibber, elusivia maybe. A couple more crepuscular attempts have again been so close... but so far.
A visit to a site which is a bit of a drive away and there is a lot of recent activity was a family outing. Parking has unfortunately been restricted so the start involves an unpleasant walk along the main road, however, after dodging the traffic we arrived and began a slow, quiet wander around the site. A creaking tree, sounding like gnawing, was a red herring. Then a few minutes later as we approached a likely spot there was a mighty splash right by us as a large beast went into the water - unseen! Scanning the water surface failed to reveal the submariner surfacing, darn!
The evening was saved by the rest of the party briefly viewing an Otter.
I led a wee walk around the Community Woodland subsequently. Walk is an exaggeration, dawdle more like. Anyway, although the pheromone traps that I'd set previously produced nothing the evening was not without some nice insects.
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| Peacock Moth |
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| Downlooker Snipe-fly Rhagio scolopaceus |
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| Syndemis musculana |
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| Micropterix calthella, a very tiny moth, these on Meadow Buttercup. |
(The above photos taken a few days previously, but the ones immediately below taken on the walk.)
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| Larva of Larch Ladybird, beaten from, er, Larch. |
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| Tipula irrorata, a smaller cranefly |
We also glimpsed a large cranefly which was probably Tipula maxima, but might have been Pedicia rivosa.
Nursery-web Spider and Common Blue Damselfly were also well seen. I have a few beetles and things to still identify.
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| Common Blue Damselfly |
After the walk I set a couple of light traps and then wandered up to a Beaver dam that is nearby. The walk involved going through Pine Marten territory, another much desired species which I've not seen (alive anyway). Both species eluded me, again.
The next morning I returned to collect the various traps. It had been a very cold night so I was not anticipating much, in which I was correct!
Two light traps = five moths. Broom-tip x2, Pale-shouldered Brocade x2 and a Buff-tip.
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| Broom-tip |
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| Pale-shouldered Brocade |
Fortunately the expedition was saved by the discovery of a NFM (new for me) moth as I trudged back up the hill to collect the last of the pheromone traps. The tiny moth fluttered briefly, landed on Pignut and stayed there to feed. Obsidentify was deployed as I didn't recognise the species and it suggested a
Metzneria species with a fair bit of confidence. Back at the car a quick glance at the book indicated Knapweed Seedhead Moth. Unsurprising as the site is full of knapweeds.
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| Knapweed Seedhead Moth Metzneria metzneriella on Pignut |
For the walk I had taken along some "insurance", a selection of the moths caught in our garden the previous evening. These were well appreciated. On the right night, e.g. cloudy and warm all of these should be present at the CCW.
Here's a selection - (not all of these got along to the CCW).
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| Common Marbled Carpet |
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| Common White Wave |
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Crambus ericella I've had a further look at this one as I was a bit doubtful, C. ericella is a quite uncommon moth. I think this is Crambus lathoniellus |
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| Elephant Hawk-moth |
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| Foxglove Pug |
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| Green Silver-lines |
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| Grey Dagger |
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| Heart and Dart |
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| Lunar Thorn |
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| Pale Prominent |
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| Pammene albuginana I think (specimens currently away being determined) |
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| Peppered Moth |
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| Puss Moth |
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| Scorched Wing |
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| Small Angleshades |
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| I'm thinking this might be Toadflax Pug, a bit early maybe.... See comments below, thanks SS, Foxglove Pug. (The search for Toadflax Pug continues....) |
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| White Ermine |
There was a nice Brown Rustic as well but I can't seem to find the photo.
Unfortunately there was an unwanted prisoner in the Robinson trap as I woke to close the traps a little later than usual, a Blue Tit intruder had munched a few moths. I probably can't use the Robinson trap whilst the Blue Tits are nesting in the garden unless I get up before 4, of course.
